Did I overcompress this song?

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Pahtcub

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I liked this song when I first did it (basically a freestyle) but now when I listen to it back I hear a LOT of compression, do you think I over did it? Thanks



I used about the same amount of compression on that one as I did this one,

from a while ago, but that one still sounds compressed for some reason



Pat
 
Well there are problems with the mix anyways, with or without compression.

First off, the vocal is really buried in the mix - and you made it worse by saturating it in reverb.

Second - even with a sparse and airy arrangement, there still doesn't seem to be a hint of spatial characteristic around any of mix elements.... and no sense of imaging.

Finally - could be overcompression, or simply the way you tracked/mixed, but it sounds like the gtr vocal and snare rim all sound like their at the same level with no dynamic variation at all....

I suggest reading my Mixing 101 article - it may give you some tips.
 
I sorta like the overdone-reverb on the vocals in this tune. It sorta works for me with the laidback, swaying vibe I'm getting from the guitars. That's just me, though.

I like the idea of this song. I think it could really use some bass, and a chorus. I feel a heavy chorus coming on throughout the whole tune with thick guitars really coming in strong, but it never happens. Also, the drums (sounded programmed, so I know it's quite an effort to make them interesting) coulda used some more character, just a few fills or something. Vocals sorta reminded me of Type O Negative a bit - sound good - a couple of pitch issues, but it sounds like you were sorta making up some of it as you went, so that's cool. If you soup this one up, I'd like to hear the finished product. :)
 
Interesting. I hear more compression on things in the second tune.
I don't mind the lots-of-verb style, but both could use a bit more presence on the voice and some separation of the voice from the effects -some pre-delay maybe? That might also aid in setting up some front-back depth. Right now nothing seems forward except the guitar bed.
Wayne
 
Actually I was talking about compression of the entire song....not trying to justify, but the first song isn't done, the vocals were freestyles so they don't make sence, and I was monitoring with $2 headphones during the vocal track, so the vocals aren't a strong point so I wanted to just get the tones, but my question was as to the compression of the entire song, I compressed the master and now I'm hearing the music get louder when the vocals cuts out, and then dip when it comes back in.

Pat
 
Pahtcub said:
A...but my question was as to the compression of the entire song, I compressed the master and now I'm hearing the music get louder when the vocals cuts out, and then dip when it comes back in.
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If you can hear the pumping and breathing to THAT extreme, then that's too much compression by my definition!
 
hey blue bear, have you posted that article somewhere else before?? It's funny that i remember reading that exact article but it had a different format. I hope nobody is ripping you off. I can't remember where i saw it....
 
Pahtcub said:
...but my question was as to the compression of the entire song, I compressed the master and now I'm hearing the music get louder when the vocals cuts out, and then dip when it comes back in.

Pat
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I hear the main guitar pulling back and maybe pulling the mix (using the drums a the point of ref.) with it, not the vocal. Tuff to tell if some of that is just the guitar's comp.
You're closer and know what's sticking out when the 2-mix comp is off. That would be a clue as to which might be ducking what.
 
minofifa said:
hey blue bear, have you posted that article somewhere else before?? It's funny that i remember reading that exact article but it had a different format. I hope nobody is ripping you off. I can't remember where i saw it....
Click to expand...
Yes - I have it posted at RecordingProject.com and also mojopie.com... both places formatted it (visually) to match their site design.
 
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