How to generally improve overall

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Will25

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It's A Long, Long Way To Tennessee [rough mix] by justwilliamandtheoutlaws on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

This is my first track with my new equipment...I was wondering if anyone could suggest any tips on how to improve! The area I'm not 100% with is the bass...considering it opens the track, I couldn't get a decent enough sound out of it. It's a cheap bass straight into the mixer (Tascam 488 mkII) - should I use an amp or get a better bass? Also the electric guitar seems to be changing volume and is a bit inconsistent...compressor maybe needed?

A final point...is the timing ok? Because I recorded myself singing playing acoustic, then we did drums on top, then scrapped the acoustic/singing guide and built everything up from the drums...is this right?

Thanks for any feedback!
 
Best bet is to post these in the MP3 Clinic part of this forum.
 
first things first... the electric guitar is WAY to loud ... its the loudest thing in the mix. the loudest thing should ...

before i can give you solid advice, i need you to tell me how each instrument was recorded.

Cheers aswell
 
True point

Drums: SM57 above the snare, bout 2 inches angled 45 degrees pointing just off centre
AKG D112 about 5/6 inches from the batter head (reso head removed)

Bass: Di'ed

Acoustic guitar: AKG 1000 on the 12th fret about 4 inches

Electric: SM57 pointing directly at the speaker of a Vox pathfinder 15, again about 4 inches

Vocals: AKG 1000 about 6 inches

Is that enough info? As you point things out I think they'll become obvious - I haven't really got fine listening to a high enough level I guess, although the loud guitar is definitely noticeable...
 
ok... well..

snare, i'd add a little more crack which you can find in the 2k-4k range and i'd add some more compression.

the kick is almost non-existent to me... definitely needs to be more present. boost around 100-150 hz a decent amount and cut around 200-400 hz to tighten it up a bit. also to give it more presence you want to find the click of the beater hitting the head which you'll find around 2k-5k.

the bass is also way too low in the mix. the drums and bass are what drive this song... not that out of tune guitar.

the acoustic is also nearly not present.

remix it with the lead guitar pushed back and the vocals gone... then i will be able to suggest things on top of that... if you'd like of course.
 
Definitely better so your on the right track.

the kick sounds rather boxy. which you should be able to get rid of in the 250-450 hz range. and i'd still like to hear some nice deep thud.
I also liked the electric guitar int he right ear rather than the left and i think its a bit TOO quiet now. but your definitely on the right track.

did you get my PM? check your notificiations.
 
Thanks Bisson, I'll try it on the kick and play about with it a bit more. Thanks for the PM, would be great if you could mix it - I should be getting a USB interface in the next few days so hopefully I'll be able to get a better transfer of the individual tracks as the bass wasn't really working through the mic port...
 
I liked the feel to it. I know it's kind of embryonic right now, but it could develop into something cool.

I'm hearing a guitar on the left side, but not much to compensate for it on the right side.

The bass is a little low in the mix I think. It's also a bit "sterile." Kind of a rubber ball sound to it. Needs more "woof" IMO. Maybe a little boost in the 500hz range?
 
Argh... didn't have a wire plugged in right. Ignore the comment about the imbalance. I hear the right side just fine.

In fact, it dominates the left side. I'd turn up the left side.

I also think the bass level is just fine. Still a little "sterile" sounding, but it's sitting at about the right level to my ear.

Sorry for the screw up.
 
I think just turning down the electric guitar is a great place to start. I think the overall vibe is cool and works on its own.
 
The bass is a bit loud though not boomy.
Otherwise it's a bit like the rhythm section & acoustic were in the mic room and the electric was in the next room trying to be heard.
 
Hey id still like to try a mix.

as for the ringing i've heard this on SEVERAL commercial tracks aswell and i think it has something to do with limiting... its always on the bass whenever i notice it and i honestly dont know what it is.

but send me the song file.. tyler.bisson@gmail.com, and i'd like to try to mix the song, when you send it make sure theres no effects or automation on it!!!
 
This was a fun read. Kudos to you Bisson820 for taking time to help a guy out. Very cool. As for your mix, i cant say much that hasn't already been said. But I would suggest as you move forward to 1. Listen to music you like the sound of in the room where you mix and on the same system. Listen to music that you know very well, so you can learn what your environment is doing to your sound. Then A/B constantly between a commercial mix you like and your mix. What are the differences you are hearing? Differences in tonal quality, freq spectrum, balance of instruments as well as freq. Then burn them to a CD and take them to the car and compare.
I'm not saying you should expect the same results being a home recorder vs a pro studio, but at least you have something to work toward.
2. This is said all the time, but get it right at the source. If you are having to do a tone of eq or comp for anything other than an effect, then you should re record it. Move the mic, change the mic, change the room, change the instrument etc
BTW, dig the tune!!!
 
Thanks for the comments guys, very helpful. That would be great Bisson, I'll get the tracks to you when I get a moment. Thanks again!
 
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