I recorded this punk band named SOULJACKER in Austin TX...song named FASTRACK

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There's some potential here, but there's also a lot that's pretty bad about it.

What works: The lead guitar and bass tones are decent, and the vocals are much more audibly-mixed than you generally get with lo-fi punk recordings.

What doesn't: The vocal delivery is awful. They don't actually sing anything; they just have this apathetic, low-energy chant thing going on. If I went to see a punk band that sounded this bored live, I'd leave two songs into their set.
The rhythm guitar tone is really muddy. I know you want an ugly, overdriven tone for punk, but you could get more clarity in there.
The drums are all cymbals and toms. The kick and snare (the two most important drums, IMHO) are way too buried.

So obviously, some of those issues are things that you as the mixer (and presumably engineer) can fix. A lot of it's on the band too.
 
Hey, I think the snare sounds clear but I'm listening on earbuds which are trebley. I agree the guitar is muddy but I think it suits the song. The sound isn't bad by any means though I suppose the bass drum could be louder.
 
Soul Jackers mix

I agree the vocals need some character...
when recording I had tried to coach the band...They are amateurs...and a garage band...The talent is all I am going to get...
I had to pull teeth to get a lead guitar track.
Guitarist wanted an ultra-distorted sound...but his amp was in the shop.
He used my Peavey VYPYR tube-modeling amp with a "fuzz" setting over a "fender twin" setting...I have not really messed with tones so much in the 1st pass

Having said that I appreciate the response about the snare and kickdrum.
I also plan to go thru the articles on this forum about bass drum and snare...they've always seemed hard to record in a garage with crappy CAD mics

I am mixing off a set of Behringer floor monitors...some powered monitors are next on my wish list...along with some decent drum microphones...

anyways this was my first mix...anyone that would like to take a crack at it please ask and I will post the files for you in the MixThis! forum...

I will remix a half dozen times B4 done I am sure...I used quite a bit of automation on my 1st go thru just to make it listenable....pulling out really sour notes, leveling volumes in the vocals to make them more consistent....we're talking out of key vocals, out of key guitars...punk rock.
 
I won't go over the issues with the mix, since they've already been covered. I just wanted to contribute that when the vocals came in they made my mom start laughing.
 
I was holding my tounge the whole session....

The lead singer is the drummer in the misfits shirt...we did his vocals first...flat
then we did all band members on a backup vocal "Burnin down a fast track" chorus

Then the singer wanted to do another set of backups...it was 99.9 percent identical
I tried to suggest get into a lower voice...no avail...

I do like the cliche lyrics

V8 ford
4 on the floor
six six six painted on my door
 
Yeah I thought the vocals were lackluster. But I thought everything else sort of was too. The whole song just kind of plods along. Which is the last thing you want in a song like this.

Drums sound way distant. Guitars aren't much closer. Guitar tone is overly fizzy. Guitar on the right is louder than the guitar on the left. Vocals are comparatively ultra dry. everything sounds like it's in a different place.

Bass has a bit of that "bouncy ball" tone to it. too rubbery. Needs some low mids - which is hardly ever the case for a bass.

Is there a little guitar mistake on the right side at 1:08? Or was it intentional? Seemed weird.
 
souljacker

I recorded a lot of mistakes and probably missed a few I am sure.
I will check 1:08
I am confident you are correct on the volumes of the two guitars...

Basically we record these guys live, mics on the amps...perhaps I need to study up on which mics I own and switch them about to their suited task...along with buying some mixing monitors
 
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