check out my mix

[benward]

Hi guys,

This is my first post on here so hello. I've got a but of a home studio and have been mixing for a few years with cubase. Am self taught and I'd just like you to have a listen to a track and see what you think, where im going wrong etc.

what i have -

cubase sx3
EMU 1820 soundcard and interface
Rokit 6 monitors
Wavelab 5 (although never use it, no idea how to master!)
waves plugins

First of all i know the acoustics dont sound great, they weren't recorded on my system, but on a small tascam recorder so they sound pretty dull and abit tinny.

Theres no compression on the guitars, just the vocals, i used cubases' multi band for the vox. I also used waves reverb on both. I also used the sends for effects instead of inserting them. There also a grouped track for vocals with a waves gate on. Some delay and chorus on a chain for certain guitar bits.

I have just got waelab 5 but dont know how to use it or much about mastering!

Any thoughts advise would be very helpful.

Cheers

heres the track for download.

http://www.100uploads.com/download.php?file=2fa698d028a64ec3341ccb170ea73d26

 

[RawDepth]

Welcome to the forum. There is a wealth of good info here. Stay, learn, and enjoy.

First things first...

You should spend your first day reading some of the rules for posting here. It seems we do have a room just for mp3’s and critiquing mixes. We like to keep the right topics in the right rooms. We’ll let you slide (this time) since it is your first post. If fact, the Moderator may move it for you.

Well, you’re off to a fair start on your mix. It sounds like you’re not afraid to explore with plug-ins. That’s a good thing.

The first thing I noticed was the vocals seem to be in the background. The guitars were a bit louder than the vocals which buried them and made the lyrics hard to understand.

Second there doesn’t seem to be much low frequency going on. You don’t need much for this style but it would probably warm it and thicken it up more.

It sounded like your vocals were off to the right side a little in the chorus. That’s okay, but we’re not too used to hearing it that way. Most of us pan the vox down the center and toss the guitars to different sides. That’s not a hard fast rule, it’s just what most of us got used to doing. Don’t be afraid to use that pan to separate and give instruments their own space in the sound field.

Keep up the effort. You’ll improve as you go.

Just my opinion,
RawDepth

 

[eeb]

did you di the guitars? it sounds like you did anyway...

for a song like this I think it would be much better to combo a micd guitar and a di.. on acoustic i like to use a 57 and a large diaphram condenser to pic up the warmth of the guitar.. right now it just doesn't sound natural to me.

The vocals do need to be a little louder too....

Sounds like a good song though!

 

[RAMI]

If fact, the Moderator may move it for you.

That's one of the funniest thingts I've ever read here.

But Raw is right. This should be in the MP3 Clinic.

 

[89gtsleeper]

On the vocals, I would bring the eq up a little bit between 3k-8k to cut into the mix a little further... maybe bring it down a little somewhere around 1k for clarity, then bring the volume of the vocals up a hair overall.

For the guitar, I also like the sound of the sm57 and a large condensor. If you are lining your acoustic directly, I'd honestly advise against it unless you have a really nice guitar and a good pre-amp for it. Direct in for acoustics is very difficult to utilize properly in recording situations.