Watchtower 2020:

I’m like JGoo. Really zeroed in on the guitar. It/they are pretty darn good and spot on. Going to have to listen some more to pick out your “Easter Eggs.” Was able time pick them out on your Deep Purple tune because I had just listened to a post on FB by guitarweasel from when he was playing with a Chicago based group called the Boyzz. Just happened to be Perfect Strangers. Then I YouTubed Deep purple doing it. So both versions were still imbedded when I listened to yours.
 
Listened to Jimi. Could just be really tired, but not picking out obvious Rob Easter Eggs.... other than you nailed the lead parts. Nailed the vocals as well. What I did get.... for lack of a better term.... the rhythm parts were more driving and a tad dirtier. Fuzzier?? I liked it. What I can say for sure. Awesome job.
 
iblive said:
Listened to Jimi. Could just be really tired, but not picking out obvious Rob Easter Eggs.... other than you nailed the lead parts. Nailed the vocals as well. What I did get.... for lack of a better term.... the rhythm parts were more driving and a tad dirtier. Fuzzier?? I liked it. What I can say for sure. Awesome job.
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Thank, You, Man..

The 'easter egss' in "Watchtower" are subtle...they are the pick attacks, the way certain parts are EQ'd to make them pop out to the listener...the way the delay tails pan out both left and right....
 
Robert Herndon said:
Thank, You, Man..

The 'easter egss' in "Watchtower" are subtle...they are the pick attacks, the way certain parts are EQ'd to make them pop out to the listener...the way the delay tails pan out both left and right....
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I did catch the pan left to right. Have always liked panning from speaker to speaker. Journey to the Center of The Mind. Green Eyes Lady.
 
Ok,

We finished the new drum tracks for "Watchtower" today and the more modern, aggressive style and drum tone has totally transformed the song. There is still some mixing to do before the track is ready for sharing, but its just what the song needed....
 
Here's the details on the drum tracks:

kick in: dynamic for punch
kick alt: “scooped” sounding dynamic for slap
kick out: tube LDC for boom

snare top: dynamic for punch
snare alt: SDC for air and body
snare bottom: dynamic for rattle

hi hats: SDC

toms 1, 2: dynamic for punch

overheads: stereo ribbon mic designed to hear both the cymbals and kit (panned “drummer’s perspective” — hi hat on the left, ride cymbal on the right)
rooms close: spaced pair of boundary mics on the far wall of the main tracking room (panned “drummer’s perspective”)
rooms far: pair of boundary mics in the hallway/echo chamber adjacent to the main tracking room

“woody”: custom subwoofer mic angled in toward the snare and kick from about 4 feet from the front hi hat side of the kit and about 1 foot off the ground. Gets a great “lofi” or “loopy” sound
smash: boundary mic on the floor beneath the rack tom that has been distorted and compressed for aggression
1176: console mult of the kick and snare mics through an 1176 set to compress heavily to add urgency and body to the kit

Mixing now.... :-)
 
The new version contains the new drum tracks recorded yesterday, a totally re-recorded and doubled bass track, reduced track volume level (previous versions were too loud) and some mixing was done to bring previous obscured instruments forward in the mix.

This is not a final mixed/mastered copy, so there may be other changes as we move along.

I would invite your comments as to how this version sounds on different devices. My goal is to produce a very good mix over a wide variety of devices, so be sure to include your listening platform when you comment.

Thanks, Hombres...

- Rob
 
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iblive said:
I did catch the pan left to right. Have always liked panning from speaker to speaker. Journey to the Center of The Mind. Green Eyes Lady.
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Dig the "Chucka-Chucka" pick sweep at about 9 seconds in. It appears in both speakers and then echoes as it drifts to the left, as if you were driving past it...
 
Hard to critique on the iPad. I’ll try and listen on the PC later as it has a set of Bose speakers and can crank.
 
Robert Herndon said:
A few years ago, I recorded my own version of "All Along The Watchtower," a song that had fascinated me for half a century. I was floored when I saw Hendrix playing this live on TV and listening to the recording with headphones was like watching The Wizard Of Oz for the very first time. This song remained on the 'Bucket List' for years because I just didn't feel like my playing could even do a cover of this song due justice. My hard rock background "bleeds through" everything that I do.

Enter Axel Rudi Pell...

When I heard his version of "All Along The Watchtower," I was again mesmerized. His recording is a musical journey full of interesting sounds and arrangements. That experience inspired me to records "Watchtower" back in 2017. Although I posted a version to my Soundcloud, I felt like there was something missing.

My goal with this song was to make it punch you in the face like a hurricane. A lot of work went into creating sonic easter eggs, such as string slides, Wah effects, twin guitar harmonies on the rhythm sections, and doubled solos in real time.

Recently, I started going back through this song. I changed some guitar parts, EQ'd the bass with more mids, changed guitar EQ's, moved things around in the background, punctuated string slides, and tried to adjust the rhythm in such a way that it would be audible and engaging, even during the solos.

The result is here for your enjoyment.

I encourage and value your opinions.

I invite you to find the easter eggs...and the nod to Axel Rudi Pell's version.

- Rob

https://soundcloud.com/id%3Drobert-h-herndon%252Fwatchtower-2020-jimi-hendrix-cover%3Btrack_id%3D860334526
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You rocking again im banging my head love this tune. Your tone sounds good, in short you kicking ass ma man \m/
 
Tonight, i am going to bring a few of the lead guitar tracks a little more forward in the mix, but other than that, its almost done!!!!
 
Sp8ctre said:
Just listened to the "Spectre Remix" and I think it is the $hit! I can't see how you could make it any better...


Got to love a Mix that's named after you!
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I appreciate your discerning ear!!!! I think you were awake and paying attention during your Berkeley music training!!!
 
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