aldel's "Cello Remix" Remix
of Shock The Monkey by Peter Gabriel
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27 People have rated this remix.
2.22 Is the average rating.
Listened to 180 Times
13 Comments
Uploaded 30 Sep 2006 21:58:50
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Information
Remixer Notes
It's not really finished. I didn't have a lot of time and I'm not very experienced with this kind of thing. So it's pretty rough. Also I didn't have any particular inspiration or even a coherent plan for what I wanted to do. Still, I think some parts of it sound pretty cool.
I would have liked to (1) change the harmonies more; (2) add more ornamentation; (3) get a few parts synchronized better; (4) maybe mess with the tempo a bit; (5) produce a more polished mix. As it is, it's very similar to the original song, but with a smoother and calmer feeling because a lot of the instruments were replaced with cello. Also it's a bit shorter- I cut out some repetition, mainly because it would have been boring without more variations, which I didn't have time to add.
Trivia: every sound in this mix comes from either the original sample pack or my cello.
Technical Information
An ancient Celeron PC, an old version of SONAR, a SoundBlaster Live!Value card, an old Mackie 1202 mixer (for the preamps), a Barcus-Berry cello pickup, and a cello.
Comments
What a great accomplishment. You've done a lot with your cello. Of course, music should judged on its emotiona/spiritual impact, not the novelity from which it is made. Well, you did fine. It stands on its own. Nice work.
Awesome. Probably the only 'live' cello out of all the mixes here. Nice work! 
i love the third-world feel, string plucking, and of course, The Cello!
Cool, I love cello, that wonderful high pitched screeching in the background.Reminds me of Kronos,Reich,Glass,etc.
Great work!
I like it a lot. The cello arrangement is very cool. I LOVE the ensemble pizz. It gives it another dimension, a bit of mystery, and the staccato makes it edgy. I also like the part from 1:38 to 2:13 with long sustained notes against the pizz. I wouldn't worry too much about the sync - besides, a real string ensemble doing pizz. together would never be 100% in sync!! (Yep, I'm a string player too!)
Wow!
You have really beautifull parts in here. Likes.
Thanks everyone! It's great to know people like it. I like it too. I just think it needed another couple of weeks of work.
I forgot- the list of things I would have liked to do should also have included: 6. Rerecord some of the cello parts with a real microphone, instead of the bridge pickup. The pickup just doesn't get the full richness of the tone. I mainly used it because it doesn't pick up outside noise, so I could sit right in front of the computer and not worry about fan noise.
Ahhh, how did it take me so long to find this!! Another cellist, hooray! :D I love how you used the artificial or false harmonics in the background. So eerie! It's a great remix solely from the standpoint that you sampled in all the cello! It sounds great to boot. I have a cello student who can't stand that noise - it's like nails on a chalkboard to her (so of course I'll do it once in a while at our lessons together to watch her squirm). Sounds like you'd have a lot of fun with the "looper" I have, and a switch pedal!!! Ever hear of the "New Directions Cello Association"? Do a search for their website if not. They have an all-cello discussion forum. This is a group you should check out.
Regarding your comment about rerecording with a real mic instead of the bridge pickup, they are a problem aren't they? So few cello pickups do the cello sound justice. The sound get so metallic; I hate it. I have a Fishman. I went to the New Directions summer convention a few years ago and there was much talk about what kinds of pickups work better than others. My 1st violinist does some experimenting with mixing and he's found more success running my amplified cello through a-oh dear- I can't remember what he calls it. Some kind of specific pre-amp. The "tin" is gone from the sound but now it's really "throaty" and sounds much like a bass. I'm sure eventually that's something he can mix out. At least it's warmer.
Now I've found something else I might need to transcribe. ;) Or did you already write this out for cello ensemble?
Oh. if you haven't already, get your hands on an Apocalyptia CD. They have a website as well. More cello experimentation (and you can purchase their music for cello ensemble or quartet). Also look for Rasputina and Stephan Katz - - more interesting, experimental cellists. I hope I'm not bugging anyone by posting these names. It's just exciting to hear another cellist who likes to experiment, and would appreciate other progressive use of strings. Aldel, you probably already heard of these folks.
-Scarborough
Hi there, fellow cellist! Thanks for your comments. I'll check out that cello association.
I chose a Barcus-Berry pickup based on some random review I found on the web; they said it was a lot better than the Fishman. I'm mostly pretty satisfied with it. The main problems are (1) the included preamp is designed to attach to a bass's tailpiece, not a cello's; (2) way too bass-heavy (but the built-in bass/treble controls do a decent job fixing that); (3) the unavoidably thin tone.
I've always wondered what could be done with a good physical-modeling processor, like the ones Roland makes for guitars, but I haven't tried it.
What I really want is a solid-body electric cello with separate pickups for each string. Hopefully someday I'll have time to build one.
I've got Apocalyptica's Metallica CD and have never been very impressed with it, but maybe it's about time I gave it another chance. I've heard just a bit of Rasputina, and I thought it was pretty good. I'll check out Stephan Katz; don't think I've heard of him.
My recommendations, in case you're not familiar with them: Erik Friedlander (great jazz/experimental cellist); Okkyung Lee (avant garde cellist/composer); Greene String Quartet (whose version of "Welcome to the Jungle" is by far the best string arrangement I've ever heard of a rock song).
Well, I know I can private message now, but heck if I can figure out how to send you one. It is a real pickle getting a decent sound from a pickup on cello. Since getting the fishman I ask more cellists about what they use in the search for a better sound.
RE Apocalyptica: the later CD's get better. THey start doing original material and collaborations with other artists, adding set and even bass in one song. They do this great song with the lead singer of Guano Apes (think I spelled that right). You probably won't find Stephan Katz. His CD's are only marketed on the New Directions cello website. He uses a looper and tracks, improvises diatonically (no blues or jazz scales), and achieves a very ambient sound. It's quite nice and something I'm working on getting the hang of. I much prefer the idea of improv diatonically, in keys, and not trying to remember jazz scales. I wasn't trained in jazz so that's tough for me. I have that Greene String Quartet CD. Welcome to the jungle is fun but I always felt their sound was just a touch square. I enjoy listening to the jazz musings of Turtle Island string quartet.
I should have added a little more about the New Directions Cello Association. They exist purely for the experimental cellist. Members include big names (Rasputina are members, Turtle Island cellist, even Yo-Yo Ma is on the steering commity). The convention each summer - late June/early July - brings in guest artists to perform, open jam sessions, lectures, and tons of CDs/books/sheet music for sale. It used to be in Appleton, WI for four or five years in a row, but last year they moved it to California. I don't know where it will be next year. The organization office is on the east coast. They have a discussion forum and it's a great place to discuss pickups, genres, techniques, etc.
I'll look up the other names you mentioned. They could very well be members of the cello organization! Cheers. :)
-Scarborough
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I like the cello sounds. This is one of my favorite instruments anyway (as you can hear in my own try of a remix![:-]](smilies/embarrased.gif)
). Unfortunately I can't play it.
Some oaf is rating every new mix with 1 star!
I try to compensate that a little by giving you 4. 
Comment added by Ludstock on 2006-10-01 00:01:05