Fresh Meat

[mavrik]

All - Is there anyone out there that would be willing to take a listen to a few rough mixes and provide some professional input as to a postive direction to take?

I'm well aware that mixing is a scienceart in and of itself, however, the basic ground rules are something I'm just learning - having applied (tried) some of these basics, I'd really like an outside ear to review some of these and provide some constructivedestructive criticism andor suggestion.

Additionally, all of our songs are recorded entirely digital using the following environment:

Digital Recording Workstation: Dual-Processor P4 750mhz, 1GB of Ram, running CubaseVST and Sonic Foundry Vegas out of a Delta 1010 rack and board.
180GB of disk space including a 10GB UltraFast SCSI mixing drive w/a bad-ass disk access time (like under 2ms).

Instruments are run through pre-amp into the Delta 1010 with the exception of Drums (Electric Roland Kit) and Keys (Korg SGProX) which all go direct to the Delta 1010.

Each instrument is recorded on two seperate channels (L&R)

Vocals are done using Shure Beta58 and AKG(vocal)mikes run through a pre-amp (no tube mics) and then into the Delta 1010 (effects are applied later in VegasCubaseVST)

Mixing is done in Vegas using Alesis M1 Active Monitors.

Song #1 - Back for More (aka. Wanted) -

Song #2 - Far Behind -

Appreciate the help in advance.

-mavrik

 

[Kelly Holdridge]

#1, on first listen, comes over as "Playmate of the Year" or "Flavor of the Week" or whatever that alternative song is...

Vocals seem mismatched to the "tinny" guitar. Add some meat to the lead, maybe add some 500 hz or so... Also, it sounds like the vocals are left, I'd put 'em center and put that lead far left...

the background mix is fine, but I'd drop the lead and vocals a bit. If you need to keep the vocals up, then throw the lead left and drop it a bit, so that it's also "background mix." Then, when the lead comes up, then turn it up.

@1:57, the lead goes center pan. disorienting. (is this because of the solo that follows?) Apparently so, as it reverts after a bit...

Yeah, other than the actual tone you use (never been a fan of "fuzz", unless it's Bob Mould), the EQ and levels of the vox and lead are the only things I see as far as getting it to "demo" quality (and the panning)...

I just read this, sorry to seem so condescending. In a bad mood...

 

[mavrik]

No Prob!

-kelly

Thanks so much for the feedback! Song #1 was written and recorded in about 4 hours from start to finish and we are going into the studio 2nite to work on demo version, so I think it does need some more work 4shure!

I really appreciate you taking the time to respond to a newbie post. I know alot of folks "drive-by" post and never show their faces again. :-(

Two quick add-on questions - When you refer to "tone" and "fuzz". . .

[Yeah, other than the actual tone you use (never been a fan of "fuzz", unless it's Bob Mould)]

what exactly are you referring too?

Also, did you have a chance to check out the 2nd song?

Thanks again so much for your advice!

 

[rats]

Drums sound good for electric

Voclas sound like they need compression, jumping up and down in levels?

Lead guitar sounds like absolute crap, which isn't always a bad thing but here it doesn't work. What is the guitarist using? Tinny isn't the word, sorry kelly, it's more asparagus-like, you know with the little head of clusters? You need to revealuate the recording of the lead guitar, from the guitar, through the effects and amp, into your machine, and figure out why it sounds so silly.

Nice song though.

 

[Hard2Hear]

I'm with Kelly on the guitar point. What is your guitar signal path? I think if you used a mic on a tube amp using the amp's distortion, and mic'd it with a 57, you'd get a whole new power and presence to your music. I mean, it's guitar-based rock. The guitar is important, right?

Other than that, it's good for the tools you're working with. A little tweakind and it will make a presentable demo.

H2H

Rats, you beat me to the post. But you're right on.
BTW- I listened to both songs and it applied to both of them.