how would mastering help this

[slkeen]

I have some songs I recorded and mixed on a Tascam 788, how would mastering help? I think they sound pretty clean, but I'm looking to get the best end result I can. Here's a link if anyone cares to help, thanks

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/1/stevekeeneymusic.htm

this is also some blatant self promotion.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

The first clip sounds overcompressed and the vocal is completely buried in the mix....

The mastering experts on this site can tell yo better than I can but to me, this sounds like a remix is in order before you try mastering it. (And if you re-mix, take the compression off the mix buss and START mixing with the vocals up and blend everything around them, rather than the other way around!)

 

[Massive Master]

Whenever Blue Bear speaks, you can usually second me on it. No exception here...

MOA - The vox in sounds like it's in an unrelated space and tiny in comparison with the rest of the mix. There's a pretty good stereo image going on that the vocals don't share in.

SIW - Vox a little better here, but still seems to be disjointed from the mix. Ocassional sibilance is popping through - Not a show-stopper, but if it's something you can take care of...

NOW - Same thing. Vox a bit shaky in parts...

Instrumentally, everything sounds pretty nice. There is a strange compression thing that I'm hearing, although it might be the MP3 encoding - I haven't been checking out any new encoders, but these are ridiculously clear for 128's... Perhaps the encoder is cutting diferent corners than I'm used to...

John Scrip - www.massivemastering.com

 

[tonyA]

The first clip sounds overcompressed and the vocal is completely buried in the mix....

The mastering experts on this site can tell yo better than I can but to me, this sounds like a remix is in order before you try mastering it. (And if you re-mix, take the compression off the mix buss and START mixing with the vocals up and blend everything around them, rather than the other way around!)

Wow! Talking about somebody with great ears, Bear does. I agree 100%.

Great piece nevertheless. Need more hook - (repeat "moving on again" more, but not too much or it will be a bubble gum piece). But thats for another thread (Songwriting).

I believe your bass is overpowering. Just my HO. I am not an expert on mixing, but I know what I hear.

 

[slkeen]

OK, thanks. Getting things, especially vocals, to sit better in the mix seems like what I need to work on. I'll probably redo everything anyway and start fresh with new tracks. I'll probably use a regular acoustic guitar. I usually use a bit of compression dirung recording to even out the sound, about 2:1 ratio. Does that sound about right?

 

[Massive Master]

There really isn't any "right" ratio...

All I can tell you when i'm mixing is that once I notice a compressor, I've used too much. Unless it's for effect, of course... Same with verb - but that's another thread...

John -

 

[Son of Mixerman]

There really isn't any "right" ratio...

All I can tell you when i'm mixing is that once I notice a compressor, I've used too much. Unless it's for effect, of course... Same with verb - but that's another thread...

John -

There certainly are wrong ratios. I will always suggest a remix whenever that option is still open. I believe that mixers can learn to mix better with some feedback from the ME. This in time will reduce the amount of work at the mastering stage, which is a good thing IMO. I've become a firm believer of not inserting a compressor on the mix bus which is arguable. I know of guys who are very good at mix bus compression, but often times its overdone because one guy did it well and it becomes trendy. If its a matter of taste because of genre's I think you can do it, but most experienced mixers already know how to do it right. Most inexperienced mixers don't obviously. But mix bus compression is best left to where the artifacts of the process are revealed. Who wants to have an ME call a remix because you didn't hear a bunch of anomalies of a (more than likely) cheap mix bus compressor. Some comps are good for it...some are not. If your so inclined to use mix bus compression, send a mix without it and request that the ME meet or beat what your aiming for then do an A/B of the two. I like to send a few mixes....vox up...bass up etc....just because I know mixing sometimes leaves you too burnt to be objective Its my mix and Im sticking to it

Ill stop rambling now....


SoMm

 

[masteringhouse]

In addition to the comments above I feel that the mixes lack depth. Everything sounds pretty much "in your face".

You need to work with delays to create a more 3 dimensional stereo image. Also add various types and amounts of reverb with different EQs to create the image that the drummer is behind the vocalist, not sitting on his lap.

These treatments have to be taken care of at the mix stage unless you plan on sending submixes to the mastering engineer.

As demos go however, they aren't too bad, and good guitar playing!