Home recording mixing advice

big electric cat · Post by **big electric cat** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:12 am

Well, here I am again....

Like I said the session went well last week and thanks again for everyone's input on setting it up. I've been mixing it for a few hours every day since.

I've really been trying to focus on my mixing this year as I suck at it.

I thought I'd been making improvements and I was reasonably happy that I'd got the basics of this mix right. However, the band aren't very happy with it.

I'd really appreciate it if some of you guys could give it a listen and tell me what you think the problems are.

My main concern is the frequency range. Are all the frequencies adequately represented, could this 'sound like a record'

I'm so frustrated just now. I need some help.

Without limiting
http://www.driveway.com/z5g5u8h4e3

With limiting
http://search3.idrive.com/driveway/jsp/ ... h7v9g5g8t9

I'll be eternally grateful if some of you guys can spare the time to listen to these files and give me your honest opinions.

Tony

P.S The vox are being re-recorded tomorrow.

firesine · Post by **firesine** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:16 pm

The main problem I hear (other than the vox which you already hear) Is the bass.
It has a nice fat bottom and cool string sound, but that is being completely dominated by low mid mud. It might just be a level thing, a few dB can sometimes fix problems like this.
However I would also suggest trying some subtractive EQ in the low mid range.
Maybe something musical with a wide Q, or maybe a notch at 350Hz... I really don't know but I would mess around with a cut in that area and see if that clears up the mix.

and turn off the limiter!

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:13 pm

I agree; the bass is a tad heavy; I'd look to lower it and maybe do some EQ, a little cut at 400Hz? A little shelving?

Also, me, I would look to pan/spread the guitar stuff some even if artificially ...

Same with the BV's.

Reminds me of Sugartooth; pretty cool!

big electric cat · Post by **big electric cat** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:03 pm

Thanks a lot for listening guys, you have given me some perspective.

I have something to aim at now.

Thanks again,

Tony

solo-bration · Post by **solo-bration** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 4:14 am

it may not be your (or the bands preference), but personally I'd like to hear a little more attack on the kick. maybe pull out some 300/400hz(mud) and add a smidge around 2 or 3k(click). the snare is quite present - I'd maybe try to get the kick to match that presence in the mix.

my 1 cent.

David Piper · Post by **David Piper** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:59 am

Cool song.

I like the bass sound in the beginning. There is something kind of Breeders-esque about it.

I think the Kick drum is too 'thumpy', and probably just a little too loud. I agree with the previous poster who said it needs more attack.

In fact, I think the drums feel a little loud in general. To me, the cool part of this song is the bass and drums in the verses (I like the way everything sort of clears out of the way of the vocal), and then all the loud, sloppy (in a good way) guitars in the choruses. I think the guitars could be louder and sloppier!

The vocal is pretty dry. It might be a matter of taste, but I could hear a version of this where the vocal is a lot wetter, with some reverbs and delays around it to create more sonic interest. Especially as it kicks into the chorus with the lyric "find the way".

Good luck and post your next mix!

big electric cat · Post by **big electric cat** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:51 am

Thanks a million for all the tips and advice.

I've tried to implement as much advice as I was able to.

Some of you said you'd listen to the remix so here goes:

Without limiting

http://www.driveway.com/d6a2f7v6z3

With limiting and a little EQ

http://www.driveway.com/q4j8m2s9o8

Thanks again for all the help so far. Any criticism of the mix is gladly received, I'm hoping this mix will transfer and could be considered broadcast quality...

Tony

noon · Post by **noon** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:42 am

The guitars sound better on this last mix, in my opinion; a little fuzzier. I agree that they deserve more prominence and rawness.
I wish the vocals were more submerged/integrated with the whole. They're too center stage and on top for my taste. A sensitive performance may warrant such treatment, but in this type of song, I would shoot for a more cohesive, less 'classic' sound.

big electric cat · Post by **big electric cat** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:42 am

Thanks for listening Noon, I agree about the vocals, I'd like to compress them harder and lower the volume... The lead singer disagrees....

Ideally I'd have the skills to drill some eq holes in the guitar so they'd sit nice but I'm not that skilled yet but I am working my way towards it.

Thanks a lot for listening, I really appreciate it,

Tony

David Piper · Post by **David Piper** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 10:01 pm

The guitars sound better in the second mix! I still think the kick drum is a little loud. Are you waiting for it to get squashed a little in mastering?

