(ps... the mix on that page is actually updated since a couple min ago... small changes.)
1.) How do I go about adding 'presence' to these tracks? Most of them had two mics, a regular micing setup and a room mic for room sound (though you don't get much anyway in a cement basement.) I added reverb a little bit to everything to try and fuse it together some. What do I listen for to EQ it better? What about electric guitar, what is the general procedure for adding that in to a mix. (I know there is no set procedure.)
2.) Would a wind screen get rid of the plosiveness or do I have to get the singer to sing differently. I've already been trying to do that some by teaching him what I remembered about things like that from my jazz choir days.... been having him sing b's instead of p's a little bit... and removing the ssss and big t's at the end of words.
3.)Right now we record vocals on a Shure 58... we don't have money to upgrade yet, but suggestions for when we do?
4.) I agree that I have to know when the sax doesn't fit, but I really think it can fit in this song. I think it could sound great if I actually had a soprano sax that wasn't falling apart.... but what would you think about the sound of a tenor in this? Or a tenor in the chorus parts just helping support the sound and the soprano in soloish areas?
5.) We'll work on some harmonies... we didn't want to overdo harmonies on this demo cd, but you are right they would sound good on this song.
6.) I'm not the singer or guitarist or anything... just the sax player
oh and the webmaster/recorder/mixer/etc.
7.) Part of the wavering volume in the singer's voice may not be his fault. Since we don't have a compressor and the verse and chorus are at such different dynamics we recorded them separate so we could taylor the levels to the different volumes and get the highest quality recording of both. I tried to even them up in the mix as best possible, but they are still different.
8.) Drums... I don't really know what more to do until we get some nice compressor/gates for recording. And I don't really have the ear to hear the minute differences in drum sounds or know what to change to get them sounding better.... I'm working on it. I did all I know as far as mixing with them. I really don't know what to EQ to change their sounds or anything.
9.) Hey TripleM, I don't hear the goofup in the bass... can you explain a little more? I assume by :04 you meant 4 seconds into the song not 4 seconds remaining time.
Man... This stuff is hard to jump into... there are so many many different factors you can change, and endless possibilities... a lot of it kind of blurs together to me. Its hard to train my ear to hear the differences. These songs are my first venture into mixing, so my head is still swimming.... well... doggy-paddling at best.
Actually I may be in luck soon... a producer of a couple of the popular bands right now heard us and wants to record us.... I won't say the name or the bands he's done yet so I don't feel as dumb if it doesn't come through. But I would absolutely love to just focus on the playing and not worry about the recording aspects of things. He wants to meet and hear us live within a week or so, so I'm crossing my fingers. Cross with me.
Thanks for your help though... and I appreciate the honesty always even though its a little disheartening to hear that the sax part kind of ruins the song.... but I already felt it did.
Anywho... thanks for the thoughts. If any of you are around Buffalo or Rochester, you should come check out a show! We put on a heck of a live show I'm not afraid to say! Got a couple in the Buffalo area this weekend, and a couple at Milestones in rochester coming up.
(Oh yea... check our website for the locations...
www.5thstreetband.com)
Thanks guys...
Bob
. not much to say about the mix and stuff. sounds like you know what needs to be done already.
