Be My Monitors

[cat-eggs]

hi.

i'm sick and tired of cross-monitoring and making tiny adjustments based on car stereos and my grandma's jambox.

basically, i wish to take the effort out of mixing by passing the burden along to you.

if you are sonically attune, please listen to this song and tell me what needs fixed.

if you aren't, don't.

i'm only concerned with improving the frequencies and level attributes, and not the arrangement or lyrics or anything like that. so if you want to help me, here's the link:

http://keepitdown.tripod.com/stereo.htm

 

[gregkat]

Good song, refreshingly different in a good way. The mix is good overall. Vocal sounds good but a little harsh up around 6 to 8k. The overall mix levels are a little lacking in the low mid- upper low area which are making the mids seem a little harsh. Maybe a gentle boost around 400hz with a wide q. and a slight cut at 1.8 k to help decrease that slight mid harshness and warm up the mix a little. Keep up the good work.

 

[cat-eggs]

thanks for feedback.

i listened to the track this evening and am debating over whether or not to add a bass line. if the kick controls the lows, would the bass compensate for the mid-range deficiency?

 

[participant]

cat,

nice song, man -- especially when the chorus kicks in. Adding to what gregkat says -- that guitar sounds a little strange, like you on purpose boosted near 4kHz when you were recording it. Actually, it sits pretty well in your mix. It *does* sound interesting, anyway. When you say "I'm giving u-PP on the trinity" that's a plosive ... if you're using a condensor mic, try putting it about forehead height, aiming the capsule toward your sinus cavity. The plosives should pass right under the mic.

If you're using a dynamic, make sure to use at least one of those foam pop screens that fits over the ball.

Aha! You've got one o' them Antares Vocal producer boxes! Baaarrr... barrrerr barrrmmm... cool.

What's not pleasing you about the tune? The vocals are right up front. Creative lyrics. Maybe want to cut just a smidge out of the guit around 250 hz to give the vocals more. The synth/keyboard is a bit dry sounding, but not bad. It adds something nice to your track. Actually because you're not using a bass, the usual "muddiness" is missing from your mix. This is a much better mix than you think The only thing a little off (to me) is that guitar tone -- and the plosives. Don't think you need a bass at all; but, you could put one in in the second chorus. Since you're happy with the tune, you wouldn't want to change that--but if I were you, I'd try varying the rhythm/pattern on the guitar a bit. Otherwise, it's great.

Your drums rule, dude The perfect amount of reverb, and what not... makes me think... Cubase, and the LM-4? Nah, if you recorded those yourself, we on this entire board hate you


Chad

 

[cat-eggs]

thanks for more feedback.

i have an sm58 which i believe is dynamic. i was using a homemade pop screen... i suppose it's time to invest in one with fewer holes.

the guitar does sound strange. i'm having more trouble tracking a decent guitar than anything else. every tutorial i've read says to use 2 mind-numbingly expensive microphones.

as for drums, (which i did NOT record), i chopped up a loop and sequenced the hits in fruityloops, then added reverb to taste. ahhhhhhhh minimalism.

 

[participant]

thanks for more feedback.

i have an sm58 which i believe is dynamic.

Yes it is. Them's some good sounding vocals if all you used was the SM58.

i was using a homemade pop screen... i suppose it's time to invest in one with fewer holes.

Back in the day, when I used to record to 4-track, I'd wrap the entire mic in a thick shirt or sock It eliminated pops, but muffled the voice a bit

the guitar does sound strange. i'm having more trouble tracking a decent guitar than anything else. every tutorial i've read says to use 2 mind-numbingly expensive microphones.

Ah, so the sound wasn't intentional Actually, it's not too bad -- just different. That was an acoustic, no? (trying to remember the song from yesterday) Guitar Center *was* selling Oktava mc012's for $150/pair. But that could be prohibitively expensive for some starving musicians (plus, the sale is probably over).

Someone will help me out (since I don't own them...) but two MXL603's could do the job... no? Those aren't much more than SM57's which run about $80/pc. Think I recall Chris Shaffer saying he records his acoustic that way.

You could also consider renting two mics

as for drums, (which i did NOT record), i chopped up a loop and sequenced the hits in fruityloops, then added reverb to taste. ahhhhhhhh minimalism.

Well, they sounded damn good


Chad