comatose

[antichef]

very fun to listen to, and not too long. I like the drum loop, and I think cutting it out in that one place was just the right thing to do.

I couldn't really make out the bass at first, but I could hear it later. It's far from being too loud.

The vocals sounded boxy at times - that could be a feature, not a bug, but is it possible there are some phasing issues from using the delay technique? Again, perhaps it's intentional, and it doesn't sound bad by any means - just makes it harder for me to make out the words in some places.

Love the guitar solos. I'm in the "turn them up" camp.

 

[heatmiser]

Dig it! I have nothing more to add.....

Nice. Short but sweet Mr. Clean. Thanks.

That's kind of cool. I'd just dry up the delay signal a wee bit. If it sounds worse that way, put it back to where it was.

Yup. No harm in trying. Maybe I'll fiddle around with it this weekend.

Great to hear a tune from you again Heat. Missed you. I always like your lyrics, they're thoughtful and like taking a walk through my own brain. As for the drums, I love them. I like the wailing lyrics in the chorus a lot. There's always something that sets your tunes away from everything else I hear. There's an originality and it hits the right spot. I don't have a problem with the length. Could have gone on for longer as far as I'm concerned. Enable download for a while on Soundcloud so I can hear it without my connection crapping out. Please.

Awww. Always so nice. Thank you.

You're going to make me complacent with all this flattery. It's really funny about the lyrics. Normally I spend about as much time as it takes to write them down working on them, but this one was absolute agony. I actually sat on the couch with a pen and paper for hours just getting angry at myself for having nothing to say. It took several such sessions just to come up with this and I'm still not exactly proud.

I do like that I was able to work a reference to The Jeffersons in there though...did anyone catch that?

I'll turn the download function on in a bit and then take it down later. There could be a better mix coming though as I've gotten a lot of ideas here already. You never know.

 

[heatmiser]

very fun to listen to, and not too long. I like the drum loop, and I think cutting it out in that one place was just the right thing to do.

I couldn't really make out the bass at first, but I could hear it later. It's far from being too loud.

The vocals sounded boxy at times - that could be a feature, not a bug, but is it possible there are some phasing issues from using the delay technique? Again, perhaps it's intentional, and it doesn't sound bad by any means - just makes it harder for me to make out the words in some places.

Love the guitar solos. I'm in the "turn them up" camp.

Awesome. Thanks chef.

Ok, some more reassurance that the bass guitar is not too loud, but as I think Joe said earlier, it's kind of rumbly or something. I would like to get it louder and clearer and more mid-rangey somehow.

Yeah, the vocals are strange sounding...mostly intentional, and not sure I'd know phase issues if I heard them, but I would like maybe a little more clarity there.

Thanks again!

 

[dobro]

Tonight I listened as if I was a producer instead of a fan. I think I'd bring up the vocal a dB. I think I'd put a bit more space on the solo guitar. Just a little weeny taste. It's a bit small right now. The lowmids start to build up a bit at 1.15 and 3.20. It's the bass guitar. I think it gets louder when it starts playing twice as many notes. That's easy to deal with. It's fine in the verses, but when the chorus arrives and it starts to play double notes, it gets louder. Just turn it down a decibel or two then. That's what the pros do. Really like your stuff Heat.

 

[heatmiser]

Tonight I listened as if I was a producer instead of a fan. I think I'd bring up the vocal a dB. I think I'd put a bit more space on the solo guitar. Just a little weeny taste. It's a bit small right now. The lowmids start to build up a bit at 1.15 and 3.20. It's the bass guitar. I think it gets louder when it starts playing twice as many notes. That's easy to deal with. It's fine in the verses, but when the chorus arrives and it starts to play double notes, it gets louder. Just turn it down a decibel or two then. That's what the pros do. Really like your stuff Heat.

Cool. Thanks for putting on the producer hat dobro.
I think I hear what you're hearing too. I copied the project last night and started mixing it again - crunchier drums, slightly louder and clearer vocals and a lot of work on the bass guitar sound. Not sure yet if it's an improvement...
I split the bass signal this time between DI and a mic on a guitar amp, thinking it would give me more flexibility, but I've never done tht before and wonder if I should just stick with one track like usual. I have the levels on the bass tracks peaking much louder than anything else on here, yet I still don't hear/feel it like I should?

 

[dobro]

I started getting better sound out of my bass with two things - a better DI, and a distortion plug.

 

[heatmiser]

Yeah, I don't have a dedicated DI per se, just a cheap external pre that I run it through. A small does of OD sometimes is just the right thing to even it out and blend better, but I tried some mild distortion on this track last night and it didn't seem to help.

 

[dobro]

I only use distortion if other stuff in the mix makes it difficult for the bass to be heard. I really prefer to hear just the instrument itself, uneffected. I'm starting to assemble mixes based on the 'less is more' approach. The more stuff there is in the mix, the less you hear the individual voices of the instruments. But I just love the sound of a warm, slightly growly bass. So more and more of what I'm doing is just guitar, bass, hand percussion and voice.

 

[Keithr41]

I might back of the drum reverb once the guitars come in. Sounds great in the beginning. All in all, nice work!

 

[Btyre2013]

I actually like the sameyness of the drums, but just think it needs a few gaps here and there or 'breaks' as some call it, and maybe a few fills and it will make a big difference. Automate the levels a bit and it will improve too with the drums, gently turning them down makes a big difference to the overall mix

 

[heatmiser]

I might back of the drum reverb once the guitars come in. Sounds great in the beginning. All in all, nice work!

