First mix with the new toys and tools - "Ordinary"

[Pinky]

This song started out as a test piece for the new guitars, usb interface, and plugins. Decided to refine it and actually may include it on a future album. [vocals are a little rough by some standards, but they're adequate for my needs]

I'm wondering how the mix sounds on different equipment. If you could mention what you were listening to the mix on when you reply that would be awesome.

I'm trying different processes when mixing to streamline and reduce some processing time. Your feedback is very valuable in determining what is/isn't working. After exhausting hours tinkering with many compression and limiting tools for mastering I decided how I already do things is fine.

https://soundcloud.com/the-boogeymen/the-boogeymen-ordinary

Lyrics (if you're interested)

 

[DM60]

Listening on a pair of JBLs stereo speakers, towers with Sub, Yamaha receiver.

It all sounded well, little high, but I think that had to do more with some low end missing.

Vocals were... sitting well. Other than some bottom missing, the mix was good. Mid- high was real crisp.

 

[Pinky]

Thanks DM. Was it the kick that was missing?


Anyone else? Important to have some outside thoughts before I start applying this stuff to people's mixes...

 

[DM60]

Thanks DM. Was it the kick that was missing?


Anyone else? Important to have some outside thoughts before I start applying this stuff to people's mixes...

Hum, sounds different, there is nice bottom there now. Since I couldn't remember had to go take another listen. Sorry, I don't know what I was thinking.

 

[gecko zzed]

Without knowing exactly how you want to hear this song, it is difficult to comment. I found it just fine to listen to, but my personal preference would be to bring kit and bass up and push the rather dense sounds of guitars and stringy bits back into the mix a bit.

 

[Pinky]

Good point gecko, guess I always strive for a balanced mix where nothing is dominant, everything can be heard, the bottom is punchy (not muddy), and there's little/no sibilance.

 

[rayc]

Lots of click in the bass drum but I'd like more thump.
Bass seems to have the bottom end to itself.
I'm using sennheiser HD 515 hphones (it's 11.20pm) and a 70's Toshiba tuner/amp.
In phones the guitars seem to push in from the edges. that's an odd way of putting it but that's where my head is at I suppose.
I liked it.
Will you get someone to sing as opposed to your Lou Reedesque recitation?

 

[Pinky]

Will you get someone to sing as opposed to your Lou Reedesque recitation?

I'm hoping an old collaborator and friend will have a whack at it. Still waiting to hear back from them. In case it's not painfully obvious - I aint no singer!

Thanks for the input Ray. I agree the kick's low end could use a tad more thump, that's what I thought DM might have been referring to. That's an easy modification so it will be corrected next mix.

 

[TripleM]

I thought the guitars sounded good. I didn't hear it before, but I think the bottom end is too strong now. Comparing it to a pro reference, it's much louder in the low end.

And yeah it needs a singer.

 

[saads]

Listening on a pair of Yamaha NS10Ms with a JBL sub, powered by an 80s Marantz amp. The bass is fine in most parts, but gets buried in some parts. I also think it lacks some definition. The kick is audible, but has no body. The vocals and guitar seem to overpower the other instruments. I actually like the vocals, they go with the feel of the song. Overall I liked it, very interesting song.

 

[Pinky]

Part of the problem might be I added some reverb to the bass, that added a deeper layer of mud. At the time I thought it helped unify and fill-in the low end (since the guitars have everything below ~120hz trimmed). When solo'd the kick has a nice presence. It looks like my friend will be giving this a go, so at the point I remix with his vocals I'll repost with the changes to the low end.

Thanks everyone for the feedback! Objective ears are exactly what I needed. You've helped so much!

 

[rayc]

I haven't added reverb to bass in many a year. Not that it's a bad thing but rathere it's something I haven't done. I think it was the cold turkey of being a reverb junkie!
I look forward to the update.

 

[Pinky]

I haven't added reverb to bass in many a year. Not that it's a bad thing but rathere it's something I haven't done. I think it was the cold turkey of being a reverb junkie!
I look forward to the update.

In a less dense, sparser composition adding some reverb gives the bass some needed umph to fill out the mix. This is a densely mixed song, with all the instruments needing custom EQ notches, it was unnecessary. Ironically the only instrument I didn't do much with was the bass, only added reverb and adjusted the gain.