Distorted guitar mids

[NL5]

Eck -

You really should set pride aside and listen to what everyone is telling you. I've noticed the same things for quite awhile. It's not a bash on you at all. It takes time to develop your ears - which is something I still struggle with (especially since I have MDS (Marshall Deafness Syndrome) . You also will come to realize that you recording environment, and your mixing environment can make things a LOT easier, or next to impossible. Which I believe is where most of your problem lies.

Remember the drum thread you made? I asked how close the drums were to the wall? I already knew the answer. You can hear the comb filtering problems clear as day.

Anyway, keep your chin up, but listen to the critiques. I had a hard time accepting them at first too, but now, I search them out. I still stink at mixing, but thanks to all the great help I received around here, I can make a recording that doesn't sound like complete crap.

 

[HangDawg]

I'm not trying to bash him either. The reason I've carried this on as long as I have is I just made a huge change in my mixing environment for the better ( It's about 2.5x larger and treated well). He keeps saying there's mud and everyone else says I need more low mids. When I listen to his examples, they are pretty crisp. To the point of agony almost.

 

[chessrock]

I just like to razz the guy because he has "million dollar ears" in his sig.

If you're going to go around advertising that stuff, you'd better be able to back it up at least somewhat.

.

 

[ecktronic]

eck, I just listened to your MySpace clips. If you're using upper mids and lower highs to mask muddiness, you're succeeding at the expense of balance. Hopefully your room needs tuning. I am absolutely not itching for a pissing match, just my observation... FWIW

I cut roughly around 290Hz (depending on the mix obviously) to cut mud, and high mids to bring out presence.

Im not sure I get what you mean by "you're succeeding at the expense of balance." Could you please re word it?

Cheers,
Eck

 

[MCI2424]

Alright, if anyone's interested ... I think the first song on the list "Blue Chair Monday" at least comes close to what I'd consider a decent guitar tone that I had a hand in. It wound up being a compromize. The guy got 1/2 his tone, and 1/2 mine, and it came out alright, I thought ...

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=1298&alid=1359

.

Guitars are pretty good but the drums sound really cheap (I mean the actual set).

Why do people enter a studio, pay to be recorded and have godawful instruments?

 

[ecktronic]

eck, I just listened to your MySpace clips. If you're using upper mids and lower highs to mask muddiness, you're succeeding at the expense of balance. Hopefully your room needs tuning. I am absolutely not itching for a pissing match, just my observation... FWIW

Forgot to mention, the Myspace clips are terrible and pretty muddy.
I produced them about 4 years ago. Ive learned alot since then although I'm still no pro recording engineer.
Heres some new recordings. I truely believe they don't sound that harsh although they are quite bright.

http://www.wildplum.co.uk/music_index.php?view_id=3350

Eck

 

[ecktronic]

Just an idea but have you tried the mesa? if the marshalls throwing problems, try the mesa! it might work out better for you. that said I always find mesas too smooth for metal (I know ther a staple in the metal industry) but marshalls seem to growl more especially for the sound your going for (well at least in the clips i heard)

My preferences aside Its worth a try!

The Mesa is the other guitarists and he prefers to keep our sounds quite different which I agree with also.

Cheers,
Eck

 

[ecktronic]

I'm not trying to bash him either. The reason I've carried this on as long as I have is I just made a huge change in my mixing environment for the better ( It's about 2.5x larger and treated well). He keeps saying there's mud and everyone else says I need more low mids. When I listen to his examples, they are pretty crisp. To the point of agony almost.

This is my mastering engineer.
http://www.heathmans.co.uk/dennis.html

It cost us £750 to get our album mastered by him.
He made it brighter than I had mixed it.

You can check out the masters at the link below.

http://www.serotoneband.co.uk/media.php


Is that sore on the ears? It sounds fine to me. The guitars are grainy and nasty in the high mids but they aren't sore on my ears and certainly not on Dennis's ears.

Eck

 

[ecktronic]

I just like to razz the guy because he has "million dollar ears" in his sig.

If you're going to go around advertising that stuff, you'd better be able to back it up at least somewhat.

.

Its just a bit of fun my signature.

Eck