Craw"son's" band mix--input?

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crawdad

crawdad

Dammit, Jim, Shut Up!
Here is a song that my son's group--Fifth Wing-- recorded and brought to me to mix. How am I doing? This set of tracks included bass, three guitars, two vocals and a 'mixed' stereo drum track. It was recorded at a friends house and in the dorm at Western Michigan University. Simple setup--Phonic mixer, MXL 57 on vocals, and SM58 on guitars.

Let us know about the mix and the song if you care to. Thanks!

http://www.nowhereradio.com/alcarmichael/singles


Thanks, Kramer for the link. Doh! This is what happens when you have a cold and have been mixing for 6 hours! The minute details get overlooked! :D
 
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The apple doesnt fall far from the tree eh crawdad?LOL.These cats are tight and this is a slick recording.This mix is groovin man.

The drums sound excellent.You've got that kick just right.The snare has a nice crack to it.HH and cymbals are sitting well.HH might be tad too crisp...that could just be me though.

The guitars are sitting just right and I like the way they're panned.

The bass is sitting just right IMHO.

The vocals are nice and slick just like they should be for this kind of tune.Just a small touch of delay on them?Sounds excellent.

What part is your son playing/singing?

[edit to add]The song will stand up to any of the indie/pop stuff thats out there.
 
A very unique and different genre for me here. I really like that mode they used. The music is clean and with very tasteful delivery... I love the harmony hook up in it. The guitar with some flange or chorus was wide and lended all the support needed with the bass and drums laying down turf. I dint care a lot for the highhat solo thing at the beginning and near the end. It reminded me of a typewriter. The presence and clarity are really good and sound trademark. :)
 
Kramer--Your gonna make my son happy with those comments! I Believe he played the rhythm guitar part, but I'm not even sure. He's the kind of guy who fills up the holes. He plays guitar, bass, drums and keys plus does some singing. On this one, the drummer sings all the parts. He's the main vocalist in the band.

I'll check the EQ on the drums. Basically, its pretty flat, except for a scoop around 250k. I had nothing to do with the tracking of the drums, except to give them a pair of ECM8000's for the overheads and suggest mic placement--the old 'two sticks' measurement method. I thought they did a pretty nice job. Its four mics--the 2 ECM's, and Audix kick drum mic and an Audix tom/snare mic going through a Phonic mixer.

Thanks again for the link. I'm losing my edge tonight!

Tokia987--Thanks for the comments. I have a question. Is the hi hat at the top and the end just too loud or should it go away. What do you think? I'm sure my son will be happy to read what you have said.

Me, I'm just trying to get a handle on this style and do a mix that is contemporary. Oh, I felt my hands reaching for that reverb knob many times--believe me! I did add some very short stereo echo to the voice--30 and 40 ms panned left and right. Pipeline Audio mentioned that once so I tried it and thought it sounded pretty decent.

I like this stuff myself. These are 18 year old college students who have been playing together for five or six years. I'm hoping their dreams take them far.
 
Crawdad - they ought to be happy with this mix - the sound's clear and well defined. Do you want the drums to be that upfront in the mix? They're *really* well-defined. It sounds to me like they're in front of the singer when the band comes full on. It's just a question, not a criticism, cuz I like the sound on the drums. I like that snare sound. What would happen if you brightened the darker guitar a bit? Would the two guitars just wash into each other? I like the high hat sound, but again, it sounds way out in front. How much reverb did you put on the drumkit? Any? I've never mixed drums. I've got no idea.

Nice song.
 
I really like the song and performance. There always seems to be good stuff coming out of Kalamzoo. They should do well out there.

There is something bothering me about the mix that I can't quite figure out. There is some kind of sucking sound that might be from the compressor if you're using one or phase problems with the drums.
I think it's phase problems with the drums because I seem to hear the overheads being sucked away at each snare hit. At the same time, I don't rule the bass part out as being part of the problem. Maybe rolling out the extreme lows on the bass would help. This problem is most apparent at 1:52.

Also at 1:15 you've got the singer and hi-hat making the same sound (the word "took") and it's not quite in sink.

BTW - If you see me getting nit-picky it's because I really like it. Good work. I'd check these guys out if they came to the east side of the state. Just spent the week in Grand Rapids - that's enough west Michigan for me for the next few years.
 
Did he say shit?


This sounds fantastic! Beautiful harmonies. The beginning had a John Meyer feel to it IMO, but I like this much more than John Meyer. This is more mature methinks, and more adventurous too.

