8 Second Ride Cover

[Wiskid]

Here's my take on Jake Owens, 8 Second Ride. Let me know what you think and what you think needs improvement or modifying.

Thanks a lot!



Edit: Added SoundCloud link instead of the mp3 upload (hoping that it attracts more views ).

Edit2: Change the SoundCloud link for the new mix.

 

[Wiskid]

Also, just curious... Do people get more "listens" when the files are hosted on sites like SoundCloud instead of uploading an mp3?

 

[Chili]

Nah, people don't care where you post your song, so long as we don't have to sign up for something or wait 1 minute before it downloads. So posting here or soundcloud, either way is okay.

Sounds like a country kicker. Not bad performances, it moves along nicely. Intro doesn't fit the rest of the song.

A few thoughts come to mind:

It seems very one dimensional. Most tracks are right up the middle or close to it and stepping on each other. Fill out the stereo spectrum, give each instrument/track some space.

Guitars are too upfront. The lead instrument is the vox and it should be out front. Panning the guitars to side about 50% will help to give space to the vox. But pull the guits down a bit, too. Must've been mixed by the guitar player.

It seems the low end is missing or mids are too much.

I like the song, thanks for sharing.

 

[Wiskid]

Thanks for the reply and information.

After listening to it a few times, I agree about the intro. I'll pan the guitars a bit and see how that sounds.

Haha, yeah, it was mixed by me. But I'm the drummer and guitarist. The singer is a friend of mine. That's the one thing I struggle with, is trying to get my stuff to sound "professional" and I can't seem to do it. Perhaps the guitar issue is my fix. I'll pull the guits back some.

I'm thinking the mids are too high, cause the low end is boosted slightly on the master out.

Since I'm always so critical of my own stuff... Does this mix sound like something that would be considered "Pro and CD quality"? Or does it sound home-recorded and crappy?

Thanks.

 

[Greg_L]

Also, just curious... Do people get more "listens" when the files are hosted on sites like SoundCloud instead of uploading an mp3?

I'd personally rather listen to a high quality MP3 than a streaming link. I'm also wary of people just looking for clicks or visits to their music page. I'm not saying you're doing that, but it's pretty common and I don't like to oblige those people.

As for your mix, I agree with everything chili said. It's very crammed and mashed up. It needs space.

Definitely not "Pro and CD quality". Not even close. But it's not terrible for a home recording. I've certainly heard worse. Just keep working on it. Get some space in there.

 

[Wiskid]

I'd personally rather listen to a high quality MP3 than a streaming link. I'm also wary of people just looking for clicks or visits to their music page. I'm not saying you're doing that, but it's pretty common and I don't like to oblige those people.

As for your mix, I agree with everything chili said. It's very crammed and mashed up. It needs space.

Definitely not "Pro and CD quality". Not even close. But it's not terrible for a home recording. I've certainly heard worse. Just keep working on it. Get some space in there.

It seems every time I post my HQ MP3's no one ever bothers downloading, lol. That's why I just switched to SoundCloud. Thanks for your input. I just panned the guits and re-uploaded the mp3 to sound cloud. If you wouldn't mind taking another listen.

What else can I do to get more towards the "Pro and CD Quality"?

 

[Greg_L]

What else can I do to get more towards the "Pro and CD Quality"?

Practice for a few years. If you have to ask, you're not close. I'm not "Pro and CD quality" either, but I hear a few issues in your recording. The panning of the gits helped tremendously. Definitely an improvement there. But what that revealed is that the vocals sound like ass. I'm not a listener of pop country or whatever this is, but I'm pretty sure the vocals in that style of music are a lot cleaner, more articulate, and a lot less cheaply reverbed. Cleaner vocals dude. I think you did a pretty good job sperating the kick and bass gtr, but a little more low end power overall would be good. Be careful though. That doesn't mean boost the lows. That means get each instrument more powerful, but in a clean way, and maintain that seperation. Some of the performances and tones are far from "Pro and CD quality" as well. The snare is kind of sloppy. It's not a tight pop. It's not bad, but it's a little smushy. Did you mic the bottom? If so, maybe less bottom mic and more top mic will tighten it up. The rhythm guitars are kind of fizzy. Recording with less gain and/or better mic placement usually kills the fizz. It's just stuff like that that keeps you sounding "Pro and CD quality".

