MORTON - Divine Descent (official live video). New song!

[Max Morton]

Hey mates!

The same as with our previous video, I'm sharing this at the bar, just to give this topic a bit "wider" angle, then just production aspects.

While we keep working on our second album, which turns out really well, I decided that it would be nice to release something new. Something that won't empty our purses as a big ass video clip usually does A nice live video, with multitrack recorded from the board and then mixed. Just how I love it!

This time it was a real challenge! We had a digital desk, no splitter (the idea to shoot a video came to us pretty spontaneously) and only 8 free aux buses on the desk. We found the solution pretty quickly:
aux1: vocals, raw
aux2: gtrL, raw
aux3: gtrR, raw
aux4: OhL processed
aux5: OhR + Hat processed
aux6: Toms, processed, mixed to mono
aux7: S top + S bottom, processed
aux8: Kick Beta52 + Kick Sm91, processed

Luckily, we're performing with pre-recorded bass this year, and it was just enough for us. I just added the bass DI we're using on our playback machine, and cropped the hell out of toms to divide them into high tom, mid tom, floor tom and... ride cymbal bleed! Worked like a charm, wow. And I loved the way sm57's worked with those toms.

Another thing I can't stop being happy about is the Beta58. What a great stage mic! Isolates so well that I can compress the shit out of it and it still sounds aright (and does not feedback).

Alright, enough details! Please welcome our brand new song:

 

[Mago]

Really impressive man!

 

[Max Morton]

Really impressive man!

Thanks Mago!

 

[Skinny Viking]

I'd kill to work with a singer like you \m/

would never imagine you had such limited resources for this ... whole thing sounds fantastic

 

[DanLights]

this is... AWESOME!!

 

[Max Morton]

Skinny Viking: Thanks man! Spare someone's life, I'll be happy to collaborate any time
As I wrote on FB, the fun with live sound is using what you have and making it work. Once I had a talk with a good fellow of mine and a well-respected FOH engineer here in Ukraine. He loves touring with bands starting with local ones and ending with Steve Vai&symphonic orchestra. The man can always make things work no matter what kind of equipment he meets in the venue. But he does not enjoy studio work at all. He made me realize the fundamental difference between us two!
He likes solving problems on the fly, while I like polishing stuff to perfection. While I hate gigging because I have to solve too many technical and hospitality questions (and it just drains me before I even start singing), I still enjoy capturing the live performances. I often notice that a good amount of adrenaline and the whole mood change the way you perform. And change the way the band works as one whole.

DanLights: Thanks man! I miss those Dio Tribute days Long time no talk!

 

[Red Phoenix]

After watching the video i just downloaded Grimoire from your website, i now have a listen. First impression, it's to my taste.

Curious to know, how long or hard did you practise to get your singing like that? I'm always kinda impressed by such powermetal-ish vocals. I always wanted to start learning singing but everytime i think of that i don't even know where to start and i discard the idea

 

[Max Morton]

Thanks! Well, Grimoire is ancient!) It's like 2009-2010, it just does not show the real picture. I just can't listen to it, it sounds so amateur to me! But we have a bunch of videos here: http://maxmorton.com/videos (don't forget the "live videos" button at the bottom). They will give you some more insight.

Speaking of singing - yes, sure it takes years and maybe decades to master something significant out of your voice. And you will most likely remain always unsatisfied. Singing must be technically and theatrically perfect, and at the same time couching vocals is so much more subconscious then guitar or, say, drums.

The best way to practice anything, especially vocals, is the way all the humans have learned their first words, learned to walk, etc. Imitation. Listen, try, listen, try, don't be afraid to look silly all the way That's my opinion.

After watching the video i just downloaded Grimoire from your website, i now have a listen. First impression, it's to my taste.

Curious to know, how long or hard did you practise to get your singing like that? I'm always kinda impressed by such powermetal-ish vocals. I always wanted to start learning singing but everytime i think of that i don't even know where to start and i discard the idea

 

[nspacestd]

Hello everyone (first post here)!
I must say everything in this video kicks some serious ass! Song, production, performance (killer vocals man!)
But may I ask why did you play over a prerecorded bass?

 

[CubanDude]

You somehow remind me of Warrel Dane in Sanctuary... Pretty killer! Congrats

 

[Skinny Viking]

Skinny Viking: Thanks man! Spare someone's life, I'll be happy to collaborate any time

Its a date

 

[rispsira]

Another one of ur vids dude! Awesome im on my phone now but excited to watch it big fan here.

 

[DanLights]

Ha, backing track bass, clever. I was watching the video thinking "the bass player must be really ugly cause they never really zoom in on him" and then saw you said there was no bass player hahaha

I just read a post by Dark Tranquility mentioning that this tour they're doing the same thing, they don't want to add anyone else yet so they're just using bass in the backing tracks. I feel like a drummer now.

