Feedback on my first mixes

U

ultrasound

New member
Hey this is basically my first recording and mixing project. I recorded a friend’s band in a loft my Zoom R16. Mixing was done in Pro Tools.

I’m just starting out doing this so I’m not aiming for perfection. I just need a few pointers see where I can make some improvements and to see if I'm on the right track.

I have an interview for college next week to study Sound Engineering. Which one of the track do you think will be the best one to show them as an example of my work?

Cheeeeers!

https://soundcloud.com/jamesrodavidson/scot-1-forum
https://soundcloud.com/jamesrodavidson/scot-2-forum
https://soundcloud.com/jamesrodavidson/scot-3-forum
https://soundcloud.com/jamesrodavidson/scot-4-forum
https://soundcloud.com/jamesrodavidson/scot-5-forum
 
I listened to the first mix - don't have time to listen to all of them. It took a while for the song to get going. It had decent energy once it kicked in. If vocals are not going to eventually be a part of the song, then it needs something else to keep up listener interest.

The keyboard playing the riff in the first minute was pretty muffled sounding. Needed more definition.

The snare and kick had a cardboard sound. The cymbals were a little sizzly and a bit thin.

Guitar sounded OK. A bit scratchy, but not horrible.

Bass lacked definition.


OK I listened to a few seconds of the second mix. It seems to lean toward the left. The left side has all the low end and the right side has all the high end.
 
Hi thanks for listening. Do you know how I can make the drums less cardboardy and the cymbals thicker? I think maybe it's due to the drums not being tuned well.

In the second mix I was trying to spread the guitar across the stereo field by panning the low frequencies to the left and the high ones to the right. Maybe it hasn't been successful and I should scrap that idea.
 
Hey,
Have some patience. :) Sometimes threads go unanswered for days. 3 hours is no cause for concern.

I'd be interested to hear how these tracks sound without any processing. I do agree with the above but it's hard to tell what's a result the technique/setup/gear and what's the result of processing.

Would you be interested in doing a faders-only mix?
 
ultrasound said:
Hi thanks for listening. Do you know how I can make the drums less cardboardy and the cymbals thicker? I think maybe it's due to the drums not being tuned well.

In the second mix I was trying to spread the guitar across the stereo field by panning the low frequencies to the left and the high ones to the right. Maybe it hasn't been successful and I should scrap that idea.
Click to expand...

The snare and kick definitely need to be addressed. No they are not tuned up or the head on the snare is toast. Then again, not knowing with what or how you are miking them, it is hard to tell for sure. I don't really hear an issue with the cymbals. More the guitar tone that is not sitting well (thin and over effected IMO). Though nothing is going to sit well if the drums are not good to start with...

And yes, second mix is off balance.

Are those flatwound strings on the bass or just old strings? Either way, something needs to be done there.
 
Steenamaroo said:
I'd be interested to hear how these tracks sound without any processing.
Click to expand...

Hey no problem. Here are the tracks without any processing and without any attention paid to the levels.

https://soundcloud.com/jamesrodavidson/scot-1-unmixed
https://soundcloud.com/jamesrodavidson/scot-2-unmixed
https://soundcloud.com/jamesrodavidson/scot-3-unmixed
https://soundcloud.com/jamesrodavidson/scot-4-unmixed
https://soundcloud.com/jamesrodavidson/scot-5-unmixed

Also here are pictures showing how I miked everything

Snare.JPG
Kick.JPG
Overheads.JPG
Amp.JPG
Zoom.JPG
 
Wow, that was quick. :)

Big kits set up with everything so close are always fun. Not really...

I would put a Remo Power Stroke coated head on the snare. Never had any luck at good tone myself with those two layer hydro heads. Get that D112 inside the kick close to the where the beater hits the kick head. Also, I would possibly rethink the snare mic position. With the 57 there is an area about 5-10 degrees of axis at the back of the mic where 1k or so is way lower in it's pickup pattern. That tends to help with boosting good frequencies of the snare without killing it with HH harshness. In other words, try to get that angle at the snare with the HH in the 'dead zone'.

Now, seeing the room you are recording in, the overheads are going to have a 'boxy' sound no matter what you do. You may be best off using some samples to enhance the kick/snare/toms as you will likely need to eq out a bunch of the room in the overheads due to the un-treated close proximity of hard walls. Even with treatment, that space is going to give you issues.

That bass guitar is not sounding good at all. :(

That Fender is not doing much justice for tone, but at least move the mic closer to the edge of the speaker cone. Right in center is not so typically good for getting distorted tones. Brighter and harsh in the middle.
 
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