K
K-dub
Well-known member
First pass of final mix stage ...
Thanks for any/all comments!
Kev-
Thanks for any/all comments!
Kev-
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toad_uk
Member
Probably not the sort of music I would listen to, but catchy and well executed. The distorted guitars were too thin and the back vocals were too loud. Generally I felt the instruments could have been brought up, the vocals and drums were very up front. It's hard to simulate that brass sound, but it was pretty good. The arrangement of the brass was good, I'd love to hear it played by a real brass section.
ido1957
9K Gold Member
They sound pretty close to real which is hard to do - what are you using for the horns? I have no horn arranging experience - I'd have to listen to some TOP, Chicago or other 70's stuff to get a feel for it.
Chili
Site Moderator
catchy tune that'll probably stick in my head all night. Very creative. Your productions are always top-shelf and this one is no exception. It's always hard to find any nits in your stuff, but I think I might have one this time.... 
I think there could be a little more definition between the kick and the bass. Maybe the bass is taking up too much of the spectrum they share. Wouldn't mind a little more pop on the snare, either. It on the verge of sounding overly compressed. Eh, it's just nitpicks and lame ones at that.
Enjoyed the brass, they integrate seamlessly and if you didn't point them out, I wouldn't have thought twice about them. That's a compliment.
Cool, thanks for sharing your talents.
I think there could be a little more definition between the kick and the bass. Maybe the bass is taking up too much of the spectrum they share. Wouldn't mind a little more pop on the snare, either. It on the verge of sounding overly compressed. Eh, it's just nitpicks and lame ones at that.Enjoyed the brass, they integrate seamlessly and if you didn't point them out, I wouldn't have thought twice about them. That's a compliment.
Cool, thanks for sharing your talents.
K
K-dub
Well-known member
Nor is it the sort of music I normally write!
I'd love to have a real brass section too. I do know some guys, but it's so much easier using a plug in.
Thanks for the thoughts -- appreciated!
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K
K-dub
Well-known member
When dry, they sort of sound thin and tinny (It's a soundfont I found for free on the net -- I'd be glad to send it to you if you wish) ... so I add some delay and modulation to fake it real.
K
K-dub
Well-known member
Ah Chili -- you hit on my nit. THAT was the tough thing to nail down in this mix because both are needed strong to drive the tune ... which tends to load the bottom end, and each tends to mask the other.
Evidently first pass didn't quite get it there ... thanks for the note.
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joeym
New member
Another great tune, Kev. You always have such good hooklines in your songs.
Chili commented about the pop on the snare, I actually thought it was a bit too much for this style, but there you see how opinions differ....
Of course, it does nothing to hinder the quality of the song or the mix. Nice work!
Chili commented about the pop on the snare, I actually thought it was a bit too much for this style, but there you see how opinions differ....
Of course, it does nothing to hinder the quality of the song or the mix. Nice work!
K
K-dub
Well-known member
Thanks Joe!
When I went back to listen this morning, I thought all the comments hit the nail square on. The bass did need better definition against the kick. The snare was too dominant, bgvs were too loud, the instruments too receded etc ... all in the right neighborhood, but not yet quite right.
It's why I put stuff out there for comment ... because forcing a rethink on what you've done is the healthiest thing that can be done. New mix is up top w/ the most recent date on it. I left the old one up for before and after comment listening.
kcearl
I see deaf people
it almost has a zutons vibe in the verse, nice and upbeat...horns worked out really well
Im on my internet PC but the bass is coming through really strongly on it, maybe a little too much, especially in the beginning
other than that, catchy pop tune...nicely executed mate
Im on my internet PC but the bass is coming through really strongly on it, maybe a little too much, especially in the beginning
other than that, catchy pop tune...nicely executed mate
T
TripleM
Well-known member
Generally real good as always. Real nice harmonies.
I had trouble hearing the vocal in the intro.
The bass is a boomy. I'm guessing you have a couple of low frequencies that are a problem - somewhere in the 60-120hz range. Could very well be the cause of your problem with the kick.
Just a slight hint of cloudiness to the lead vocal. Maybe a small cut around 500hz or so might help.
Other than that, real good. Liked the trumpets. Sounded real to me.
I had trouble hearing the vocal in the intro.
The bass is a boomy. I'm guessing you have a couple of low frequencies that are a problem - somewhere in the 60-120hz range. Could very well be the cause of your problem with the kick.
Just a slight hint of cloudiness to the lead vocal. Maybe a small cut around 500hz or so might help.
Other than that, real good. Liked the trumpets. Sounded real to me.
K
K-dub
Well-known member
Thanks K! -- Your thoughts on the bass being too strong were mirrored from others about the net. I think I'm going to need a last pass at this to dial in the right balance.
K
K-dub
Well-known member
I have it bumped at 60 and 120 cycles, how did you know? Wait, you're you.
I'll check out the vocal fog too ... and thanks bud!
G
Greg_L
Banned
Ditto on the boomy bass. Sounds like the tone has been rolled off on the bass itself. I don't think it's that bad though. It does stack up, but should be an easy fix. I personally think the drums are too roomy, but that's personal taste. The rest sounds good to me.
K
K-dub
Well-known member
Funny thing is, G, that I first mixed the drums w/o any room sound to it ... and then added the space because I didn't like them dry -- so spot on observation.
The bass line is the driver of this piece -- and evidently I got a little over enthusiastic with it -- but you're again right, it's an easy fix.
rayc
retroreprobate
If the bass is the propulsion try the motown trick: cut 4db Q3 at 100, boost 3db Q3 at 200. That moves the "energy" up & away from the troublesome zone. The dBs will depend on how much is needed.
Cool song. Catchy as flu.
Cool song. Catchy as flu.
K
K-dub
Well-known member
Thanks Ray! The tone of the track is at 60/120 ... but I did make some adjustments along those lines, and eliminated some of the bottom end wash by simply bringing both the kick and bass back a hair (kick by a db, bass by nearly 3). I also addressed Trip's comment about the vocal fog (the cut was circa 300 cycles -- and I boosted a little more in the 1.5-2k range w/ a wide Q).
Thanks for all the help on this folks -- invaluable assistance.
Did I get the bass dialed in correctly on the 11/9/2011 version (in the first post)?
T
TripleM
Well-known member
You might try cutting those frequencies, very narrowly, and then boosting the over level of the track. Might give you a stronger low end without the boomosity.
K
K-dub
Well-known member
The issue there, bud, is that it also removes some body ... call it "creamy goodness" from the sound. Did you get a chance to listen to the new file?
T
TripleM
Well-known member
I think the bass sounds better now. I think you could probably boost it a db or two. But no boomies.
I'm still hearing cloudy vocals. I think the cut I'm looking for is higher than 300hz. Nothing major - being picky. Might be on the backing vocals now that I think about it. Noticing it on the "again and again and again's"
Something I didn't hear before - two little clacks on the left side. One at 2:34 and another at 2:36. Like the drummer hit the snare rim or something. A few more smaller ones later on.
I'm still hearing cloudy vocals. I think the cut I'm looking for is higher than 300hz. Nothing major - being picky. Might be on the backing vocals now that I think about it. Noticing it on the "again and again and again's"
Something I didn't hear before - two little clacks on the left side. One at 2:34 and another at 2:36. Like the drummer hit the snare rim or something. A few more smaller ones later on.