Advice/comments on the mix for this short instrumental rock song, "Roadstar"

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JohnnyAmato

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Advice/comments on the mix for this short instrumental rock song, "Roadstar"

Hello all, new to the boards here. Need some comments and feedback on a short recording. I have a bunch more like this, but feedback on this one will help tremendously on mixing all of them. I have an idea on what I could do to the mix to improve it, but I would like some feedback before I waste countless hours trying this and trying that.

It was recorded on a Tascam 2488neo, and then brought to Sound Forge Pro 10 where the preset "Smooth Compression" was applied, from the Wave Hammer window, just to add volume. Nothing else was done, all you are hearing is a louder version of exactly what is on the Tascam itself. Professional mastering would obviously get it even louder, and due to the loudness wars, that will be my last step. Since I am mixing my recordings myself, I want to make sure I have the best mixes before I spend money to get them professionally mastered.

Basically, I just need feedback on anything that might jump out at you; if any tracks are too loud or too quiet, if any EQ adjustments are needed, or any panning advice, etc. (I think it's panned good, my main issues are track volume and EQ) Should EQ adjustments, if needed, be done in Sound Forge to the overall mix, or to the individual tracks themselves on the Tascam. The drum machine track was done on a Boss DR-770; any advice on how to get that sounding better would be appreciated as well.

Track layout is quite simple;
One stereo drum machine track (audience perspective)
Two rhythm guitar tracks (distorted) one panned hard left, one panned hard right (two separate takes/performances/tones)
One mono bass guitar track (centered)
One stereo lead guitar track (centered)
One stereo lead harmony guitar track (panned slightly off-center)
One underlying stereo keyboard track (low in the mix intentionally)

Any help or advice on the mix would be GREATLY appreciated as I want to send final mixes to get mastered very soon.
 

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Something odd about that crash symbol. Sounds like it's in a different space from the rest of the recording. Levels seem fine to me. I could use a bit more bass, matter of taste. All in all, pretty good mix. Just curious where you are going with this. Do you have market in mind? I'd be hesitant to spend money professionally mastering a 1:17 instrumental recording.
 
Hey Robus, thanks for taking the time to listen! Chicago suburbs here, too.

I, too, hate the crash symbols. The Boss DR-770 drum machine is an ok machine, but I feel the symbols are it's worst attribute. I've tried and tried to get them to sound better, but their sustain is terrible, and they do seem to have a "separated" quality. I've had it since I bought it new back in 1998! I tried to roll off the extreme highs on the drum track to deaden those crashes a little, but it seems to take too much air out the track as a whole. From now on I should probably have the crashes isolated on their own track to get more freedom with tweaking them, if needed. I usually put together the whole song (drums) on the drum machine itself, save it there as a 'song', then just record it into the Tascam on a stereo track. I've recently been thinking about a newer drum machine, or software. I'm also considering using a mixer (have a 12 channel Mackie) and having my drummer put real drums on it.

I have around 30 short recordings like this, so when the mixes are ready, I planned on getting them all mastered in groups. I'm trying to get songs onto commercials and tv as background and/or theme music. Already have some people using some of my music at their fishing websites on their videos.

I, too, was thinking maybe the bass could come up a tad.

Thanks so much for your feedback!
 
You should look into samples. Drum simulation has come a long way since the late 90s. I'm using EZDrummer but there is better out there.

There's a small group of Chicago area people on the forum. I'm about twenty miles from you.
 
Cool, I'm going to look into samplers and do some research. I've had it with this DR-770. It served it's purpose, but it belongs on my "museum" shelf of old gear :)

Thanks again for your help!
 
I'd probably bring the lead guitar down a bit, levels sound good to me otherwise. Nice chops. . .
 
Very good guitar playing.

Only thing that jumps out to me was that, with the reverb and rhythm guitar sounds you have, it's sounds like something from 1984. If that's what you were shooting for, you hit it. But if you're going for something more contemporary, you need to change that reverb.

The bass sound was very tight and very well controlled. Good work on that.
 
I liked it. As others have said......the bass and the kick could come up a bit but it's not too bad as is. The track (and the title of the track) sort of reminded me very vaguely of the lead section on Deep Purple's "Highway Star". It has a similar feel and drive and sound to it. Not the same........just made me think of it. Nice work.
 
Thanks Mickster and TripleM! Appreciate the compliments on the playing!

I probably will bring the bass up just a hair, along with the kick. Might even turn the lead guitar down just a smidge. The problem with the kick is it is on one stereo track with the entire drum track. I put the drums together on the DR-770 as a complete song, then record it onto a stereo track on the Tascam. Would bringing up 100hz on the drum track by maybe just 1db do the trick, without affecting the rest of the track?

TripleM, are you referring to reverb on the rhythm guitar tracks? I'll have to check that out, I won't get a chance until tomorrow. If there is reverb on them, it must have been from the original source when I laid the tracks down, from my Digitech GNX3000. I don't remember having reverb on as I laid the tracks down. Although sometimes I lay tracks down so quick that I might not have noticed. I don't believe I added any reverb to the tracks on the Tascam itself. I'll check tomorrow. Thanks!
 
A fairly narrow Q at 100hz on the drum track might do it but play with it a bit either way. If you don't like it.........don't change it.
 
Well I finally brought this song back up on my machine, but I only gave a few very minor adjustments. Some of you said it was ok as is, a few of you mentioned the bass and kick maybe being a tad low, one of you mentioned the leads maybe could be lowered a little.

Basically, all I did was raise the bass guitar a tiny bit and lower the leads a tiny bit. I mean a TINY bit. I tried to raise the kick a little with EQ, since it shares one track with the entire drum set, but it didn't really work. The only track EQ on my Tascam is a rather broad shelf, and upping it only by 1 seemed to make it a little too rumbly for my taste. I tried 80hz, 100hz, 120hz, wasn't happy with the results- so just left it where it was. What I did do was turn up the drum kit track by just 1 peck. Can't even tell the difference.

Robus, those crashes can't be fixed, unfortunately. I'm going to tweak out the drum set I use on the DR-770 to fix them best I can for future recordings, unless I get new software first.

Thanks everyone for all the advice.

Roadstar | Johnny Amato
 
Wow, this song really rocks. Work of a master. Bit short though. But as they say, short but sweet.
 
Really good playing, nice harmonized lines on guitar. Bass is still low for my taste, but I understand you want to feature the guitar.
 
Yeah very nice axework. Mix sounded fine on my crappy office speakers. Do you ever put vocals on your tunes? That could be interesting
 
Thanks Bulls! I have a few with vocals. I plan on doing more in the near future.

Thanks Robus, I still might up the bass a tad more, not sure yet. I'm going to leave it where it is for now and possibly come back to it later, before I shoot for a final master. Want to catch up on some other recordings. Thanks for your input!
 
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