I think I'm getting better at this!

[elbandito]

What do you guys think about this mix? I'd like it to be a little fuller sounding but damn that accordion is hard to mix!

Following some advice that I got here on the last track I posted, I tried to make sure that the vocals were crisp, clear and easy to understand and tried to take it easy on the compression. Any and all constructive criticism would be very much appreciated!

 

[robgreen]

Nice tune there bandito. I like the arrangement, the accordian and there's some nice separation between the main and background vocals. Main vocal coming through nice and clear too.

I'd back off on the vocal doubling, at least for part of the song - it feels too gimmicky over the course of the whole song for me. It may work to just lower one of the doubled parts in the mix so that it isn't so obvious. Also, the guitar part it played well, but either because of the recording or the mix, it lacks a bit of body. I think it needs to be more gutsy and contribute to the low end of the mix more.

Real good song you've got

 

[elbandito]

The vocal doubling isn't across the whole track, actually. It's only on certain parts - mostly the chorus'. Maybe it's the reverb that you're hearing... I doubled the two vocal tracks, then applied reverb to them, panned them hard L+R and turned them way down in the mix, hoping that they'd make the vox sound fuller. There are probably some parts that don't need the doubling at all though. You're right about that.

As for the guitar, it must be the way I recorded it cuz it seems that no matter what I do, I can't seem to make it bassier without it sounding muddy. I'll keep at it, though. Any suggestions on how to rescue it?

Thanks for listening, robgreen! I was beginning to think that the 20+ viewers of the thread hated it so much that it wasn't even worth replying. Either that, or it was so awesome that they were all hard at work trying to do better.

 

[Manslick]

This is an interesting mix of Indian, Cajun and Goth. A bit of Stevie Nix too.

I like the double tracked vox myself.

That "gotta get" at 326 is wild, like a turntable scratch almost.

Unusual vocalist to my ear.

 

[rayc]

A bit Tracey Ullman or Rachel Sweet vocally - neither being a bad thing.
I like the song & mix BUT I was desperate for some bottom end by 2 mins in. Some bass or even a tambor or bohdrin.
Cool song!

 

[robgreen]

The vocal doubling isn't across the whole track, actually. It's only on certain parts - mostly the chorus'. Maybe it's the reverb that you're hearing... I doubled the two vocal tracks, then applied reverb to them, panned them hard L+R and turned them way down in the mix, hoping that they'd make the vox sound fuller. There are probably some parts that don't need the doubling at all though. You're right about that.

As for the guitar, it must be the way I recorded it cuz it seems that no matter what I do, I can't seem to make it bassier without it sounding muddy. I'll keep at it, though. Any suggestions on how to rescue it?

Thanks for listening, robgreen! I was beginning to think that the 20+ viewers of the thread hated it so much that it wasn't even worth replying. Either that, or it was so awesome that they were all hard at work trying to do better.

It was mainly at the beginning of the tune and on the first listen that the vocal doubling didn't sit too well with me. I listened back another couple of times and it started to sit better in my ears, so just take as one person's opinion!

Re. the guitar sound - how close does it sound on the recorded song compared with its sound when you're just playing it in general? If there's a big difference, then it must be down to your recording, if not then you may just have a guitar without much body to the sound I guess?

Other than that, how are you recording it and what with? Is it mic'd in or lined and if it's mic'd - what microphone are you using and where are you positioning it?

Certainly not a song that wasn't worth replying to, I liked it a lot. 20 odd views for 1 reply may well be average for the forum!

 

[Tobe]

Accordion is easy to mix, and 0 is a nice round number. (at least mix it down to 0 on occasion)

Loved the vocal and its treatment, although it did take a few lines to get used to, but that’s good.

 

[THEMUSICJUNKY]

I am not going to lie, i thought the vox were like pitch shifted like the chipmunks. Then after they sat for a moment they got a little more manageable for me. The are good, but that voice isn't my cupotea. The song is well crafted and performed...for some reason it makes me want to slit my wrist in a bath tub?

 

[arcadeko]

That is totally awesome. Great arrangement and performance. Mix sounds good.

 

[elbandito]

It was mainly at the beginning of the tune and on the first listen that the vocal doubling didn't sit too well with me. I listened back another couple of times and it started to sit better in my ears, so just take as one person's opinion!

Re. the guitar sound - how close does it sound on the recorded song compared with its sound when you're just playing it in general? If there's a big difference, then it must be down to your recording, if not then you may just have a guitar without much body to the sound I guess?

Other than that, how are you recording it and what with? Is it mic'd in or lined and if it's mic'd - what microphone are you using and where are you positioning it?

Certainly not a song that wasn't worth replying to, I liked it a lot. 20 odd views for 1 reply may well be average for the forum!

I decided that there could be less of the doubling in the beginning of the song. I think you were right about that but still, if Butch Vig can get away with it...

As for the guitar, I used a Rode M3 and an AT4040. The 4040 at the 12th fret and the M3 pointing at the soundhole. I decided to try it out because I feel that the 4040 doesn't have *it* when it comes to recording acoustic guitar. It feels like it lacks depth, whereas the M3 seems like it is a little better with adding some heft but it doesn't have the highs that the 4040 has. I've worked on it a little more and added a little around 400Hz and that helped some but not a lot. I'm gonna have to keep experimenting with my mic setups.

I agree with the lack of bottom end in the track and I think I'm gonna drop a little bass guitar in there to try to fill it out some. The more I listen to it, the more the lack of bass gets to me.

Accordion is easy to mix, and 0 is a nice round number. (at least mix it down to 0 on occasion)

I don't understand what you mean when you say "mix it down to 0". Can you elaborate?

I am not going to lie, i thought the vox were like pitch shifted like the chipmunks. Then after they sat for a moment they got a little more manageable for me. The are good, but that voice isn't my cupotea. The song is well crafted and performed...for some reason it makes me want to slit my wrist in a bath tub?

LOL! There's no pitch shifting at all, man. That's the voice in all its chipmunky glory. Personally, I think it's awesome. It's Billy Corgan's voice that really grates on my ears. That bathtub comment, though... that's hilarious.