 

[TripleM]

I liked the tune and the energy. Good performances. Guitars sounded OK.

In general the mix is lacking energy in the upper midrange. It gives it a slightly dull sound. This is mostly true for the vocals, but some of the instruments too. I'd really dry up the vocals. Dry vocals would work well on this song. Or at least use a different reverb from what you're using now.

The bass is missing some low mids I think. It has that "rubber ball" sound. no warmth.

 

[Wiskid]

Practice for a few years. If you have to ask, you're not close. I'm not "Pro and CD quality" either, but I hear a few issues in your recording. The panning of the gits helped tremendously. Definitely an improvement there. But what that revealed is that the vocals sound like ass. I'm not a listener of pop country or whatever this is, but I'm pretty sure the vocals in that style of music are a lot cleaner, more articulate, and a lot less cheaply reverbed. Cleaner vocals dude. I think you did a pretty good job sperating the kick and bass gtr, but a little more low end power overall would be good. Be careful though. That doesn't mean boost the lows. That means get each instrument more powerful, but in a clean way, and maintain that seperation. Some of the performances and tones are far from "Pro and CD quality" as well. The snare is kind of sloppy. It's not a tight pop. It's not bad, but it's a little smushy. Did you mic the bottom? If so, maybe less bottom mic and more top mic will tighten it up. The rhythm guitars are kind of fizzy. Recording with less gain and/or better mic placement usually kills the fizz. It's just stuff like that that keeps you sounding "Pro and CD quality".

Thanks for the feedback, again. I appreciate your honesty. I'll do some more tweaks with what you said. I mic top and bottom on the snare. I'll make some adjustments there.

 

[Greg_L]

Thanks for the feedback, again. I appreciate your honesty. I'll do some more tweaks with what you said. I mic top and bottom on the snare. I'll make some adjustments there.

Also, keep in mind that you are trying to compete with professional studios run by professional engineers, mixing engineers, and producers using professional gear - the likes of which you most likely don't even come close to. Then, after all that, it's mastered by professional mastering engineers with decades of experience using professional equipment that, again, you don't come close to. So yeah, shoot for the stars and all that, but remember where you are. You're just a guy making home recordings. Don't lose sleep over not sounding like things done with a virtually unlimited budget. Do your best, read, learn, practice, and you'll eventually make damn fine mixes with your modest consumer gear.

 

[Chili]

Also, keep in mind that you are trying to compete with professional studios run by professional engineers, mixing engineers, and producers using professional gear - the likes of which you most likely don't even come close to. Then, after all that, it's mastered by professional mastering engineers with decades of experience using professional equipment that, again, you don't come close to. So yeah, shoot for the stars and all that, but remember where you are. You're just a guy making home recordings. Don't lose sleep over not sounding like things done with a virtually unlimited budget. Do your best, read, learn, practice, and you'll eventually make damn fine mixes with your modest consumer gear.

This kind of advice gets regurgitated and reposted in many forms throughout this site, but it is still the best advice ever given.

Just keep working at it and let your ears tell you what you need to do. Practice, practice, practice...

 

[Wiskid]

Greg, very true. Unfortunately, I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to most things -- this being one of them. That means it bothers me when the product isn't as good as I envision it in my head, lol.

Anywho.. uploaded a new mix. We re-recorded the vocals tonight. Just did a quick mix on em. I think it already sounds quite a bit better.

Again, I appreciate the input of everyone here! Thanks a ton!

Thoughts?