Listen Young Man

[DM60]

Hi, just received some new monitors and wanted to start getting a feel for them. Here is a mix I would like some feedback. He song has been up for a while. I remixed it after the new monitors, so the input will help me to adjust as needed.

Thanks for taking the time to listen.



Listen young man I've got something to say,
It ain't very pretty and it ain't for today
Your going around chasing woman and song
Won't be long before it all is gone

And I sit and I wonder
All the things I did wrong
I sit and I ponder
How I survived, at all

Listen young man I've got something to say
It ain't very pretty and it ain't for today
Plan for tomorrow, live for day
Won't be long it will all fade

I am here to tell you
So you learn from what I have done
I wonder and I hope
That listen, to this song

Listen young man I've got something to say
It ain't very pretty and it ain't for today
These old words have been spoken before
Yesterday and today, they're still ignored

 

[RAMI]

Digging it. The music sounds a bit distant compared to the vocal. Or, maybe that just means that the voclas are too loud? Who knows, I can't put my finger on it, just seems like everything but the vocals are far away. Maybe the guitars need some brightness, because a lack of highs can make something sound distant. I dig this, you got a Harry Chapin thing going on.

 

[Chili]

I was thinking the same about the vocals. I think you might be mixing at loud volumes and not checking the mix at low volumes. Besides that, everything else has a good balance. new monitors seem to be working good.

 

[robgreen]

Some really nice guitar on this one - it makes me think of the folky era Led Zep, which is my favourite era of their stuff. I agree with Chili and RAMI on the accompaniment being too quiet against the vocals - it sometimes amazes me how off my levels sound when I turn down the volume after mixing loud for an afternoon.

 

[DM60]

So, here is my excuse. I was working on the vocals on removing this frequency that was a problem. After I fixed what I thought was the problem, I didn't go back and lower the volume as it now sounded right. Lowered the vocal to get it to sit right (Updated with title to 1).

Yes, I was mixing at a louder volume (new speakers, you know).

Thanks again for the positive feedback.

 

[polarity]

For me the vocals still don't sound like they belong in the song. Almost like singing to a karaoke track.

I like the tune, I really dig the guitars.

 

[DM60]

OK, reduced the vocal volume, increased the compression threshold (not sure that is the right term, but it kicks in at a higher dB) and moved the high shelf to start around 8k.

Thanks for the inputs.

 

[ido1957]

I've got to say this is very nice writing just like Chapin. The droning bass or keyboard is not doing it for me, and I'd prefer to hear more highs on the guitars. I though the background overall a little cloudy if that makes sense...

 

[Tadpui]

Cool song, I like it overall. More highs on the guitars may not bother me, but I like how they sound here. The rhythm track ties it all together well.

The vocals have a mid frequency that whacked me over the ears a few times. But that may be my listening environment and not so much your mix. I've heard this same phenomenon on a few different mixes here in the clinic and the one common denominator is the horrid acoustics in my room. It's somewhere in that upper-midrange of the vocal track, and it only pokes out occasionally.

 

[DM60]

I've got to say this is very nice writing just like Chapin. The droning bass or keyboard is not doing it for me, and I'd prefer to hear more highs on the guitars. I though the background overall a little cloudy if that makes sense...

Thanks for the feedback.

It is a bass, unless you could be referring to the mouth harp. I have the mouth harp in there in places, the instrument looks easy, but harder than one thinks. No keyboards in this one, so it is either my bass playing, which was intended to stay simple, or the mouth harp.

Thanks again, see if I can't make a few more adjustments.

 

[DM60]

Cool song, I like it overall. More highs on the guitars may not bother me, but I like how they sound here. The rhythm track ties it all together well.

The vocals have a mid frequency that whacked me over the ears a few times. But that may be my listening environment and not so much your mix. I've heard this same phenomenon on a few different mixes here in the clinic and the one common denominator is the horrid acoustics in my room. It's somewhere in that upper-midrange of the vocal track, and it only pokes out occasionally.

I don't think it is your environment. If it is what I think it is, that is the area I've struggled with. Just pops out when my voice pushes a little. I will do a little more work to see if I can't tame it.

Thanks for listening.

 

[PDP]

Very nice work. Great song and performance.

