Irish Coffee

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powderfinger

powderfinger

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I was looking for a little input on this new mix......I'm sure the vocals could use a touch up as they were cut in a rather inebriated state.....some better pitch and annunciation could help.....but we only cut the vocal twice, and basically just used the second take....

other than that, general song and mix comments could greatly help...........
the song is called Irish Coffee.....

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=1642&alid=154
 
Hey,

I really like the slacker vibe you're going for. The vox are almost there. The notes you hold are on and cool. If you recut the vox, I'd go for a hotter mic and a little more intimate feel. Get up on that sucker and make sure you stay relaxed in the abdomine(sp?)..don't let the power drift up to your neck (if that makes any sence).

I'd give that rhythm git on the right a chance to be more a part of things. Tighten the pan and/or give it a boost in volume.

The drums sound good till the break. When the git on the left comes in between verses I think the drums could accent the dynamic by double timing or slaming the shit out of the crash cymbals.......especialy on the outro.

That should be just about enough of my nonesence for one post:D

Hope I helped,

I like you're writing style. Hope to hear more.

Peace,

Theron.
 
just a short note powder: Not sure why people didn't read your thread or respond and it almost fell off the front page... maybe I'm wrong, but I believe I've seen two/three songs threads from you and I'm not sure I've seen you review other people's stuff. There was a big discussion about this, and about how people should try to hear other's stuff if they want comments.

Hey, I could be wrong :o maybe you have made comments on other's stuff (which I just haven't seen :p), but it seems to be the price of admission here :) That said... here's some comments:


Second mix in a row I've heard light on low-mids... the vocal has great clarity/balance to it, but the instrument bed is imbalanced. The low mids sound missing -- because 1.5Khz or so
has a lot (coming from guitar). Suggest lowering the lead guitar a few DB or bringing the bass up a bit.

Vocals are sibilant ("s/sh" sounds are too loud). A de-esser would help. On the phrase "look me in the EYEEEEEE!" the vocal clips, and it's a bit sharp (above tone).

Otherwise, it doesn't sound too bad. Very simple arrangement, and parts. The vocals sound like they were recorded with a good mic, but do get a tad sibilant and you clip on that "EYEEEEEEE!" word.

I would suggest compressing the lead guitar a bit, then lowering the volume. This could bring a bit more balance. Compress the bass a bit; you've got a lot of built up low end, probably from all the tracks added together. Try rolling off everything below 150 on vox, snare, and guits. Good luck.


Chad
 
theron- thanks for the tips. i think one of the main problems in the signing was fighting the heaphone mix....i'm deffinitly going to kick up the right rythm too.....hopefully i'll have a resung version up in a little while

participant- i know what you're saying about other replying to other people's posts....it's a hard, but welcoming group to break into, as some members have a good amount of clout (for good reason).....that being said I've really just started using the mixing clinic this month (have been a member of the bbs for a while), and have been trying to give at least four or five replys for every post i do....i guess you haven't seen them....hopefully my name'll get around more the more i'm here..........anyhow, thanks for the feedback, a quick clarifying question....

- what do i do to add more low mids....should that be the guitar range? or what? right now, i'm pretty much just using presets for the eq programs........i'm still getting the knack of this eq thing, so hopefully i'll do ok with rolling off the below 150........
 
i think one of the main problems in the signing was fighting the heaphone mix....
Click to expand...

I've been fighting that same prob, I've a shitty mixer and a shitty knowlege of how to set it all up. If you come across any breakthroughs, let me know;)

Your attack on the vox and your cool lyrics deserve a proper delivery and it is blatant that you have it in you.:)
 
powderfinger said:
participant- i know what you're saying about other replying to other people's posts....it's a hard, but welcoming group to break into, as some members have a good amount of clout (for good reason).....that being said I've really just started using the mixing clinic this month (have been a member of the bbs for a while), and have been trying to give at least four or five replys for every post i do....i guess you haven't seen them....hopefully my name'll get around more the more i'm here..........

Oh. My bad :) It could just be that there were a few posts of yours going at the same time. No biggy.

- what do i do to add more low mids....should that be the guitar range? or what?

Actually, the low mids comprise the body of the vox, snare, and guitar sounds. The reason it sounds like their gone in your mix, I believe, is that the guitar is just mixed a few db too loud. Since most of that guitar's energy seems to be around 1.5k, that could throw off the mix's balance if it's too loud. Also, I do believe it would help to roll off lows below at least 150Hz on vox, snare and guits and boost the fader on bass.

At that point, we could see how the balance is. Hopefully, we'll see some more low mids :)

EDIT: Also, consider compressing that guitar a bit, as that would smooth it out, and you could lower its fader a bit without losing it.
Click to expand...
 
theron- i've got a shitty mixer too, so hopefully we can figure this out.........it would help increadibly.......i'm working on it now though, so hopefully i'll figure something out and let you know....

participant- i cut below 150 on what you said, and i think that helped quite a bit.......i've compressed the guitar already, but will try a little more.........also, this is probably the dumbest question of all time, but when you say boost the fader on the bass, does that just refer to the volume?

