Alpha Beta Base's "Gravity"

[LeeRosario]

just uploaded a new song on my link called "Gravity". I actually co-wrote this one, so it might sound more pop than the other songs ABB has been working on. A lot of people seem to dig this one, so I think that's a start.

The mix is still being tweaked on, so the download will come soon enough (for those who are interested).

I dig the overall message of the song, "The only thing that brings me down is the gravity all around..."

Mixwise, as usual, I try to take your overall input and find the happy medium. Considering all the different listening environments out there. But still important.

Anywho, have a listen and comment always appreciated

Gravity


Lee

[rayc]

The choppy rhythm seems a little lopsided or is it just one channel is a little heavier on all around.
The vocals remind me of They Might Be Giants. The delivery too & this is enhanced by the pun in the lyric.
The bass guitar needs a little definition & I'm not sure the drum break & fade works without something over the top - I reckon it needs a bar or 2 of the choppy guitar then the vocal refrain without guitar then the chop then vocal again.
Mind you if the aim is to create an expectation of a reprise & therefore tension when it doesn't arrive it works really well.
Again a really good piece of work Lee.

[knugen]

I liked this song, the mix could be a bit better though. One thing is that the guitars sound a bit distant. The vocals could also be brought a bit up. The singer has a cool voice and the song has a cool melody, it should show a bit more.

[LeeRosario]

The choppy rhythm seems a little lopsided or is it just one channel is a little heavier on all around.

Good point. It could be the approach to the mixing. I usually have one of the guitars (in the pair) with an aux send to a verb, the other dry. Also, it may be some supporting guitar work going on behind it. Perhaps giving an uneasy feeling that I didnt catch the first time.

The vocals remind me of They Might Be Giants. The delivery too & this is enhanced by the pun in the lyric.

Can't say I heard them, but now I want to! :d Any good album/song recommendations?

The bass guitar needs a little definition & I'm not sure the drum break & fade works without something over the top - I reckon it needs a bar or 2 of the choppy guitar then the vocal refrain without guitar then the chop then vocal again.

Extremely good point. Listening to it over and over, I find that it almost goes alright, but that it leans more towards the sterile side. I guess that depends on the day and the mood I'm listening in.

So I don't know if some kind of effect would work out, or like you mentioned, finding an appropiate guitar segment to tie that in.

Mind you if the aim is to create an expectation of a reprise & therefore tension when it doesn't arrive it works really well.
Again a really good piece of work Lee.

That gives me something to think about. Ray, the words are very much appreciated.

[LeeRosario]

Originally Posted by knugen

I liked this song, the mix could be a bit better though. One thing is that the guitars sound a bit distant. The vocals could also be brought a bit up. The singer has a cool voice and the song has a cool melody, it should show a bit more.

Ahh, you said exactly what I was thinking today in the car. That's gotta be the hardest part, cause these are the phenomenons that make my mix desicions harder:


1- On the studio speakers (in a pretty controlled space) the levels sound about right

2- At low level (on the studio speakers) vocals stick out just enough to be heard. At high level, seems to be fine without any track really drowning out the other.

3- Now in my car (honda civic, 2002) the imaging goes completely out the window. Guitars suddenly become too loud, the vocals get drowned out, the bass is less defined. But then again, that has happened with some of the other major label releases I've been referencing to. In fact, I completely missed 90% of the lyrics in "Tool's 10 thousand Days" album.

4- I bring the rough mix in my friends car (nissan maxima), and the levels are smooth and perfect again.

5- Same mix on his consumer home system, vocals start getting a little buried.

6- Same mix on another friend's incredibly poo poo computer speakers, the mix sounds great again.

I suppose I'm trying to get a feel for all these different environment's I'm listening through and all the considerations (level, referencing, the different D/A conversion on the systems I've been listening on).

But in this case, I think the vocal line would benefit from a couple more db.


appreciate the input and the comment

[rayc]

They Might Be Giants - Flood. An excellent example - they also have a greatest hits type set.
Good to see you're trying the mix on diff equip.
I use a cassette boombox, 2 domestic stereo systems and a walkman. I tried the car thing a couple of times but it almost always sounds wrong & people either tweak the hell out of car systems or never touch them except for vol. (my wife for instance doesn't even know how to adjust balance in the car she's had for a decade).