When I play acoustic I have to put the mic very close, for some reason even a foot gives me too much room sound. I think if you have a light touch you might consider that. How far are you mic-ing now?

Also, what monitors did you get?

 

[DM60]

Very nice work. Great song and performance.

When I play acoustic I have to put the mic very close, for some reason even a foot gives me too much room sound. I think if you have a light touch you might consider that. How far are you mic-ing now?

Also, what monitors did you get?

On this one, I was about a foot-two feet out. I have a pretty dead room, but I still try to eliminate it as much as possible, so I stay close.

I got a pair of KRK Rokit8s, G2. They were on sale for $149 ea. on Amazon. The G3s came out, so they were probably trying to reduce inventory, but this was the price I couldn't pass up. G2s sound new to me.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[TripleM]

In general it sounded pretty good. I agree there is a vocal similarity with Harry Chapin.

I thought the instruments were missing some top end. Like there was a low pass at 8K set on everything but the vocal.

There is also some odd effect on the vocal. Like a chorus or flange or something. Every once in a while it pops thru and sounds kind of strange.

Other than that, I thought it was good.

 

[DM60]

In general it sounded pretty good. I agree there is a vocal similarity with Harry Chapin.

I thought the instruments were missing some top end. Like there was a low pass at 8K set on everything but the vocal.

I will give that another look.

There is also some odd effect on the vocal. Like a chorus or flange or something. Every once in a while it pops thru and sounds kind of strange.

Other than that, I thought it was good.

Yes, all I can think is that my voice just doesn't work that range for the song. I have tried to EQ it out, but can't seem to get rid of it.

Thanks for listening.

 

[dobro]

How about a harmony vocal on the chorus?

Sound: is that room sound on the vocal, or an effect? If it's an effect, tweak it or remove it.

Cool tune. Nice sound. Gorgeous music.

 

[dobro]

Yes, all I can think is that my voice just doesn't work that range for the song. I have tried to EQ it out, but can't seem to get rid of it.

It's not the range of your voice (which is fine for the song) and it's not something you can EQ out. I'm guessing it's not an effect. Where'd you record it?

 

[DM60]

It's not the range of your voice (which is fine for the song) and it's not something you can EQ out. I'm guessing it's not an effect. Where'd you record it?

I think I found the culprit. I am using a reverb on a return channel. I have it so low, just for a little roominess, I didn't think it would be the cause of the problem. Switched it out with another verb and the problem seems to be gone.

My room is causing some issues, now that I can hear better, I am going to start treating the room. I am going to start with some wall treatments (or create a small partition to record in) to tame the highs.

I really appreciate all of the feed back.

 

[rpm61]

That's an interesting sound, I like the guitar work also - it's kind of hypnotic. I like the droning bass too, I think the effect works well against the movement of the guitars, but I would prefer to boost a mid freq somewhere on it just to give it some definition. The kick sounds like you've got a great ominous sound to it but I don't hear enough of it, maybe you could sidechain it to the bass and make some room on those hits? The rhythm guitar seems lost in bass at times, so maybe some EQ there also. The only other thing is the vocal, the level is OK to me but sounds like it's in a box or small room in places. I was thinking change the reverb, but maybe a subtle mastering verb on the mix would tie it in better? It's a good song and I like the way you played it.

 

[DM60]

That's an interesting sound, I like the guitar work also - it's kind of hypnotic. I like the droning bass too, I think the effect works well against the movement of the guitars, but I would prefer to boost a mid freq somewhere on it just to give it some definition. The kick sounds like you've got a great ominous sound to it but I don't hear enough of it, maybe you could sidechain it to the bass and make some room on those hits? The rhythm guitar seems lost in bass at times, so maybe some EQ there also. The only other thing is the vocal, the level is OK to me but sounds like it's in a box or small room in places. I was thinking change the reverb, but maybe a subtle mastering verb on the mix would tie it in better? It's a good song and I like the way you played it.

Thanks for the listen. I will go back and listen to some of the points you've made. I am struggling with the last part of the mix (the final tweaks) as when you change one thing, it daisy chains and messes with other parts. So, all of those little tweaks are fine tuning I am trying to learn how to listen for.

I will see what I can do to improve the overall blend.