Home recording project/song. Would really love some input!!!

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adamjuresko

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A couple of things about the song. This was all written on a Roland Di keyboard, then recorded using the latest Audacity. I can't afford decent monitors right now (from everything I've read it doesn't even seem worth picking up a pair if I can only spend $200-$300 on them) and so yes, it was all mixed mono through headphones, on Audacity. I've read a lot on here that mixing in Audacity is not the best idea, and it's pretty limited, but I think in that regard it's also why I wanted to mix it in mono; if I can make it sound good within these capabilities then I think that's a good start. But I guess that's the real question and why I would really love some feedback. Does it sound good? I think the basic mix sounds pretty decent, but when it comes to eq'ing, compression, and the overall sound, well, I'm at a loss. I guess my next question then is, where do I go from here with it? Also, every track I record, the gain is always set to 0db. When I finished all of the tracks there was a bit of clipping and so I selected all tracks and de-amplified so as to get them out of the red. That works but comparatively the track is about half of the volume of the reference track that I'm using. This is a process that I'd like to complete on my own and I'd like to avoid sending it to get mastered. Really, what I'm looking for out of this track is something brighter while retaining the lows and atmosphere and an overall volume increase without distorting the track. Maybe that's all too much info but it seemed like a better way to start then saying 'hey, listen to this song and tell me something about it!' I'm really looking forward to any comments and hopefully some great suggestions. This song is a starting off point so I'd like to nail this one so I can start writing others!
 

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Never, and I mean NEVER, mix through headphones. Even if you have to use the $20 speakers that came with your computer, don't use headphones. Sonically it will sound so different through speakers then with headphones. And 90% of the time, when people first hear your music, it will be through speakers and not headphones, so you want to mix it so that it sounds great coming through your speakers, not your headphones.
 
I think it sounds pretty good actually, especially for the limitations you mention. It does seem kind of long given that there isn't too much variation, you know? I thought it was sounding really dark with the verbed-out drums until about a minute in when it expands a great deal as other elements come in. Still maybe too much low mids building up for me though. Maybe your cans are low on bass and you're overcompensating? I dunno - just some thoughts...

I guess I'd rather mix on nice headphones than $20 speakers (do they really make speakers that cheap?). But I also rather mix on any speakers in the $200-$300 range than any headphones regardless of quality.
 
$200-$300 would by quite a lot of half decent near fields...event 20/20's, KRK 5s, KRK 6 & 8 gen 1s....plenty of used items


dont believe the myth that you can only mix in a treated room with $1000+ monitors....true that'll make it easier but Ive heard plenty of mixes from homerecorders on both cheap and expensive set ups and $$$ wont buy you talent, thats for sure


I use cans a lot...too much in fact, but I always check back on my monitors...Id rather have an old hifi than nothing, for me the stereo image and FX like reverbs and delays can not be accurately mixed with cans alone

havent given the mix a listen to as Im on a netbook, I just wanted to say even the most basic of nearfield will help you finish a mix quicker and translate better imho


also i use a pair of powered $50 speakers as part of my mix, along with an mp3 player...it all helps adam


welcome aboard
 
Beginning in homerecording is a case of needs must. I started out with a cassette 4 track plugged into my home stereo - worked OK. When I moved to comp. recording I used the built in sound card & Headphones until I could get a Y cable to send the signal from the soundcard to, you guessed it, my home stereo.
I've only been using monitors for about 2 years or so & they're only Behringer 20w types but WOW the diff. for near field monitoring was/is amazing. I still have a good quality home stereo amp & terrific speakers for a bigger picture & I play mixes, as kcearl said, on MP3 player, boom box, car stereo, home stereo, CD walkman etc etc just to hear it from a variety of perspectives.
The song - Doesn't sound mono - the two diff keys at the beginning seem to come from diff places & the reverb on the guitar is stereo.
I'm disappointed that it isn't mono - I LOVE mono.
The music sounded fone until the keyboard after the guitars - it became a bit cheesie from there.
Not a bad beginning mate. Some good ideas and everyone seems to go overboard with reverb for the 1st little while.
Mastering - well, let's just say - get the track & the mix right then consider the options. there's a mastering forum in here and lots of folk who do there own as well as a few professionals. Keep recording & reading.
Welcome aboard!
 
Good job. I thought it was pretty cool. If a bit of this were to make an appearance in an indie film I wouldn't think twice about it. All of the missteps would have been perceived as purposeful. That being said, listen to the other posters here. You need to audition your mix on a variety of speakers and devices.
 
Ok, well, I bought some monitors and can't wait for them to arrive. Even though they were on the cheaper side ($300ish) I figure it's got to help developing an ear and, honestly, wearing a pair of headphones for 8 hours a day was getting on my nerves, literally. Mostly, in the original post, I was trying to get some suggestions on the SOUND of the mix, and what, if any, suggestions anyone might have about the overall sound of the song. Yeah, songwriting wise, it is a bit monotonous, but it's also missing all of the vocals right now.:) Any thoughts?
 
I think it sounds pretty damned good. Good luck with your new monitors.
 
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