Hide the Bones mix

[g0dmoney]

http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/328...wn_NewVox-.mp3

Please check this song out and let me know what you think about the mix, the writing, whatever. I'm open to suggestions on whatever you've got. I think the highs might be too hot but my ears are tired and I don't know anymore lol.

By the way, this has some explicit language and stuff.

[eyema_believer]

OK....

Nice effort here. The double tracked guitars are cool... Solid drum programming.
So, here are my thoughts about things I think you could improve, sans my thoughts on some of the expletives
The kick drum needs some attack, a "click" so that you can hear it, even through a walkman-type headphone. In this genre of music, there is so much going on "down low" that things can quickly turn to mush. So, a little attention to detail with the kick drum, and maybe think about making the bass guitar more distinguishable from the lead guitar, if that would be appropriate for this style. The conversion to MP3 is no doubt not helping.
The ride cymbal sample you are using is giving away the fact that it's not a real cymbal. It sounds very machine-like. Turn it down, compress it, and eq it until you can't tell it's not real. Or, maybe use some open high-hats in its place, 1/4 notes instead of 1/8s.
The snare sounds too wimpy for how aggresive this song is. What are you using for drums? If you are using an outboard drum machine, you may be well served to record each drum and cymbal on it's own seperate audio track, so you can have better control of each element. Yes, I know that would be a lot of work, but it would be worth it in the long run. What are you recording audio into? A computer, or what?

Peace!

~Shawn

[g0dmoney]

Originally Posted by eyema_believer

OK....

Nice effort here. The double tracked guitars are cool... Solid drum programming.
So, here are my thoughts about things I think you could improve, sans my thoughts on some of the expletives
The kick drum needs some attack, a "click" so that you can hear it, even through a walkman-type headphone. In this genre of music, there is so much going on "down low" that things can quickly turn to mush. So, a little attention to detail with the kick drum, and maybe think about making the bass guitar more distinguishable from the lead guitar, if that would be appropriate for this style. The conversion to MP3 is no doubt not helping.
The ride cymbal sample you are using is giving away the fact that it's not a real cymbal. It sounds very machine-like. Turn it down, compress it, and eq it until you can't tell it's not real. Or, maybe use some open high-hats in its place, 1/4 notes instead of 1/8s.
The snare sounds too wimpy for how aggresive this song is. What are you using for drums? If you are using an outboard drum machine, you may be well served to record each drum and cymbal on it's own seperate audio track, so you can have better control of each element. Yes, I know that would be a lot of work, but it would be worth it in the long run. What are you recording audio into? A computer, or what?

Peace!

~Shawn

I'm using Drumkit From Hell and a Tascam US-122 audio interface/Adobe Audition 3.0. The only problem I have with the drums on this one is I programmed them in FLStudio so I can't control the individual tracks and I'm too lazy to reprogram them in Reaper but I'm considering it. I can't get my bass to sound worth a crap for some reason. It's a P-Bass and I'm using the US-122 like a DI and then running it through the amplitube plugin. So I just kinda made it fit under the guitars.

[Coughmist]

I would work on the drums some, but this is definitely a cool song. Cool breakdowns. cool groove. nice tones and vox. If the drums are one track, there are some things you can do to alter the sound. eyema made some good points.

[g0dmoney]

Originally Posted by Coughmist

I would work on the drums some, but this is definitely a cool song. Cool breakdowns. cool groove. nice tones and vox. If the drums are one track, there are some things you can do to alter the sound. eyema made some good points.

yeah you're right, i think ill mess with the eq and see if i can get more click out of the kick and i'll resave the drum track with the ride a little quieter. i'll even mess with some of the humanizing effects on the ride and bring more snap to the snare. thanks!

[eyema_believer]

Originally Posted by g0dmoney

I'm using Drumkit From Hell and a Tascam US-122 audio interface/Adobe Audition 3.0. The only problem I have with the drums on this one is I programmed them in FLStudio so I can't control the individual tracks and I'm too lazy to reprogram them in Reaper but I'm considering it. I can't get my bass to sound worth a crap for some reason. It's a P-Bass and I'm using the US-122 like a DI and then running it through the amplitube plugin. So I just kinda made it fit under the guitars.

OK... I don't know anything about any of the software you're using, so help me fumble through and ask stupid questions.... so you're saying that you can't export your drum tracks from FL studio as a midi file, and bring them into Reaper? Or, could you play your drum tracks one at a time from FL(snare, bass, cymbals, etc), and record the output of your soundcard into Reaper (as audio)?

~S

[DavidK]

Definitely a cool song. Nice vibe to it.

[g0dmoney]

Originally Posted by eyema_believer

OK... I don't know anything about any of the software you're using, so help me fumble through and ask stupid questions.... so you're saying that you can't export your drum tracks from FL studio as a midi file, and bring them into Reaper? Or, could you play your drum tracks one at a time from FL(snare, bass, cymbals, etc), and record the output of your soundcard into Reaper (as audio)?

~S

well i'm not sure honestly. i programmed them with the drum roll tool. (drum roll takes up one midi track) so all the notes are basically on one midi track timeline.. if that makes any sense. i guess i could just take screenshots of the patterns and reprogram them. i use reaper now for the sake of realism anyhow. i found a REALLY good premixed drum template an audio engineer uses with a perfect kick and snare sound that should definitely remedy the things you mentioned. and i can play with the cymbals a little better having them on seperate tracks.

edit: drumkit from hell is a vst plugin that uses another app as it's host program. reaper seems to be more flexible with what you can do with DFH. flstudio is actually a sequencing program that uses wav samples and such so i could only get DFH to load and work with the piano roll i mentioned earlier. in other words, i can't figure out how to assign the tracks to seperate midi tracks in FLStudio. lol i'm fumbling myself... way to early right now hehe

[g0dmoney]

Originally Posted by DavidK

Definitely a cool song. Nice vibe to it.

thanks david, i'd give you some rep but it says i gotta spread some love first

[rayc]

Apart from getting a drummer I can't offer much! I'd like my own drummer too - I hear... no I'd better not get into drummer jokes - Greg & RAMI may be lurking!

[g0dmoney]

Originally Posted by rayc

Apart from getting a drummer I can't offer much! I'd like my own drummer too - I hear... no I'd better not get into drummer jokes - Greg & RAMI may be lurking!

What do you call a guy who hangs out with 3 musicians? A drummer.
What's the difference between a drummer and a pizza? The pizza can feed a family of 4... lol
On a serious note. If a drummer wants to give this a go I'd be more than down with it.

[cmhansen]

Listened to this last night and again this afternoon. Really cool tune. Guess I'm in the same boat as you. No drummer. I thought the drums sounded pretty good myself. Then again people say my programmed drums sound lousy so what do I know.

[ido1957]

Just a bit too much snap on the snare for me. The rest of the mix sounds pretty solid. Wondering whether you took the drums down a bit they wouldn't sound so snappy and not stand out so much.

DFH is a good product from what I've heard, not real but good sounding anyway.

The more "gruff" vocals came out nice. Your doubling of vocals worked out well...

[g0dmoney]

Originally Posted by ido1957

Just a bit too much snap on the snare for me. The rest of the mix sounds pretty solid. Wondering whether you took the drums down a bit they wouldn't sound so snappy and not stand out so much.

DFH is a good product from what I've heard, not real but good sounding anyway.

The more "gruff" vocals came out nice. Your doubling of vocals worked out well...

instead of bring down the drums i might bring up the guitar and vox a little leaving the bass and drums where they're at.. im gonna play with it and post a new mix up today probably. thanks for the advice everyone