A few tracks

  • Thread starter Thread starter JDOD
  • Start date Start date
JDOD

JDOD

therecordingrebels.com
All, I don't normally post in the MP3 Mixing Clinic but I'm in the process of forming a new rock band (on top of my current folk band commitments!) so some of these are going to be getting a complete reworking at some point soon.

This one is pure grunge, inspired by Nirvana's Milk It. But will be renamed Pillar Of Hate when its re-recorded and have some lead work added:
https://soundcloud.com/brother-number-one/test-milk

These three are all very old but will probably retain their structure:

https://soundcloud.com/brother-number-one/sfm-mix
https://soundcloud.com/brother-number-one/time-for-a-change
https://soundcloud.com/brother-number-one/smashing

Aside from having real drums and chunkier amps/tone I'd just like a few pointers on how I should be setting my levels/mix. They've all been either mixed on headphones or my stereo.
 
Overall mixes seemed pretty good. Without vocals it is hard for me to have a good ideal of the mix. The vocals will change a lot about the mix.
 
JDOD said:
This one is pure grunge, inspired by Nirvana's Milk It. But will be renamed Pillar Of Hate when its re-recorded and have some lead work added:
https://soundcloud.com/brother-number-one/test-milk
Click to expand...

unhelpful post here: i'm at work with a "filter" on my browser, at the moment. so i cant listen just yet, but i will on lunch. However, anything inspired by Milk It is worth trying out. Nice choice. Great song on a great album.
 
andrushkiwt said:
unhelpful post here: i'm at work with a "filter" on my browser, at the moment. so i cant listen just yet, but i will on lunch. However, anything inspired by Milk It is worth trying out. Nice choice. Great song on a great album.
Click to expand...

Yeah, its probably my favourite album ever, and I've never done anything to conciously sound like it before. Its not quite as wild as Milk It, but you'll spot the similarity in the riffs and structure.

Also, regarding listening to stuff. I have the SoundCloud app installed on my phone; I often listen to the radio through my phone using the office Wifi.
 
JDOD said:
Also, regarding listening to stuff. I have the SoundCloud app installed on my phone; I often listen to the radio through my phone using the office Wifi.
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i can do that - i avoided it because it's easier to type on my pc than use this site from my phone. but i suppose i could listen through there and type on here. glad my office doesn't block anything with the wi-fi signal! i'll post something useful soon. ha. DOLL STEAK
 
similarity right from the start. might even be the same key. the first two chords of the heavier part are the same too. huge Nirvana fan here, i know em all inside and out, haha.

guitars sound good to me. i like the opposing guitars in each ear during quieter parts and then joining together for the louder sections. i might try that on a tune or two. drums sound good to me except the washy left cymbal. bass could up, i believe. wish there were vocals, i'd like to hear where you're going with this.
 
andrushkiwt said:
similarity right from the start. might even be the same key. the first two chords of the heavier part are the same too. huge Nirvana fan here, i know em all inside and out, haha.

guitars sound good to me. i like the opposing guitars in each ear during quieter parts and then joining together for the louder sections. i might try that on a tune or two. drums sound good to me except the washy left cymbal. bass could up, i believe. wish there were vocals, i'd like to hear where you're going with this.
Click to expand...

Cheers, all handy feedback. The first 2 chords pr the heavy part are exactly the same.

I always mix the bass to low - everyone mentions that - will try and keep it in mind.

I'm probably gonna change the interlude to something more interesting; this song is actually a re-write of one of the first songs I wrote in a band when I was 15 (20 years ago!) The only bits that have survived are the intro/verse and the interlude - I've since decided that the interlude is actually a bit shit and I've used better more developed versions of the same idea to better effect since.

The drums are all fake and looped by me. Hopefully a real drummer will improve this.
 
andrushkiwt said:
what drum program are you using JDOD
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haha, I've discussed this at length on a few other threads...

