If I Could Save You - Final mix

[Wirebird]

Here's another mix from the upcoming album with Evangelyn

Everything is recorded live and then a lot of post-processing of pianos and drums. I'm quite happy with it, apart from some syncing that needs to be fixed, but it would be great to get some input on what I might have missed or suggestions on improvement.

Cheers

 

[jeffmaher]

That's a '10'.

Totally dig the sounds, mix, voice, arrangement, strong melody and hookworthy repetition. You should be VERY happy with that number. Sounds like it came right off a Gabriel/Dolby collab record. I can easily imagine it getting AOR airplayl; and..... with a bit of editing to about 3-and-change minutes...on commercial pop radio.

One thing: at 1:50, there's a bridge. That bridge has the bass playing , I think, the lowest available Bb on the instrument. If not, I'd suggest playing it an octave lower; and, if it's already there, I'd suggest borrowing a 5-string bass, de-tune the bottom string a half-step, and whang a huge, growling Bb to really send a surge of emo into that moment...and every time thereafter. I think that's the peak, right? [or you could add a midi instrument...like bowed contrabass or something...a synth playing an octave down from the string bass.]

One more...the last series of parts on into the outro....one more layer of something to give it a little more ooomph might be nice. Jusy a click more urgent than everything that came before it..

YMMV :^)

Totally great piece of work; wish I produced it.

 

[Wirebird]

Thanks a lot, jeffmaher, that's good to hear
I'm a bit lost at this time as far as mixing goes because I moved back from Thailand and had to leave my studio monitors behind. This mix has been done in a pair of Logitech Z-10 computer speakers. Not the most ideal mixing environment, so it's good to hear that it's working out so far.

I've had a lot of problems with the bass notes as some of them pop out a lot at around 100 Hz. I've tried to get around it with an automated switch on a filter. But yea, a five-string would definitely do the trick on a song like this. Unfortunately our bass player is on a trip around the world for the rest of the year. Now, why should bass players have all the fun?

For the oomph, do you mean the last part before the drums stops? If so, then there's ton's of stuff I could bring out there to raise the bar. There a lot of "kill your darlings" going on in this mix.

 

[dodgeaspen]

Nice song. I like the effects.

 

[jeffmaher]

you just go ahead and figure it out. You're gonna make it great.

 

[joeym]

Really good, this is something to be proud of. Great recording, nice voice, nice arrangement, good performance. This belongs on the radio. Well done!

Joey

 

[DarkFriend]

Sounds like Peter Gabriel to me, which is a compliment..

In the verses, at least on headphones, it sounds like the right panned piano is louder than the lead vocals which doesn't sit well with me.

Overall a good song, and I love the fact that you intentionally try to make interesting sounds which you don't hear much on this forum.

Like the guitar sound too. The guitar riff that kicks in at the last 30 seconds is nice. Too bad it wasn't throughout more of the song.

Vocalwise, I was missing some harmony vocals. There were good opportunities for them, but they didn't happen. Also, I'm not sure if I understood more than five words through the whole song.

Very nice! Definitely high quality stuff.

 

[Wirebird]

Thanks guys for all the kind words!

DarkFriend: The original idea for the song was to have a vocal melody that's sung along with a piano melody, so the piano is meant to be loud. But I'll have a look at that, it's not meant to be distracting.

I did put a lot of work into the ambience material of the song. All the ambience is piano chords that I've sampled and then stretch heavily and resample, with further stretching in playback controlled by mod wheel.

Yea, the last guitar part is a favorite of mine too, not just the theme but also the sound - we used a strat with bridge/middle pickup position, instead of the tele with bridge/neck position as in the rest of the song. But I kind of like the idea of leaving with something that makes you want more.

There could definitely be more harmony vocals. No excuse for that, for some reason I've always been lazy when it comes to harmony vocals.

 

[guitar zero]

This song is fantastic. The soundscape is fabulous. The transitions are buttery smooth. The vocals lend to this song a weighty emotional impact that is perfect for the song. This is a professional quality recording, and the fact that you mixed it on computer speakers is even more amazing. The only thing I did notice was the lead guitar during the first couple of verses may be a touch to loud. Just lowered a little so it sits behind the vocals and it would be pretty close to perfect. I'll listen again to be sure, but that was my first impression. You should be proud!

 

[Wirebird]

Final mixes of all songs done Long time lol, had a very long break due to being ill. The mixes can be found here Evangelyn
(Not mastered yet)

Cheers

 

[guitar zero]

Wow, that took a long time. Can't wait to get home and give it a good listen.

 

[Wirebird]

Wow, that took a long time. Can't wait to get home and give it a good listen.

Cheers guitar zero, yeah I've been on a long term sick leave for 2 years and no studio to mix in. Mixed these in a friends studio

 

[guitar zero]

Bravo! Outstanding. I did think the vocals on "Calling The Rain Down" were a little dry, but that's not a problem, just a taste thing. Let us know when this album is available. This is high quality.

 

[Wirebird]

Thanks guitar zero, I'm happy you like it. I've been thinking the same about the vocals in "Calling the rain down", they need a little more room so I'm probably gonna add a little bit of that before the mastering.

 

[ecktronic]

Sounds nice. I really like the first song!

Good work.
G

 

[BigRed360]

I. Am. Jealous.

This is awesome. I'm on my third tune, and I'm blown away. Great job!

 

[ido1957]

Listened to the first song (Calling the Rain). Beautiful song. Mix sounds perfect to me wirebird. The dobro and violin are amazing. Love it!

 

[ecktronic]

Yeah that is a great song.