folky female music critique

  • Thread starter Thread starter guitarhunny
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Here is a new mix of the same song. It has the shorter intro, reverb and EQ on the guitar.

Can anyone tell me where my flaws are in the guitar EQ so I can adjust the way I hear it in my head?


http://ruthsharpmusic.com/mp3.htm
 
guitarhunny said:
Can anyone tell me where my flaws are in the guitar EQ so I can adjust the way I hear it in my head?
Click to expand...
Kinda' depends on how you hear it in your head. In relation to the mix I did, how do you hear it in your head? Brighter? Warmer?

What I did was to cut out some of the mud between 200Hz-500Hz, and brightened the top end a bit (slight wide boost centered @12K). I also used a bizarre compression setting on the mix, but that was to get the vocal to pop out better...it wasn't for the guitars.
 
Chrisharris, Your mix sounds very warm yet crisp to me. For some reason I feel that my mixes always come out on the fuzzy(muddy) side but I can't pinpoint exactly where it comes from.
 
guitarhunny said:
Chrisharris, Your mix sounds very warm yet crisp to me. For some reason I feel that my mixes always come out on the fuzzy(muddy) side but I can't pinpoint exactly where it comes from.
Click to expand...
It's usually between 200Hz and 500Hz...in fact, I usually do the following for acoustics and vocals, regardless of whether they're going to be in a full mix or just in an acoustic/vocal mix.

1. High pass (low cut) filter everything below 80Hz on the vocals and the guitars.

2. Using a parametric EQ, make another 6db cut about an octave wide (1.3Q) starting with its center at 315Hz on the vocals and the guitars. (**MAJOR MUD CULPRIT**) -

3. Move the centers of those EQ cuts left and right between 200Hz and 500Hz and see where it sounds the best. Once you've found out where exactly the cuts take out the most mud while leaving in enough warmth, then reduce that cut from 6db to 3db. (the 6db cut that you start with is basically to help you HEAR where the mud is hiding out - Another way to do this is to make a boost of 6db in the same area [instead of a cut] and see where the track sounds the absolute worst - once you've got that track sounding really shitty, then just turn the boost into a cut - this is called "sweeping for shit"...okay, I just made that up, but the technique works).

4. SLIGHTLY boost the guitars and the vocals (maybe 2db) at 12K. This is basically boosting hiss, but it kinda' adds "air" to the tracks.
 
That was really detailed! I love it!!! Can't wait to give it a try tomorrow and post my work.

Thanks again. Later
 
Here's another try. ;) I have taken the suggestions just above and tried to apply them the best to my ability. Upon second listen I may have mixed too much vocal. I don't know. Am I doing it right?

lillmiss10/07/04
http://ruthsharpmusic.com/mp3.htm
 
Nobody wants to tell me if I'm getting better? I'm trying really really really hard.
 
GB-
It still sounds quite dull.

What is your monitoring situation again?

Do you listen to any reference CDs through your monitors to get a baseline on how stuff should sound?
 
HEY, BACKUPS!!! COOL.

First things first. I like this a TON better than the first thing you posted. The guitars still sound a bit boxy (dull), but that's just a matter of fiddling with an EQ until it sounds like it does in your head. If you've achieved that, then you're done. Personally, I'd take a bit more of the stuff below 500Hz out, and maybe boost the 12K region a bit more...Actually, the top sounds pretty decent. It's hard to tell, because once you get that boxiness sound out, it'll change how the top end sounds, and you may not wanna' mess with it.

For grins, make a deeper cut @ 350Hz and try one at 1K. The 1K may sound like a weird place, but that "boxiness" can hide out there sometimes.

The vocal sound is a lot better than it was on your very first mix...it's NOT mixed too loud for my taste. I think you could wet it up JUST a tad more with a soft (short) plate reverb, but not much.

That 'Hurts' at 3:34...that one gives me chills. THAT's what it's all about.
 
That is a pretty good vocal trick on "Hurts" If I do say so myself. Do the background vocals fit with the song?

For monitoring, I have some less than average computer speakers with a subwoofer and some studio headphones. It makes the mixing part of all this tough and I know it is terrible to mix with headphones, (I read the Blue Bear Recording article on it.) I am looking for a decent set of studio monitors but don't know what is good for what I can afford (about $200).

What difference, if any, does 16 bit sound differ from 24 bit? Will it make a noticable difference in my recordings? I am looking for a new sound card as well.

Thank you SOOOOOOO much you guys for helping me out. I know it is doing a world of good for my music.

I will mix some more tomorrow with the new suggestions, my head is POUNDING!! LATER
 
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