Linstead Market

[mandoisland]

Today I have loaded a recording of my Linstead Market arrangement for the mandolin to my homepage. I have used a new recording device (FOSTEX MR8 HD) and tried to make a good sounding version of the recording with SoundStudio on my Mac Powerbook.

Now I would like to know what you think of my arrangement and of the sound of the recording.

You can find the recording on my homepage mandoisland if you go to page "Recordings" (direct link Mandoisland Recordings (http://www.mandoisland.de/aufnahmen_mp3.html))

I can also send a copy of the sheet music on request (either hear or using the contact form on my homepage).
Michael
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Jim Garber]

Very nicely played and arranged, Michael. I also like tht tone you get from your mandolin on the recording. Well done. I would love to have the sheet music.

Jim

[Ken Sager]

Nice arrangement, playing and tone. I have only one comment (not a complaint) and it's on your mastering. I hear clipping on some louder bits, and after reducing the levels it's still there. You may have either recorded it a little hot, or boosted the signal too much while mastering. I've found that mastering takes as much practice as anything else you'll do to play a tune.

Don't get me wrong, it's outstanding and you should definitely do keep doing what you're doing. I only commented on it because I've been mastering a bunch of my own tunes lately and this is something I struggle with myself.

Best,
Ken

[mandoisland]

Thank you Jim for listening and for your nice words, I will send you a copy of the music.

Also thanks to Ken. I just tried to make another mix this time using the headphones. I think the clipping that you hear comes from my unclean playing - I will try to make it better and do a more carefull recording without too much noise from unperfect stopping. I think I need more patience and experience in recording and mastering to get better results.

Michael

[John Goodin]

Very nice indeed! Thanks for sharing this Michael. What kind of mando are you playing? I have no doubt that Ken's ears and playback setup are better than mine but I didn't hear any clipping. The recording quality was very clean on my computer playback setup.

John

[Embergher]

No problem of clipping here ... I listened with (good quality) headphones.
Sometimes slower download speeds (or upload, from the server end) can cause noises that sound like clipping.
Nice arrangement Michael! I like the technique with the open string in between. I'd love to try it myself!
Very good exercise for students as well! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[Ken Sager]

I do love the piece, and it sounds great.

I wanted to rule out the possibility that my copy was corrupted somehow while downloading, so I downloaded the piece again and I hear the same clipping. I hear it when played through Windows Media Player, Audacity, and when imported into Cubase... I'm not playing it streamed over the net, I have two copies on my hard drive. I hear the clipping through headphones, through my studio monitors, and through my home stereo... I have a feeling it's simply a product of playing a 128kpbs MP3.

I must be hearing things... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

If this part of my message didn't come through I'll restate it: very nice playing and arrangement, as well as a terrific sounding mandolin.

All the best,
Ken

[mandoisland]

Hi Ken, thanks for your efforts. I believe you, that you hear what you hear, it is good that there are people like you who hear "things".
If I ever make a professional recording I hope to have someone in the studio who takes care for this. For the moment I just do it for making my pieces available for others.
I am planning to make recordings of other pieces, and I will try to make ist as good as I can.
Michael

[Embergher]

Michael sent me the music. Really nice to play ... it's one of those catchy tunes that gets better every time you play it.
The first part is also a good exercise for plectrum strokes over different strings. Recommended for those who want to improve (or test) their technique!
Click here (http://www.mandolin.be/mp3/MP3/20060320Reichenbach-LinsteadMarket-RalfLeenen.mp3) for a recording on a classical Italian mandolin.

[vkioulaphides]

Lovely tune—#and lovely playing, Ralf. Bravo! I presume, of course, that on this clip you are playing an... *wink*... Embergher?

Thumbs up for both arranger and performers.

Cheers,

Victor

[Embergher]

I presume, of course, that on this clip you are playing an... *wink*... Embergher?
Thanks Victor,
Yes, of course, you guessed right ... it's played on the Embergher below, a model N°5bis from 1947.

[Linda Binder]

I really enjoyed hearing the two recordings of this piece--both very nicely played and recorded. Hearing the difference in tone between the mandolins is really fascinating. They both sound wonderful and yet very different. Thank you Michael and Ralf!
--Linda
p.s. Michael, can I have a copy of your arrangement?

[Linda Binder]

p.p.s. Ralf, your mandolin is unbelievably gorgeous--appearance and sound.

[vkioulaphides]

I must certainly not neglect to praise Michael's fine playing. His perfect control over the flow of musical events, his keen sense of timing, it all adds up to a terrific performance. Tutti due bravi!

What I found astoundingly beautiful in Ralf's playing was the fine balance of attack and sustain: some players get lots of "edge" but a rather sour twang afterwards; others get decent, round sustain, but a dull articulation up front... I am probably guilty of both demerits. #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

We could belabor this point with all sorts of mandolin-parameters, string-parameters, pick-parameters but... as my old, Russian teacher would say: "Is not matter of have, is matter of play."

*sigh* I better go practice! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Plamen Ivanov]

I hear this piece for the first time and I like it very much! And I like also Michael and Ralf`s playing. I didn`t understand what kind of mandolin do you play in this recording, Michael. Jim asked, but I cannot see an answer. Can I have a copy of the arrangement too? Thanks!

Good luck!
Plamen

[mandoisland]

Hi Plamen, the mandolin I used for this is my new red F5 copy by Hervé Coufleau. Images of this mandolin can be found on my homepage on the instruments page.
I will send you a copy of the music later with email. Have a nice weekend! Michael

[bluesmandolinman]

Hi Michael

You have mentioned that builder a while ago and now I know why you were so enthusiastic....it really sounds beautifull !

And your playing is great #

René

[Linda Binder]

Thanks for the music Michael! It's a lovely piece. There's a fresh layer of snow outside and I don't have to go to work today...I'm going to Linstead Market instead. A very nice morning lies ahead....
--Linda