Everybody Hurts - Live vs Studio

Explain sonic components and include audio references

·      Feedback occurs

·      Vocal performance is not the best

·      Audience can be heard in the recording

·      Bass guitar is distorting/ doesn't sound great - 4:20

·      Performer starts to improvise

·      Drum clicks are in the beginning, top and tail cannot be done. Does not sound professional

·      Vocals are overpowered by guitar parts during the middle part. 5:20

·      Performer moves around on stage, vocals become quieter and louder as he is changing distance.

·      The live version is longer than the studio version.

·      Was no pop shield. Pops could happen during performance

·      Playing in a large open environment 

·      Woodblock can be heard in the studio version, in the live version it is much quieter. Drowned out by other instruments.

·      Reverb on the vocals sounds better than live.

·      Studio has other instruments such as violins and stringed instruments; these are not included in the live.

·      Song fades at the end.

·      Vocals are better as they have chosen the best recording.

·      No feedback from instruments or microphones.

·      No improvisation from performers, sounds more professional and purposeful instead of random.

·      No drum clicks during the beginning, top and tail has been done.

·      All instruments are in time with each other

·      Vocals have backing from the same performer, impossible to do live.

·      Instruments dont over power each other. All at the right gain.

·      Pop shield was used so pops are prevented. 

·      Played in a small environment with no reverb. 

The studio version of “Everybody hurts” you can hear the woodblock where as in the live version it is very hard to hear over the guitars, drums and vocals.

The studio version also includes some instruments that where not included in the live performance, such as string instruments like the violin/cello.

The song at the end of the studio version fades out slowly, where the live version they play the last few chords then stop. The studio version vocal’s are a lot better, this was the best recording of the vocals hence why they were used. The voice does not break and he hits the notes properly. The live version he sings a few notes flatly. There is no feedback from any instruments in the studio version, or any drum clicks and no improvisation from the performers. The instruments are in time because of metronome keeping all the performers in time. The main singer also provides his own harmonies for himself. This cannot be reproduced live as the performer can only sing the main lyrics. The instruments in the live version do not overpower each other, they have been levelled to stay at the same level throughout.

During the live performance of “Everybody Hurts” there is feedback that can be heard at 0:23. The studio version does not have any feedback, as the recording would be recorded again so the feedback is not in the song. To fix this i would make sure all instruments are no wear close to speakers as well as lower the gain to prevent any feedback. The vocals are not as perfect in the live version like the studio version, this is because the voice was edited to sound better using EQ and some inserts as well as recording the voice over and over until it was perfect. To fix the live version i would make the performer warm up his vocals, as well as make sure he was hydrated. This would partly ensure a better performance.

The audience can be heard in the recording of the live version, where as in the studio recording there is no audience or any other audio leaking into the microphone. To fix this I would either lower the gain of the microphones so it picks up the audio less. 

The live performance also includes the performer starting to improvise some of the lyrics that are different to the studio version. To fix this and make the live version sound similar to the studio, i would tell the performer to sing the exact lyrics previously. The beginning part of the live version includes the drum clicking his drumsticks together to count the rest of the band in. This is not included in the studio version as it is cut out to make it sound more professional. To fix this I would have either played a metronome track through their earphones so they can keep in time. The performer moves around on stage as well, distancing himself from the microphone and getting closer. Meaning some parts of the vocals are either louder or quieter rather than being a constant volume. Especially during the live version near the end, the performer leaves the microphone and starts singing to the crowd without it, meaning you cannot hear him. This ruins the performance, as all you can hear is the guitar and drums. To fix this i would use a lapel microphone or wireless headphone. This would mean the performer would not need wires and can move around but still be heard. The microphone for the vocals does not have a pop shield either, meaning it is possible to hear pops from the performer. The studio version most likely used a pop shield to prevent any pops from occurring. To fix this I would make sure the live version would have a pop shield on the microphone. The live performance of “Everybody Hurts” was played in a large open environment; this means the reverb is different compared to the studio version. The studio has little to none reverb since it was probably recorded in a small room with reverb shielding.