ZacharieDaquiriDoc · Post by **ZacharieDaquiriDoc** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:52 pm

My main concern is the frequency range. Are all the frequencies adequately represented, could this 'sound like a record'

I'm so frustrated just now. I need some help.

Nobody can help you here, but you are not alone. My shite is way too muddy to have a taste. Head or Monitor mix? Sorry but this guy wont download just anything. Good Luck.

Pascal Garneau · Post by **Pascal Garneau** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:10 pm

The most glaring problems for me, and what's making this sound like a demo and NOT like a real record, are the vocal sound and the kick drum sound.

Most importantly, the vocals sound way too clean and up front for this type of song. The singer sounds completely detached from the rest of the recording. Maybe listen to a record that both you and the singer like and compare the vocal sound to what you have now.

The kick drum is also completely wrong for this style of music. I'll admit that I usually favor a warm, round kick sound that doesn't draw too much attention to itself, but that's because I am into very different styles of music than this record. If I were you, I would drastically revise the sound you are going for here with the kick. Something less Dr. Dre and more modern rock, perhaps? If you can't bring out that sound with what you have recorded, you might have to consider sweetening it with a drum sample that cuts better.

I agree that the guitars could spread out a bit, but it's not nearly as crucial as the other things I mentioned. If the guitars are already double-tracked, try panning them wider. If not, maybe try a fake stereo thing like sending a slightly delayed version of the guitar track panned to one side with original panned the other way.

joerice010 · Post by **joerice010** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:35 am

Hey sorry got no advice for you as i know nothing at the moment, but just wanted to say that songs fkn sick dude. u got any others???

ZacharieDaquiriDoc · Post by **ZacharieDaquiriDoc** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:16 am

Pascal Garneau wrote: The most glaring problems for me, and what's making this sound like a demo and NOT like a real record, are the vocal sound and the kick drum sound.

----+ i am going add, tom tom rolls/fills really make everything come to a head in the mix, certain points sounded really dense, unclear.

Pascal Garneau wrote:Maybe listen to a record that both you and the singer like and compare the vocal sound to what you have now.

----+ this is great advice. I feel the vocals sounded like they were recorded in a really dead "not so great way" room. Maybe try experiment catching vocal sounds that lay in the mix well with a different room?. I dont know?

Pascal Garneau wrote:I agree that the guitars could spread out a bit, but it's not nearly as crucial as the other things I mentioned. If the guitars are already double-tracked, try panning them wider. If not, maybe try a fake stereo thing like sending a slightly delayed version of the guitar track panned to one side with original panned the other way.

-----+ Some of the variations ,around your vocals, with the second guitar, sound like they were mic'd the same way,maybe even through the same rig? Stereo is meant to be used, spread'em I suppose.. I would try to use more tonal distinguishment between your lickity lick licks. Best of luck.

cyantologist · Post by **cyantologist** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:47 am

big electric cat wrote: Ideally I'd have the skills to drill some eq holes in the guitar so they'd sit nice but I'm not that skilled yet but I am working my way towards it.

I'm still pretty new to mixing and still have a lot of learning ahead of me, but I'll throw out a couple ideas that I've found helpful when doing my own mixes:

The guitar tracks will probably have enough low frequency already, so don't just go nuts with boosting low frequencies. They can probably be left alone with no boosts needed.

Start by hi-passing the guitar track at around 100hz (adjust to taste depending on your mix) and while you're at it you may want to throw on a low pass filter at the other end of the spectrum to cut out unnecessary high frequency info (like above 10k - the goal is to remove all the unused freqs. so this shouldn't really be affecting the tone too much except will maybe cut out some air).

Set one band with a very narrow q and boost the gain way up high. Use this like a microscope to find trouble harmonics. Scroll across slowly, and if you hear an area that sounds hollow or has a ringing sound, then give it a good cut, also using a narrow q.

You may want to make a pretty wide cut around 400-500hz to take out some mids on the guitar track, but don't over do it.

After that stuff is done, the guitars may sound just fine. If they still just don't sound the way you want them, then go back and do some tweaking of your own. Try to be conservative with boosts when necessary, and use a wide q.

Hope that will at least help someone. Cool song!

Message Board

Home recording mixing advice

Home recording mixing advice

Re: Home recording mixing advice

Hey

Who is online