 

[Max Morton]

Hello everyone (first post here)!
I must say everything in this video kicks some serious ass! Song, production, performance (killer vocals man!)
But may I ask why did you play over a prerecorded bass?

Thanks man! Well, the answer is simple. Our previous bass player has left the band in the end of 2012. I see no other candidates here in our country. And finding a brother in arms is a hard task. He must be a member of the family. He must be the friend but still, he must be professional. We're really happy as a four-piece band. And I'm quite good at playing bass (doing some session work here and there. and lots of stealth re-recording in the studio, lol).
Now, with the second album, the material becomes more and more complex and we're paying more and more attention to details. So, I'd rather hear my bass pre-recorded then leave the band disfunct and search for someone who may not even exist for ages.
People were asking me about singing and playing at the same time. It's too hard with the given intensity of vocal- and basslines. Though I love playing bass with live. We're often rehearsing with the live bass.

You somehow remind me of Warrel Dane in Sanctuary... Pretty killer! Congrats

Man, I'm honored. I'm a huge fan of Warrel. He's not only the brilliant singer, but also his lyrics deeply resonate with what I feel. My favorite work of his is "Praises To The War Machine".

Its a date

Yep. And have I mentioned that I just love your gay humor on this forum?

Another one of ur vids dude! Awesome im on my phone now but excited to watch it big fan here.

Thanks a lot man! What I'd really love to film is a nice, detailed studio diary, but it's simply impossible when you're recording and playing at the same time. Too much distraction. So maybe my wife will film the third album studio diary

 

[Max Morton]

Ha, backing track bass, clever. I was watching the video thinking "the bass player must be really ugly cause they never really zoom in on him" and then saw you said there was no bass player hahaha

I just read a post by Dark Tranquility mentioning that this tour they're doing the same thing, they don't want to add anyone else yet so they're just using bass in the backing tracks. I feel like a drummer now.

I'll quote this in a separate message. Lolled on your "ugly bass player" presumption )) Or the guy is just hidden somewhere backstage. Sitting on a chair with a sixstring lefthanded fretless bass with a paper bag on his face.

I also was at Lacuna Coil's show where they used the pre-recorded bass. Their bass player could not join them on tour, can't recall why.

Anyway, it's always cooler to see the real musician playing and actually hearing and seeing what he does with his instrument at this exact moment in time, but with each passing month it's getting harder for me to imagine someone playing my parts. As I said, in our future album there's gonna be so much more BASS everywhere. Damn...

 

[Mago]

Well I guess if you're saying you're the best bass player (for your band) in your country, then working with the backing track is the best option right now, as you're already doing.
Whenever a right guy that fits comes around you'll see if it works out anyway. Of course I haven't heared the stuff you play, but it's pretty hard to imagine that you're the only guy in your entire country who's able to pull it off But since he also has to fit the band and play it the way you imagine it, that is another story...after all, you are the only one in the world who plays it the way you do.

You could grab a bass live, backingtrack or not. It always looks cooler when the singer also plays something
Or, as with a lot of "live" acts, at least looks like he plays something ^^

 

[Max Morton]

Well I guess if you're saying you're the best bass player (for your band) in your country, then working with the backing track is the best option right now, as you're already doing.
Whenever a right guy that fits comes around you'll see if it works out anyway. Of course I haven't heared the stuff you play, but it's pretty hard to imagine that you're the only guy in your entire country who's able to pull it off But since he also has to fit the band and play it the way you imagine it, that is another story...after all, you are the only one in the world who plays it the way you do.

Well, you're twisting my words a bit. I'm not saying that I'm the best bass player in my country. I'm just an ok metal bass player who knows how to play tight, how to tune his instrument, how to make it ring all the time, how to lead a melody line and how to improvise. Who knows what pedals to use to make it sound good, what is dynamics, why the bass needs a noise gate as well, and so on and so on.

For me it is important to have someone who knows it all and uses this knowledge. And there are definitely such people. But all these dudes are not into metal at all. Session work, pop music, etc. And if we add my overgrown ego they have to obey... So, as you see, I'm the only one who can deal with it at the moment.

The rest of the guys are pros, I'm so proud to play together with them. But something is going terribly wrong with bass players in metal genre. I think you'll agree with me.

Unfortunately I hate singing and playing at the same time. It will just be a massive quality downgrade.

 

[CubanDude]

Listened regularly to "Praises to the war machine" for about a year. Awesome record. Coincidentally put it back on my iPod this morning

 

[Skinny Viking]

Yep. And have I mentioned that I just love your gay humor on this forum?

tell me more about my eyes you Ukrainian god

 

[Skinny Viking]

You could grab a bass live, backingtrack or not. It always looks cooler when the singer also plays something
Or, as with a lot of "live" acts, at least looks like he plays something ^^

you're gonna turn him into Kip Winger