I actually like the sameyness of the drums, but just think it needs a few gaps here and there or 'breaks' as some call it, and maybe a few fills and it will make a big difference. Automate the levels a bit and it will improve too with the drums, gently turning them down makes a big difference to the overall mix

Thanks both of you. Some good ideas there on the drums. I won't be able to add fills I'm afraid, and while I do already have one break and the reverb changes from verse to chorus, I agree some more variation would be nice. I'm working on some ways to do that. I think I found a place for one additional break that may help...stay tuned.

 

[heatmiser]

I just added a new mix to the 1st post. I changed quite a lot of things actually, but hearing them now side by side on soundcloud, they don't sound as different from one another as I expected. I tried to use a lot of the ideas I got in this thread to varying degrees.

I guess the biggest changes are some enhanced "doo, doo doos" and a 2nd drum break towards the end...too little, too late? I think this mix might be a little more cohesive, while maybe lacking in some of the clarity of the original.

 

[Chili]

Lots of good comments already. I listened to the 2/3/14 mix.

You mentioned not putting anything on the lead guitar tracks, so I'm curious how it would sound with some mild compression. It might help to smooth it out and fit a little better. Love the tone, though.

The bass isn't as articulate as I remember from your previous songs, but it has been a while, so maybe I'm not remembering very good.

I think the length of the song is okay and yes, I did hear the Jeffersons reference. Actually, it's about the only part of the lyrics I heard.

 

[heatmiser]

You mentioned not putting anything on the lead guitar tracks, so I'm curious how it would sound with some mild compression. It might help to smooth it out and fit a little better. Love the tone, though.

Thanks. I definitely did some stuff to that track. I just don't remember what exactly. This mix has the lead track further processed and I'd hoped that it blended better. I don't know what's up with that. I'm still thrown by the fact that the spring reverb on my amp didn't have much output.

The bass isn't as articulate as I remember from your previous songs, but it has been a while, so maybe I'm not remembering very good.

No, your memory is fine. I think you're right.

I did hear the Jeffersons reference.

Yay!

Actually, it's about the only part of the lyrics I heard.

Booo! No biggie, you just missed a bunch of incredibly insightful and poetic musings on the human condition.

 

[dobro]

What I'm hearing on this one is the drumkit, and that's why I'd like to cut it a decibel when the vocal comes in. I'd bring it back up on the chorus.

"Thought about going but now I don't think I'm gonna"

See? I'm mostly into the song. Small differences are small differences. I'm hearing a small difference on the solo guitar. I think you could bring it up a dB.

In the segment immediately following the guitar solo, is there any way you can bring out the arpeggio more?

Bass sounds right on this one.

Smack me if I got it wrong.

 

[rayc]

Heat you have a signature sound & a cool one at that.
I can hear & understand the lyrics no prob.
The kit certainly sound treated but that works.
Bass growls and rumbles quite distinctly in most spots.
Cool stuff!

 

[Chili]

Booo! No biggie, you just missed a bunch of incredibly insightful and poetic musings on the human condition.

for the record, it's because I am incredibly lazy when it comes to listening to words. Not that the performance or vox track was deficient.

 

[heatmiser]

What I'm hearing on this one is the drumkit, and that's why I'd like to cut it a decibel when the vocal comes in. I'd bring it back up on the chorus.

"Thought about going but now I don't think I'm gonna"

See? I'm mostly into the song. Small differences are small differences. I'm hearing a small difference on the solo guitar. I think you could bring it up a dB.

In the segment immediately following the guitar solo, is there any way you can bring out the arpeggio more?

Bass sounds right on this one.

Smack me if I got it wrong.

I'm not sure if you're right or wrong...that's kind of why I'm here. I really don't have a clue . I actually turned down the drum levels this time and switched around the effects. Now, there's a big room verb on the chorus, but only tape echo during the verses. This was intended to make it expand and contract in terms of width with each section, but the effect isn't too dramatic and others have also suggested adjusting the levels throughout.

I don't know if I can mix this one again. I think I'm just going to pick one of the first two and stick with that. I'm just not 100% sure whether I'm helping at this point. I do think I succeeded in getting rid of the boominess in the bass though.

Thanks for checking back. You always keep my threads moving along!

Heat you have a signature sound & a cool one at that.
I can hear & understand the lyrics no prob.
The kit certainly sound treated but that works.
Bass growls and rumbles quite distinctly in most spots.
Cool stuff!

Thanks ray!

I do think I'm starting to really reuse a lot of the same ideas over and over though (my signature sound). It would be cool if I could branch out a bit. Not sure I have the muscial vocabulary for that though.

I heard the final version of Watch on soundcloud, but now I see you have a video too - cool! Am at work now, but looking forward to checking it out tonight.

 

[heatmiser]

for the record, it's because I am incredibly lazy when it comes to listening to words. Not that the performance or vox track was deficient.

Cool. I think I'm the same way.

Seriously, you're not missing much...same old, pop culture reference...blah, blah, blah...drug reference...blah, blah, blah...Doo Doo Doo, etc.

 

[DM60]

I'm late to the party, but wanted to throw in in case it mattered. Drums are pretty pronounced, but i kind of like that. Vocals are still having a hard time pushing through. If that is the intent, but seems like the vocals/lyrics (Chorus as well, you might want to group those together and then raise/lower them collectively, just a thought). are good enough to want to hear them. I would notch them up a bit more so they are above the rest of the mix.

I didn't listen any deeper than that as lot of good ears on it already.