She Talks Each Night to Ariel – Music Video

23 Replies

On Friday I post a new song onto Youtube. This was a pop/rock tune, which might be good after posting several classical pieces in a row.  A quick comment – in this song “Ariel” refers to the moon of Uranus (in a way), not a person of that name – just wanted to point that out since I do know some Ariels and this song is not about any of them.  OK, here it is:

(Click here if you don’t see the video below)

Now onto talking about the song.  Just general chat and technical details:

As always, I hate my voice.  Funny thing, I had originally written this lower, in a range that was far more comfortable, but I liked the sound even less, so I put it up so that it actually hits the highest note I can sing even close to in tune.  Yeah, weird, but it fit the song better.  No autotune or anything else, which might be obvious…

Someone asked earlier – Yes, I did “double” my voice through a lot of this (verse, pre-chorus and chorus).  That is, I sang through the parts multiple times, in places there are four tracks of my voice.  I won’t go into depth unless asked.

I also used a vocoder (my voice through a synthesizer) during the introduction, the bridge and outro, with some vocoder “echoes” in the pre-chorus and chorus, plus a little doubling in the chorus.  There are also vocoder sound effects that sound like surreal space voices.  I really like the effects of the vocoder in this.

Besides the vocoder I used the Prophet Rev2 for the organ, choir sounds and string sounds.  The Poly D is used for all bass sounds (3 different ones) and the big whooshes and sirens.  I used Cubase’s drum program, Groove Agent, but I played the drums manually on a keyboard.  Everything was played or sung manually….

I spent a lot longer than usual on this, but a big part of that was experimenting with different tools – I actually made a recording called “Ariel Test- Throw Away” where I played with different tools.  When I felt ready, I did “throw it away”.  OK, I just started a new file and didn’t even refer back to the old one… 

The biggest thing that I tested, literally “biggest”, was a new mixer.  I got a more modern piece of kit that was much more flexible, and it did change my workflow.

There is a long story behind where this metaphor comes from. Let’s just say that many years ago a relative misunderstood talking to Ariel, thinking it was a metaphor when it was used quite literally at the time! This time the metaphor is no mistake ;)

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed!

23 thoughts on “She Talks Each Night to Ariel – Music Video”

  2. workinacresnothours

    Your voice sounds great, that was so cool, if I was having a party I would play that definitely.
    On a different subject, I thought I read a comment from you on my blog but it has disappeared. Just wanted to say thank you for reading & yes I agree a much lighter timber on the cupboard will work. Thanks friend & have a musically fun outdoorsy weekend ahead

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks! I’m glad you liked the song :)
      The comment disappeared? Odd. That corner cupboard does look so much better in a light color, but it does make the remaining dark wood stand out. I’m sure you’ll figure soemthign out.

      Liked by 1 person

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  5. willowdot21

    Well I am blowed , I thought Cher was using a vocoder…serves me right for not checking up? Yes I know that Mike Oldfield used the vocoder. Two of my lads do music for a side line that’s where I get my live of the moog and the vocoder from, shame on me I even know about the autotune too! Still it’s good to learn a little ever day.
    I remember your Dido’s Lament I liked that too 💜

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Lol, I just looked it up to be 100% sure I was telling the truth. Yep, here is part of the first paragraph in Wikipedia: “It featured a pioneering use of the audio processing software Auto-Tune to distort Cher’s vocal”
      I know you are very into music since you do musical posts very often, and show good taste (or what I think is good taste ;) ) in your choices, but I didn’t realize you were that close to music production :)

      Like

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      1. willowdot21

        Yes, my youngest though now works in IT was originally trained in sound engineering. When he decided to marry and have children his eldest brother got him to take a sideways step into IT to earn more to support family. The eldest too still makes music 💜

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply ↓
    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks, Willow, I’m glad you enjoyed! A few years ago I had a post about vocoders and talk boxes – I used Stevie Wonder as an example of the talk box, but Frampton did a great job with it! Cher, though, was the first time someone purposefully overused autotune – she has such a great voice that it took people by surprise that she would even think about using autotune, and 99.99% of humanity didn’t know it existed before she did it. Over use of autotune can sound like a vocoder, and the other way around – When I did Dido’s Lament with a vocoder, it sounded more like Cher’s over use of autotune than it did like old school vocoder. Great examples of a vocoder can be found with Mike Oldfield’s late 70s/early 80s work.

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