Newb looking for Piano/Vocal mix feedback

**wolverine1190** · 02-03-2013

Hey guys,

The title basically says it all. I love music production, but don't have a lot of experience yet. My friend wanted to record a song of just piano and vocals so we did that, and now it's up to me to make it sound good. If I could get some feedback on what's wrong with the mix, what's right with it, what might make it better, etc. that would be fantastic! Thanks in advance.

https://soundcloud.com/wolverine1190/mix3

Some things to keep in mind/my current thoughts:

-It's by no means a perfect vocal performance, my friend is a pianist, not a vocalist
-my friend wants a warm piano sound, so it sounds kinda dark. I think it might be a bit muddy though.
-the overall sound is supposed to be pretty intimate, exposed, weak, etc in the quiet parts and my powerful in the loud parts

EDIT: Seems like soundcloud isn't working (unless it's just me). Hopefully it comes back up soon... In the meantime, here's an mp3 version mix3 .mp3

**jonny deep** · 02-04-2013

For someone who is not a vocalist, he sure can sing!

What did you use to record the vocal - it sounds pretty bad (the recording, not the performance). Is the room treated? Maybe there's too much processing in the mix?

May I suggest you help others as you expect to be helped in the clinic (even if it's just to let someone know you listened and liked something).

**Xaaron1377** · 02-04-2013

Great performance! He's a great singer and pianist.
The piano actually sounds pretty good to me; it conveys the mood perfectly. But then again, I'm not sure exactly what it is that you envision in your head.
Also, I agree that the vocals are a little bit muffled and unclear as said above.
Overall, I like it!

**panman79** · 02-04-2013

Vocals are not as clear as I would like. The piano is dark like you said. The piano lacks detail, really noticeable when the piano is solo. Let the piano take up all the sonic space until the vocals kick in, then automate. I like the music though. Good work so far.

**wolverine1190** · 02-04-2013

Thanks for the feedback. The vocals were recorded with a shure KSM 313 in a treated studio at the university I attend. The only processing done to the vocals is reverb, compression, and a wide gentle boost around 2 to 3 KHz. I added just enough to get the vocals to come out over the piano, but it does seem to lack some "air". I'll play with that. I'll definitely automate the piano as well, the middle of the stereo image does sound empty with the vocals go out now that you mention it. I'll get a revised version up as soon as I can. Thank you again!

(and I'll definitely be commenting on others' posts, I love this kind of stuff

)

**Illsidgus** · 02-04-2013

Great piano playing and nice voice. I think the vocalist needs to work on his articulation more. Muddled vocals can really kill a song for me. I want to hear and understand what is being sung.

**CMB Studios** · 02-04-2013

i'd take the lows on both the vocals and piano down a decent amount because they are both a bit muddy... .the warth he wants is definitely there from his playing.

**wolverine1190** · 02-05-2013

Originally Posted by jonny deep

What did you use to record the vocal - it sounds pretty bad (the recording, not the performance). Is the room treated? Maybe there's too much processing in the mix?

I'm working on the things suggested so far, but I'm kind of lost as to what to do with the vocal track. Jonny, you think the vocal track sounds "pretty bad", and although it's not perfect I can't seem to hear anything that would make me say that it's bad. Could you maybe be a bit more specific about why you think it sounds bad? The only thing I hear is that it might be a touch unclear (as others mentioned), but gently boosting the highs more (as I've already done some) results in the voice sounding harsh and essy, and cutting more lows results in the voice sounding kind of fake, thin, and telephony with no body and less harmonics. To me the track doesn't sound bad, so I guess I don't know what to aim at fixing since I don't know what's wrong.

**jonny deep** · 02-05-2013

Originally Posted by wolverine1190

I'm working on the things suggested so far, but I'm kind of lost as to what to do with the vocal track. Jonny, you think the vocal track sounds "pretty bad", and although it's not perfect I can't seem to hear anything that would make me say that it's bad. Could you maybe be a bit more specific about why you think it sounds bad? The only thing I hear is that it might be a touch unclear (as others mentioned), but gently boosting the highs more (as I've already done some) results in the voice sounding harsh and essy, and cutting more lows results in the voice sounding kind of fake, thin, and telephony with no body and less harmonics. To me the track doesn't sound bad, so I guess I don't know what to aim at fixing since I don't know what's wrong.

It kind of sounds a bit lo-fi. I don't know if there's a bit of noise or distortion or if it's just the encoding on Soundcloud or the MP3.

**TripleM** · 02-05-2013

Yeah i think the playing and singing is really good.

I agree with the advice of taming the lows off of both the vocal and piano. Probably more-so the piano. There were spots where the piano was covering the vocal. I think automation could fix that.

There is a little cloudiness to the piano. Maybe removing some low end will help with that. But you might need to treat the low mids too. Maybe a notch cut around 700hz-800hz, give or take.

I'm also hearing a couple of vocal artifacts e.g., 1:08, 1:37, 1:41. Little pops and clicks.