Masel - 3-23-2014 at 06:13 AM
hi, my duo recorded a new video. like all our pieces i composed it. it has a kind of a swirling twirling rhythm. in maqam rast.
tell me also what you think of the mix, i did it all myself, still learning slowly...
enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-8sSqJiDhU
MatthewW - 3-25-2014 at 10:06 AM
well done Masel, it's not as easy as some may think to keep a piece of music moving along and be interesting for over 4 minutes.
In my opinion I think the balance of the mix could be improved, the oud needs to come out just in front of the rik a bit more. What mic are you using,
is it attached to the oud? A few dancing girls emerging from behind the tress and bushes might also help 
Masel - 3-25-2014 at 12:54 PM
Yes thanks, its not only 4 minutes we have an entire show! it is not easy but fun..
my pickup (you can see it is near my right leg) is a DPA 4099 it's a condenser
MatthewW - 3-26-2014 at 01:30 AM
how is the DPA 4099 attached? I also liked your other clip 'Orvim Urfa', with the four of you.
abousammy - 3-26-2014 at 08:48 AM
hi ,
what kind of string are you using for this duo
?
Masel - 3-26-2014 at 08:58 AM
ah orvim is a different band, we also just recorded a video, we'll release it soon 
this is my duo
the pickup has small square base, i put some sticky plastecene (spelling???) stuff and then go over it once with some gaffer (spelling??) tape.
the strings i use are pyramid lute they are the best i tried
Greg - 3-26-2014 at 04:42 PM
Hi Masel,
A very nice piece played well, thanks for sharing. You asked for comments about the mix, so I had a close listen through my Equator D5 studio
monitors.
The tone of both instruments sounds fine to me and the balance between oud and riq is also fine. I particularly like the fact that the riq's jingles
are not overpowering; a common problem.
Reverb is really good. It's hard to know how to place the instruments in the stereo spectrum when you have only two instruments. Your right channel
carries mostly oud and your left mostly riq. There is nothing at all in the centre. I would be inclined to bring both instruments in from the
extremities to get a truer stereo image.
Regards,
Greg
Masel - 3-30-2014 at 01:52 AM
thanks greg, some people said the riq and oud are too conflicting in the high frequencies and that i should have made space for just one
about the panning good comment i didnt notice it but will pay more attention next.
danieletarab - 12-14-2014 at 05:35 PM
Very good! I like it! Congratulations!
I also think that the oud should come out a little bit more out of the mix.
jack - 12-22-2014 at 06:28 PM
wonderful
fernandraynaud - 12-23-2014 at 03:44 AM
Love it. The piece is great. The way the natural stereo perspective is done works well with the video.
But I too would prefer the oud to be louder. So I would less worry about "photo realistic" field positions and build a stereo image using compression,
a strong center and with boosted midrange and bass AND treble, try using a multi-band compressor. You know, try one strong approach then another to
fill up both soundstage and spectrum, like commercial mixes. It's just disk space, you can always delete it ;-)
Masel - 12-23-2014 at 06:22 AM
thank you all for comments. mixing is no less an art than playing i guess, i still have a long way ahead of me
fernandraynaud - 12-23-2014 at 07:36 PM
I love the music, but one of my favorite parts about your video is how you guys smile at the beginning. Happy holidays!