My DAW generally has a separate track for part of the drum kit. The core of the kit - bass, snare and hi-hat- will generally have two or even three lines each. I then pan every track as if I was sitting behind the kit, generally with the small crash 30% left and the ride 30% right, everything else panned between.

I have a collection of single hits of varying velocities for every drum and I individually place each hit on its track in the DAW. The reason that the core of the kit has 2 or 3 lines each is so that I can allow them to overlap eachother by about 1/2 a beat so you don't get that machinegun effect.
 
I listened to TEST milk. Like the guitar tone, everything seems to work well together. A little raw maybe but that fits the source of course. I think I would like the clean guitars to be louder and the distorted to be quieter so they settle in a little with the bass and drums.
 
JDOD said:
I have a collection of single hits of varying velocities for every drum and I individually place each hit on its track in the DAW.
Click to expand...

ok, so it's not a complete program, like Superior Drummer or Addictive Drums? do you prefer this method? have you tried using a complete program full of pre-made (but editable) grooves? i usually find the closest match on SD2 and then move around the kick hits and such to fit the tune. it saves me time from moving each hi-hat - that's the part i try to match the feel of most closely. then i can throw cymbals and fills in whenever they're needed
 
andrushkiwt said:
ok, so it's not a complete program, like Superior Drummer or Addictive Drums? do you prefer this method? have you tried using a complete program full of pre-made (but editable) grooves? i usually find the closest match on SD2 and then move around the kick hits and such to fit the tune. it saves me time from moving each hi-hat - that's the part i try to match the feel of most closely. then i can throw cymbals and fills in whenever they're needed
Click to expand...

I haven't used a drum programme before but I did used to use lots of pre-made loops and fills. I found I ended up spending some much time messing with them that it was actually quicker this way, more convincing and I actually got the beat I wanted.
 
to each their own...but i can say that i can always get the beat i want w/ SD2. they are completely editable, in every way.
 
JDOD said:
Have you got a link to it? How much does it cost?
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uh-oh. i don't mean to "promote" anything here. haha. In fairness, if you were to invest in a program that lets you write out drum parts, you'd be wise to research and demo a few different choices. There's Addictive Drummer, Superior Drummer, and Steven Slate Drums (the big 3, to my knowledge). I paid around $200 i think, including shipping and an expansion pack (even more kit pieces and pre-set grooves). it's pricey, but i love my results. My signature should have my soundcloud link...you can hear the drums from SD2 there. and i am by no means a drum mixing expert. and sorry man, i hope i didn't lead your thread astray. feel free to PM me if you want to talk about the drum stuff.
 
No worries, its all useful - I'll have a listen later on tonight.
 
I checked out the first two on your list. It's hard to say much without hearing the vocals. The tones of the recorded instruments sounded okay. Guitar was a bit loud for me on the first one. I'd like to hear more bass. I liked the second the better of the two--bit of a Sabbath vibe. I'm hearing all your drums on the left. It worked for the Doors... I understand you're going to be re-recording with a human drummer. I look forward to hearing the completed songs.
 
Brother #1 SFM mix: Just a tad dark in the quiet portions. The noisy parts are really good EQ-wise, but as soon as things get quiet, like at 2.30, the mix seems too dark. Time to mult?
 
1st one.
drums n vox will help a LOT!
The guitars are a little fizzy with not much meat but the ideas seem good The quiet passages need some definition in the guitars and bass - sounds like they lost top end as they turned down.
 
I listened to Test Milk - not familiar with what it being compared to....
The overall mix is great for me. The drums sound really good even if they are samples (maybe because). The only give away for me was the long sustained crash at the end. Guitars have good tone too - big and thick.
Nobody mentioned it but I kept thinking the intonation on one or both of the guitars is a hair off. Mostly noticeable during the quiet parts and a few bits in the solo where you hang on a note or two.
Yeha the mix will need to be tailored for vocals but right now it sounds really good. :D:D:D:D
 
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