Complainiacs - etc (Cambridge multitrack library)

[Qualios Rex]

Hey guys,

first post here, but long time lurker on the forums

Next week i will record my own band, and i wanted a bit of practice before i start mixing our stuff. So i took the Complainiacs - etc multitrack from this website that i recently came across:

The 'Mixing Secrets' Free Multitrack Download Library (Cambridge Music Technology)

edit: here's the link to the multitrack:
http://www.multitracks.cambridge-mt.com/Complainiacs_Etc_Full.zip

i chose this song because it is most closely related to the kind of music we will be playing: post punk with a tendency for 'angular' songs - though we are definitely not that hyperactive.

There's a few things wrong with these tracks and I definitely aspire to have better tracks when i record my own band (for starters, we know how to keep a beat), but here's my result so far.

I am very curious to what other people might make of this song: i find it really hard to manage all the noise, separating guitar tracks and still keep a compelling mix that doesn't lose character. Tips in this regard would be most welcome!

Some comments on my mix:
drums: . I found the tom tracks quite unusable. In the end i ended up glueing all the drumtracks together with a compressor, and i ran the whole thing through an amp simulator to exploit the gritty sound inherent to the song. This destroyed the cymbals too much, so i took just the overhead track out of the compression and amp stage and mixed it separately.
bass added saturation and compressed the hell out of it
guitarused voxengo's stereo touch to get them wider. Both guitars have a very similar sound (and rhythm guitar level was recorded way too low), so i found it very hard to separate them in the mix
vox compressed + compressor saturation, more amp simulator madness, and played around with stereo delays a bit.

i'd love to hear your comments, tips, and if you have the time, your takes on this song!

Greetz,
MassalaChai!

(does anyone know how to change your screen name on the forum?)

 

[Vigo]

Hey guys,

first post here, but long time lurker on the forums

Next week i will record my own band, and i wanted a bit of practice before i start mixing our stuff. So i took the Complainiacs - etc multitrack from this website that i recently came across:

The 'Mixing Secrets' Free Multitrack Download Library (Cambridge Music Technology)

edit: here's the link to the multitrack:
http://www.multitracks.cambridge-mt.com/Complainiacs_Etc_Full.zip

i chose this song because it is most closely related to the kind of music we will be playing: post punk with a tendency for 'angular' songs - though we are definitely not that hyperactive.

There's a few things wrong with these tracks and I definitely aspire to have better tracks when i record my own band (for starters, we know how to keep a beat), but here's my result so far.

I am very curious to what other people might make of this song: i find it really hard to manage all the noise, separating guitar tracks and still keep a compelling mix that doesn't lose character. Tips in this regard would be most welcome!

Some comments on my mix:
drums: . I found the tom tracks quite unusable. In the end i ended up glueing all the drumtracks together with a compressor, and i ran the whole thing through an amp simulator to exploit the gritty sound inherent to the song. This destroyed the cymbals too much, so i took just the overhead track out of the compression and amp stage and mixed it separately.
bass added saturation and compressed the hell out of it
guitarused voxengo's stereo touch to get them wider. Both guitars have a very similar sound (and rhythm guitar level was recorded way too low), so i found it very hard to separate them in the mix
vox compressed + compressor saturation, more amp simulator madness, and played around with stereo delays a bit.

i'd love to hear your comments, tips, and if you have the time, your takes on this song!

Greetz,
MassalaChai!

(does anyone know how to change your screen name on the forum?)

You have to use reference songs, your mix is incredibly harsh there's almost no bass in it. I think everything is balanced or but i can't really judge from this current point of view, add more lows and i'll tell you what i think after that (try not to make a mud pit tho) your speakers have lots of bass i guess?

 

[Btyre2013]

it's a thin sounding mix, it needs more dynamics and more bass overall, I'd give it more headroom and make it breathe more.

 

[JimmyS1969]

I agree. Very thin sounding. It seems there is much to be done in the recording stage before a good sound can be achieved.

As far as changing your user name, you will need to contact an administrator of this site to edit. I can only edit the little stuff.

 

[JimmyS1969]

I downloaded the tracks and made an attempt to see if there was something there to be done after the recording. I have to say that it is definitely your room you need to address. I could not get anything useable from the tracks other than triggered drum samples. The room sounds so hollow that you are going to continuously fight to no good result.

The guitar tone also needs some serious help. The amp or guitar itself may not be the best, but experiment with mic placement. What are you using? Record a second track of those after finding the sweet spot where you place the mic. Try closer to the edge of the speaker cone. The tone is just really harsh in the recording. Nothing is working there the way it is IMO. Sorry.

Strangely enough, the toms were the one thing that I found actually 'useable'.

Is ElecGtr2 just a far away mic? Not working without good tone to begin with, and/or that mic sounds like crap.


I am trying to help, sorry if it sounds like I am being over critical. There is so much to do here that I do not see this recording becoming anything useable to any standard of quality. Though I also do not know what quality you are trying to achieve either.

Best