Ghost of New Orleans - any suggestions?

[HeyHeyMyMy]

Finished up this song a couple of months back and then let it sit for a while. Now that I listen to it, I feel like it could be mixed better.

I was wondering if anyone had any advice as to things that might / should be changed, particularly concerning the end piece with the backup vocals, organ, mandolin, etc.

http://www.paulartson.com/downloads/...ew_orleans.mp3

Thanks.

Paul

[patlang12]

I'm listening on headphones so I can't really comment on the mix, but I like the song a lot.

[Greg_L]

Vocals are way middy and loud. The rest is okay.

On a personal level, I don't really like this song. I grew up in New Orleans. It just sounds like some cheapo statement at their expense.

[HeyHeyMyMy]

Originally Posted by Greg_L

Vocals are way middy and loud. The rest is okay.

On a personal level, I don't really like this song. I grew up in New Orleans. It just sounds like some cheapo statement at their expense.

I'll see what I can do about the vocals.

Regarding your other note: Fair enough. Sorry that the statement sounds cheap. Certainly wasn't my intention.

[HeyHeyMyMy]

Originally Posted by patlang12

I'm listening on headphones so I can't really comment on the mix, but I like the song a lot.

Thanks very much for taking a listen. Glad you like it.

[CIRO]

Hey, Paul

Congrats, excellent recording.

I don´t have advices to another mix, sounds really good as it is, very "analog fell" (the intro hiss have to do with tape)?
What mics/pre are you using?

About vox compression in the mix (altough I suppose you compressed in the recording, am I wrong?), is the only thing is a little (not too much) "over" (0:55, for example).



Ciro
www.soundclick.com/openstation

[HeyHeyMyMy]

Originally Posted by CIRO

Hey, Paul

Congrats, excellent recording.

I don´t have advices to another mix, sounds really good as it is, very "analog fell" (the intro hiss have to do with tape)?
What mics/pre are you using?

About vox compression in the mix (altough I suppose you compressed in the recording, am I wrong?), is the only thing is a little (not too much) "over" (0:55, for example).

Hi, Ciro,

Thanks for the comments. I'll take a look at the over compression issue around 0:55. I didn't compress on the way in, but used a couple of software compressors on the vocal.

The mics and pres for the voice was an SM7b through a DAV BG1. Guitars and mandolin were a pair of Naiants through the DAV.

Thanks again for taking a listen. I'll see if I can tame that compression a bit.

Paul

[DavidK]

I lived in New Orleans too, and like the lyrics.

[santiu]

Sounds good. Nice song. Like others have said, voc could come down a bit, and maybe use a little EQ.

Ciro, good ears! I'm not sure if it's a compression artifact (I'm new at this), but when i heard the song, there's definitely some subtle weird thing going on when the vocals peak.

[HeyHeyMyMy]

Originally Posted by DavidK

I lived in New Orleans too, and like the lyrics.

Thanks, DavidK. Glad to hear that the appeal of the lyrics wasn't a cut and dry thing.

Santiu - Good advice on the vocal level, I've heard that from others as well. Any thoughts on where the vocal could use a little EQ? Seems to me that some weird shit happened to the song in general when I threw a limited plugin on it. The song used to fade out naturally, but the limiter seems to be grabbing it in a weird way. I wonder if that has anything to do with the strange way that other parts of the song are peaking? Maybe I should try another mix without the limiter plug.

Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone. Very much appreciated.

Paul