Hot Pursuit - Runaway train, Tips and critique please

  • Thread starter Thread starter abbo69nz
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Generally nicely performed. Nice vocals.

I think the vocals are a little low in the mix.

I'm on headphones so I can't be sure. But I think I'm hearing a ton of low end rumble. The bass is also indistinct - one note blends into the next. The kick is pretty boomy too.

I didn't care for the DI'd guitar sound. Solid playing though.

Little tempo issue around 2:45.

The lead guitar is frequency fighting with the rhythm guitar.

You should put in the harmonies.
 
Thanks for the tips man, awsesome,

As for the guitar sound, how would it sound mic'ing the acoustic guitar with a shure beta58a? and wheres best to place mic?

And yep I thought the kick was bit boomy also,,
Any ideas how to fix the frequency issue?

thanks again
 
I'm not familiar with that mic, so I can't answer that part of the question. As far as placement, there are lot's of options. But a "workhorse" method is to put the mic at the 13th fret, maybe about a foot or so away from the guitar, and angle it towards the sound hole. Maybe start with that.

On the frequency issue, I'd try to use a different guitar if I could. It sounds to me like you're using the same guitar as you used for the rhythm. If that isn't practical, try some moderate EQ boosts in the lead guitar in the lower end and higher end (staying away from the middle). I can't get more specific than that - you'll need to use your ears.
 
Not bad.

I'd mic the guitar. Even with a beta 58...as usual, start at the 12th fret angled toward sound hole about 6 inches back. It'll sound way better. Play with the placement.

Bass needs to be more distinct. Maybe a little compression to bring the attack out. EQ in some low mids, and let it thump with some low end. Also high pass EQ on the guitar will help the bass sit better.

Lead guitar isn't too distinct either. I'd Eq up the main frequencies of the lead, and compress it a lot.

Drums - EZ drummer? bring the room WAY down, it's got a really distinct roomy sound that isn't that great. Simpler rolls would probably be better. If it is EZ drummer, send each track out to its own track (so EZ drummer is one...snare...kick...OH...toms). Actually just mute the room track. this way you can compress the snare to give it more life and snap, EQ the kick to give it more thump and definition. Then add a nice room reverb on a drum bus to get the roominess back but better. Also try the humanize function in your DAW to vary the hits and the timing more.

Even with all these "suggestions" it's not bad and the mix was pretty good.
 
Big thanks for all the suggestions,
Going to spend this avo having a bit of a play round with the suggestions. The drums are recorded using my roland t9 ekit, havent done anything to them just recorded them in stereo from the module, since doing this track I've found what I think is a better kit to use on the module, when you say turn the room down? what do you mean?
The bass is something im very new too, both playing and certainly recording so I will try some of those suggestions
Thanks again guys, your input and critiques are much appreciated
cheers
 
Haha. I just always assume good drums are fake. So good playing!

Roominess is the room sound or the reverb on the drums, room, ambience, reverb etc. It doesn't sound great. But after a second listen it may be the influence of the DI guitars. Maybe.
 
Haha thanks man,

I had a bit of a play around on the td9 module itself yesterday and boy do I see what you mean, the kit I had used for the recording had a whole lot of ambience on it, everything was maxed out, so I dialled some of the settings back and it sounds a whole lot nicer, (still cant wait to get my acoustic set though, although the td9 is useful for what were doing at the moment, you just can't beat the sound of a good acoustic set eh)

As for the guitars, I've been playing around with recording the acoustic with my shure beta 58a, and already It sounds better, much better, Hey i also have a senheiser e835 mic somewhere around, would that be a better option for recording the acoustic?
 
oh forgot to mention Ive trieds some of your suggestions, and they have made a big difference already, especially with the bass!
so thanks!, just got to learn how to use the high pass filter properly in cubase 4
cheers!
 
Awesome!

I don't know about that mic you mentioned, but there's only one way to find out if you like it better...try it! Mic selection and placement is 98% of acoustic guitar sound IMO. Each guitar/player/room/etc makes a difference. It's one of the harder things to get a good sound from.

High pass lets everything above a certain level through. Low pass lets everything below a certain level through. So you just have to find where those points are. I HPF acoustics and electrics a lot, and LPF bass, just to get theme out of eachothers way.
 
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