I would say you've got a still a little work to do between the drums and the vocal (cymbals and snare), but this is excellent, especially when you consider the mics used. Be sure to post the mix you give to him!
 
I agree the drums might be a little too up front. Otherwise nice mix though!
 
good tune crawdadson..

wax on, wax off..

agree the vocal to drum level needs tweaking, (high hat too loud) but it still sounds great.. I really like the stuff @3:05!
 
I would call this a "up vocal" mix, for sure. I also feel the drums are 70% while the rest of the band is 30%. There are some delays on stuff here and there, that I feel greatly places them front to back in the mix. I'd think I'd keep the vocals up front, therefore, and present. ...but at the same time, watch the volume on them from getting too loud. I also like solos as loud as lead vocals, and nothing wrong with bringing instruments up and down in a mix too. ..Like at the beginning of the song...have the instruments come in louder, and then CAREFULLY bring them down when the vocals come in. The phasor guitar also really takes a back seat in the front/back stage presense also. In all the [non-vocal]areas I might consider bringing the mix up also. Maybe a little "small room" ambience..or more of it.. (not a dripping reverb now!!) would help to set the drums "back" and let the mix sound like it is more in realistic setting.
 
Hey Crawdaddy and son.....
Very cool stuff man. I like the song alot man, very cool material. Im getting more of a mid eighties style wise. I agree w/ the drum comments made...... a touch much in spots. I can see youve got your work cut out though cause at spots they seem dead on..... Also the bass seems a little over-compressed in spots. Nice vocs for sure. The harminies lock up tight. I dont like the way that the bass player doesnt change keys when he steps into the chorus (1:54 'ish)..... too anticlimactic to me......... But,I know....... im stepping out of my bounds here..... sorry man. :)

Great Stuff from the son of Crawdad, and the mix is coming along nicely!!! And, definitely put this up when its done man.


g
 
crawdad said:
Kramer--Your gonna make my son happy with those comments! I Believe he played the rhythm guitar part, but I'm not even sure. He's the kind of guy who fills up the holes. He plays guitar, bass, drums and keys plus does some singing. On this one, the drummer sings all the parts. He's the main vocalist in the band.
Click to expand...

So he pretty much does it all like his old man?:D
 
sounds like a good mix to me.........the performance seemed pretty tight, which likely made your job a little easier.......the drum level didn't bother me..................sounds solid
 
I have nothing useful to offer other than...very nice. Sounds excellent to me. I like the sound. It's not the same ole same ole. Very nice.

BTW, for some reason I was thinking "Shaft" during the intro :D.
 
Good sounding mix-Everything is audible-nice vocals-tight harmonies. I'd like to hear a bit more guitar-to give it a bit more "meat". Nice to hear real drums for a change-though the high hat is kinda overbearing-did you add eq to the whole mix?-sounds like the vocals may be a touch high endy as well. If you brought the overheads down a bit I bet you'd be there...maybe...Nice clean recording and a solid mix. Nice "scat" singing at the end.
 
crawdad said:



Tokia987--Thanks for the comments. I have a question. Is the hi hat at the top and the end just too loud or should it go away. What do you think? I'm sure my son will be happy to read what you have said.
Click to expand...
its way too much part of the structure to take out. I`d just back it off some in the intro to soften it. The primary is the chords in the intro and the hat level seems to compete with it. Once the vocals kick off its more balanced. again, I really like that sound they have. Not a lot of junk in it to fill up space. They are using holes nicely.
 
Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions. After listening again and taking notes, I see where everybody is coming from--and correctly I might add. Wehn I get a chance, I will dive in and remix this song.

The Fifth Wing members, including my son, were very interested in all the comments and really appreciated the feedback. They dug the site too and will probably be back on their own. Ain't that cool?!

Thanks:

Kramer
Toki987
Dobro
Fprodsouth
SluiCe
Dtb
Twist
B. Sabbath
Mixmkr
Guernica
Powderfinger
Jagular
Stratomaster

You all have been a great help on this one. I'll post a final when its done.
 
Sounds very good Al. I can't believe that with all the things we've talked about, I had no idea your son played. I knew your daughter did, but your son's talent never came up. He's got a good band for sure.....good vocals, good playin....nice harmonies and, of course, a good recording. Not surprising since he's your son. Nice to hear.
 
(dobro sulks)

Oh furphuxache, what do I have to do now? Find someone to be my son or daughter so I can put their stuff here? What's that gonna take me - 18 years? Should I start tonight? :D
 
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