.......i'm working with the vocals now, so hopefully within the hour i'll have a new mix that has better vox and some good low mids.......
 
Got a cool march beat going on there. This kind of reminded me of something you might hear in the pub.

Overall this is not a bad tune. I like the Irish stuff you have going on with the guitar. Good lyrics. The playing was good overall, but the bass sounded a little off in a few places -- imho --, but this was minor.

The main feedback I would have may be to try tightening up the vocals a bit. Overall I think you have a good start there.

Interesting song!
 
powderfinger said:
this is probably the dumbest question of all time, but when you say boost the fader on the bass, does that just refer to the volume?
Click to expand...

Yup ;)
 
well, the remixed version is up.......

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=1642&alid=154

boydrj- we tried our best to tighten the vocals up given our time restraints.........as for the bass......let's just say our bass player has many good qualities...bass playing isn't one of them....cool guy though, thanks for the listen

theron- i think i might have found a good way to get more vocal mix, but i don't have a separate pre-amp to try it, i think in sonar that you can route different tracks to different outs, which would allow me to do it.......

participant- i cut all the frequencies you suggested...i think it cleaned it up quite a bit.......i think i lowered the dirty electric a little too much, but i think it's a better mix......i also used a de-esser on the vox

.........lemme know what you guys think
 
"Hey ho, look out below..."
I know the feeling. :D
You guys aren't conventional, a very good quality...very creative.
I didn't hear the original mix, but sounds like advice from those above has been taken. Chad amazes me with his analysis, he gets right down to specifics as well as or better than anyone around...invaluable.
Everything laying in well to my ears, a good live sound.
Raise a glass!

Mark
 
I really like the song...and especially the feed backin' guitars... I think you know the vocal problems. The drums are a little on the basic side...performance wise..same with the bass. A little more in those departments might add a little more to the song. Sober up you slacker!!!!...and give us a gooood take... burp!!
 
mkg- thanks for the listen......raise a glass is right, i think we might've raised a few too many glasses during the original tracking of this.......

mixmkr- i'm glad you enjoyed it......i think you're right about the drums.......like theron suggested, we're going to try to 'crash' like crazy at parts, but keep the regular boom-chick verse parts.......as for the bass, all i'm gonna say, is that probably won't get better until we find a new bass player.....and i'm not about to overdub his parts for him......i think that would really piss him off........thanks for the suggestions
 
Better mix. Now, the kick drum sounds great. Seems like some of the drum fills are quiet in the mix... but with this tune, it pretty much works. Dunno if the drunk vocals you had before just had more charisma or what, but these ones are more tamed. :) They're more on pitch... but the other's seemed a bit more loose and easy :confused: Eh... pick one and run with it :) your choice anyway :p

The vox are not sibilant; very nice there. Now that those esses are gone tho, you may want to add something like a tambourine to give you some highs back. (tambourines arent exactly irish, are they? :confused: ;)) Your vocals carry the song well.

Really with your current arrangement, I'm not sure how you could get a better mix. (That's not to say a better mix isn't out there :o Where's Blue Bear/littledog/mixmkr when you need them?? Oh, mix already heard it :p) If following mixmkr's suggestion of a livelier bass and drums sound, you could improve the song tho.

Maybe Sam/Kramer/theron/macle (did I forget someone) will chip in?


Chad
 
Chad- i think you're spot on about the vocals........the solution........learn how to sing on key with a few drinks in me......a noble task if i do say so myself..........thanks a million for the cutting 150s suggestion...........i had never done that on other recordings....i'm gonna have to go back and do that to all of them.......what can i say, i'm an ameutur
 
cool tune.. some minor vocal issues, but I have them too.. cool feedback.. The drums are Ringo-ish.. it works well here.. Also reminds me a bit of 'Oasis.'...other than some vocal things, I liked the tune.. and I don't have any major suggestions.. keep jammin'! :)
 
sabbath- thanks for the listen.....i love ringo, so i'm glad you like that...........everyone always wants to hit me when i say this, but 'octupus' garden' is in my top five favorite beatles songs of all time....no joke.........as for the vocals, i think i'm gonna have to get a better headphone mix before that gets much better.......
 
....Liked it.

It reminds me of The Pogues and The SawDoctors...

Honest in-you-face recording and song, - no bells and whistles.

/DMM
 
Hey powder,
...........Great song man, I dont have a problem w/ the vocals at all except the high note at 1:28.....owie:D ...... You have a really cool voice....... very cool!! cool style too, I really enjoyed the song alot. One thing i didnt care for much was the out of tune guit..... Its real apparent toward the beginning of the song. .......anyways, nit picking....... :) Cool stuff bro, cant wait to hear more. G
 
Dude...didn't hear the first mix...wish I had.

I just flat like your tunes...Speaking of "tune," this one's so close...why NOT tune the guitar and do the first minute or so over. That's my only negative comment.

Still listening to "Drivin."

ROCK ON YOU IMMORTAL SOUL!
-chris
 
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