I would like some feedback on a metal track

[David W. Pontius]

Hello,

A few days ago, I found a website with some stems on it (https://www.cambridge-mt.com/ms/mtk/) and downloaded one of the songs for practice. It sounds to me like the artist already tried to mix it on their own, based on how some of the levels aren't completely ridiculous. If you would mind giving it a listen, I would appreciate it. I think my mix might be a bit bass-heavy because I used headphones for most of it. What I would like you to focus on is the vocals because I think I got everything to a pretty good level, but there were like almost twenty vocal tracks and I didn't know where to place them panning wise.

Thanks.

EDIT: In response to feedback, I have changed the mix a bit.

 

[PorterhouseMusic]

Overall I think it sounds pretty good. I streamed this in my F-150. It did not sound too bass heavy to me. My critiques may just be a matter of personal preference. I thought the vocals sounded great. Really clear and balanced. Maybe a little high in level though compared to everything else. I couldn't make out any distinct bass guitar which for my own taste is actually a little bit of an issue for me. I would like to hear more of the low end in that sense. And then again this is just a matter of personal taste but from a listening and music appreciation standpoint those drums are just over the top way too busy. Hope this is helpful.

 

[Papanate]

Hello,

A few days ago, I found a website with some stems on it (https://www.cambridge-mt.com/ms/mtk/) and downloaded one of the songs for practice. It sounds to me like the artist already tried to mix it on their own, based on how some of the levels aren't completely ridiculous. If you would mind giving it a listen, I would appreciate it. I think my mix might be a bit bass-heavy because I used headphones for most of it. What I would like you to focus on is the vocals because I think I got everything to a pretty good level, but there were like almost twenty vocal tracks and I didn't know where to place them panning wise.

Listen to the Track - it’s Pop with a kind of metal instrumentation - it’s sloppy - I would fix the tracks - grid align them - and the vocals sound plain - not exciting at all - You say you have 20 vocal tracks? I’d bring them all in and see what happens - on my Studio monitors it’s a bit bass heavy - but nothing is walking over the rest so I think it is fine - the guitars need more energy - and the drums should be brought forward - honestly I think they should record it again - very conservative playing.

 

[David W. Pontius]

Overall I think it sounds pretty good. I streamed this in my F-150. It did not sound too bass heavy to me. My critiques may just be a matter of personal preference. I thought the vocals sounded great. Really clear and balanced. Maybe a little high in level though compared to everything else. I couldn't make out any distinct bass guitar which for my own taste is actually a little bit of an issue for me. I would like to hear more of the low end in that sense. And then again this is just a matter of personal taste but from a listening and music appreciation standpoint those drums are just over the top way too busy. Hope this is helpful.

Can you explain a little more about how this entire thing was created? Like how are the guitars recorded and what was the gear used or plugins used? And how did you do the vocals. Is that you through a microphone? And how are the drums created?

Thank you for the feedback. I dropped the vocals by a few db and upped the amp sound of the bass. (Not sure about the proper terminology here, but there is a Direct Input and a heavily distorted / amplified bass stem. I boosted that to make it sound like there is more bass without actually adjusting the low end too much.)

"Can you explain a little more about how this entire thing was created? Like how are the guitars recorded and what was the gear used or plugins used? And how did you do the vocals. Is that you through a microphone? And how are the drums created?"

So, I got the trackouts for this song from a website (see OP) and I don't really know the details about the particular gear or plugins used. I didn't do the vocals, as I didn't make the song. The vocals are definitely recorded in a studio environment, no background noise there whatsoever. My theory about the drums is they had a drummer play different parts of the kit isolated, because there is no bleed between the overhead track and the snare track.

 

[Meter]

I think its good in general but the drum are a bit abstract. You should have a reference so you have something to compare it with. The best way to get good results.

Here is an example:

My 2 cents...

 

[David W. Pontius]

Listen to the Track - it’s Pop with a kind of metal instrumentation - it’s sloppy - I would fix the tracks - grid align them - and the vocals sound plain - not exciting at all - You say you have 20 vocal tracks? I’d bring them all in and see what happens - on my Studio monitors it’s a bit bass heavy - but nothing is walking over the rest so I think it is fine - the guitars need more energy - and the drums should be brought forward - honestly I think they should record it again - very conservative playing.

Thanks for the feedback. The DAW I'm using doesn't really have a good grid align feature. I own a few others but haven't gotten around to installing them.

If the artist decides to update / remix / etc the track, I don't mind taking another crack at it, what I was hoping for was if there were any obvious errors or mistakes you could spot (which it sounds like there wasn't anything too bad).

 

[David W. Pontius]

I think its good in general but the drum are a bit abstract. You should have a reference so you have something to compare it with. The best way to get good results.

Here is an example:

My 2 cents...

I'm not sure what you mean by abstract, perhaps there is too much reverb? I could try layering other drum samples on top of em, but all I had to work with was kick snare, toms, overhead, and room stems.

 

[Meter]

I guess you could try to lower the eq below 60 Hz and push it a little around 120 on the kick drum. Its kind of mushy now from what I can hear.

 

[David W. Pontius]

I guess you could try to lower the eq below 60 Hz and push it a little around 120 on the kick drum. Its kind of mushy now from what I can hear.

Okay, I'll go ahead and lower the sub region on the kick.

 

[PorterhouseMusic]

So, I got the trackouts for this song from a website (see OP) and I don't really know the details about the particular gear or plugins used. I didn't do the vocals, as I didn't make the song. The vocals are definitely recorded in a studio environment, no background noise there whatsoever. My theory about the drums is they had a drummer play different parts of the kit isolated, because there is no bleed between the overhead track and the snare trtrack.

I apologize. I embarrassed myself by reading the thread title and jumping directly to the music. I was busy today and had short attention span day.

 

[TripleM]

I didn't think it was bass heavy. And if I don't think it's bass heavy, it isn't bass heavy. I think everything is bass heavy.

I thought it sounded pretty good.

Is there any reason why the vocals drift from the center to the left, and then back to the center?

 

[David W. Pontius]

I didn't think it was bass heavy. And if I don't think it's bass heavy, it isn't bass heavy. I think everything is bass heavy.

I thought it sounded pretty good.

Is there any reason why the vocals drift from the center to the left, and then back to the center?

I was just trying to get the different vocal parts to not be stacked right on each other. IMO Melodic parts should be spread out, even if by only a hair.