First mix and first post! :)

  • Thread starter Thread starter crowbar0
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crowbar0

New member
Hey, I've recently gotten together a small garage studio, and have been offering free recording for local bands, just to get some experience and build up a "CV" if you will!

This is the first band I recorded, all aged about 17, and not the best players in the world by far (or with the best equipment, one guitar was done with a 15w practice amp!)
Anyway, any opinons or comments on this track (the mixing! ;) ) would be greatly appreciated.

My main concern is that I didnt really do much EQing, i.e. cutting out frequencies that certain instruments shouldnt need at all like HF on the kick etc, but I dont think it's too noticeable?

Anyone disagree?!

Link: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/crowbar0music.htm
Thanks, Barry.
 
Hehe, hang on just uploading the track now actually!
5 Mins!!!
 
Alright. Heh.

EDIT:

Sounds like everything is leaning to the left.

There isn't much definition in the guitars.. at all. The bass kinda disappears into the guitars. I'd suggest rolling off the low-end on the guits at about 125hz, maybe a little higher. On the bass, roll-off at about 80hz.

The kick needs more click. I'd suggest a boost anywhere from 2500hz-5000hz. Maybe even higher if you like a really bright click. If you've got a parametric EQ, make sure it's a fairly narrow Q value. Also, a little cut at around 400hz with a wider Q. I can't hear the kick enough to determine if it really needs it.

Those vocals need to come down a bit.

I really don't like that guitar tone. It also sounds like stuff needs to be panned a bit more. The whole mix sounds centered, it's still leaning to the left a bit though.

I think it could use quite a bit of work. I don't really like the band either.
 
Good, but a lot of 'first mix' problems:

Low end is tubby and muddy. Midrange needs definition. Lack of high end makes the mix sound dull.

The guitar amp sounds like crap.... nothing can help that now.

Drums are thin and in the background.

Advice:

EQ and compression are your friends. In fact, you can't expect to have a good mix without a fair amount of both. Compression is more important than EQ for getting a pro sound, but both are needed.

Take more care when selecting tones that are getting recorded. Talk with the bands ahead of time to find out what kind of gear they have... if it's crap try to talk them into renting gear, borrowing gear or something.

Without an amp that sounds good you can forget about getting compelling guitar sounds. You'd have had better luck running them thru a POD than using a teeny weeny practice amp.

Spend a bit more time on getting drum sounds. In most types of rock, if the drums aren't sounding amazing nothing else will....

Keep at it, great first effort!
 
geet73 said:
I don't really like the band either.
Click to expand...

Your not the only one! :)

Nah, thanks for the comments guys, much appreciated!

The drums have no compression on them at all so I think I'l start with that and eq'ing them. (Since that recording I have re-skinned and tuned the kit, as well as double miking the snare, so I'm getting a much better sound to tape theses days)

As for the guitar sounds, I know they're shit, but these kids are 17 and so
a) couldnt afford to rent gear
b) were only looking for a demo.

I actually used the Waves Maxx Bass and L2 Maximiser on the master channel of the mix, to boost the bass end so that would probably account for the muddy/undefined bass end.

I was just trying to give it a bit of thud and presence though!
 
crowbar0 said:
As for the guitar sounds, I know they're shit, but these kids are 17 and so
a) couldnt afford to rent gear
b) were only looking for a demo.
Click to expand...

I'm only 18.. I bought my 5150 half stack a year or two ago. It just shows where their priorities lie. They could've gotten a late start in playing music too. Heh.
 
geet73 said:
I'm only 18.. I bought my 5150 half stack a year or two ago. It just shows where their priorities lie.QUOTE]

Yeah, I know, Im 20 myself and I play drums and have a pro quality kit and cymbals, as well as a few grands recording gear. It's really not as hard to get your shit together as people think!

Anyway, just posted a new mix taking into account the comments/suggestions above. (the previous link will still work)

I think its quite a bit better, it'l do for now, as it's as much as they were expecting.
Click to expand...
 
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