Knots In White Cotton

[ecktronic]

I like the horn, as Greg mentioned it is a little overpowering.
I would either compress it or use volume automation to tame those louder parts. The reverb and amount of reverb really suits this song.

As for the guitar part at 2:30 someone mentioned it was over processed, I believe it is too raw sounding and I think I can hear the room a bit much. Try less low mids maybe.

Good stuff,
G

 

[ecktronic]

Jeez, no wonder it sounds bottom heavy with a ski slope like that. Back to the mixing board, need to pay more attention to this in future. Thanks man.

I wouldn't worry about how the slope looks, this can be pretty typical of a Mix. Using your ears more I'd play with the low mids.

G

 

[jonny deep]

Hey Rob, really enjoyed this - you captured the mood just right. There's a few bits and bobs could do with tweaking, as mentioned by others, but I don't hear any muddiness on my headphones (though they are cheap). Kinda reminds me of Your Woman by White Town (they are very different, but there's similarities in the vocal and the feel, to my ear).

 

[chuckduffy]

Re my comment of rushing - I listened twice more and the only evidence I can find that I wasn't smoking dope are:

Around the phrase 'They wont trouble me no more' about midway through and the section that starts with 'Trouble at the door' @ the end. Stupid Quicktime took over as my default player and I am trying to get rid of it as now I don't see times while the song is playing. Anyway - I am at a loss as to how you could approach this any differently as you are packing a lot of syllables into each measure. Perhaps it's just me getting used to a song from you with a somewhat more rapid fire delivery....

 

[robgreen]

Overall its a bit unclear in the low mids. The bass could be mixed better to fit in with the Mix better, try compression and EQ in the low mids.
The drums are hidden, so cut the low mids on them and boost the volume and boost the high mids. These are just suggestions off the top of my head.

Guitar at 2:30 is out of tune, I'd re-record that in tune, and noticed a note out of place at the end of that section also.

I really like the vocal style and sounds nice, but I would bring it out more with volume, maybe more compression also.

G

Thanks a lot G (and for the following posts) - all really helpful stuff. I think I've addressed most of the issues mentioned in the mix I've been working on since. I think I've got some improvements on the drums, melodica and vocal levels.

I'd have posted it up now, but with you mentioning the acoustic break bit being out of tune, I'll re-track that first. It's from putting nylon strings on a big bodied acoustic intended for steel strings - just doesn't stay in tune for more than a few minutes at a time. No excuse though. Just need to remember how to play it now

Thanks for taking the time, you've been a big help and glad you liked.

Hey Rob, really enjoyed this - you captured the mood just right. There's a few bits and bobs could do with tweaking, as mentioned by others, but I don't hear any muddiness on my headphones (though they are cheap). Kinda reminds me of Your Woman by White Town (they are very different, but there's similarities in the vocal and the feel, to my ear).

Cheers jonny, I'm glad you liked. I've been pleasantly surprised at the reaction for the song here, wan't sure which way it was going to go when I posted it. Funnily enough, I've had then White Town comparison before on a previous song so maybe there's something in it - probably the vocal sound and processing. Hopefully the new mix will address the tweaks needed. Cheers man

Re my comment of rushing - I listened twice more and the only evidence I can find that I wasn't smoking dope are:

Around the phrase 'They wont trouble me no more' about midway through and the section that starts with 'Trouble at the door' @ the end. Stupid Quicktime took over as my default player and I am trying to get rid of it as now I don't see times while the song is playing. Anyway - I am at a loss as to how you could approach this any differently as you are packing a lot of syllables into each measure. Perhaps it's just me getting used to a song from you with a somewhat more rapid fire delivery....

Thanks for coming back Chuck - you're probably near enough as fatigued by this one as I'm getting now. It is a challenge with the rapid fire nature of the song - as I said before, my brain is so locked into the groove of this now, that I'm struggling to hear where the meter may be rushed. I'll listen back to those two lines before I put this one to bed.

 

[ecktronic]

I'd have posted it up now, but with you mentioning the acoustic break bit being out of tune, I'll re-track that first.

No probs, glad to help out where I can, this song is good (love the overall vibe) and the Mix has potential.

Was almost looking forward to a new Mix there until I properly read your post. My bad I suppose
Look forward to a new Mix.

G

 

[heatmiser]

Hey Rob, just listening again and not sure I mentioned this before. While I like the sound of the guitar from 2:30 on, there was one note that bugged me. Listen around 2:53-2:54. There is one note on the guitar at the end of a mini-run of several notes that sounds like a half step flat from where it should be. That really stuck out to me on each listen. Probably not a huge deal, but it is so sparse right there it really stood out. Listen to that bit and see if you hear it.

 

[ecktronic]

Hey Rob, just listening again and not sure I mentioned this before. While I like the sound of the guitar from 2:30 on, there was one note that bugged me. Listen around 2:53-2:54. There is one note on the guitar at the end of a mini-run of several notes that sounds like a half step flat from where it should be. That really stuck out to me on each listen. Probably not a huge deal, but it is so sparse right there it really stood out. Listen to that bit and see if you hear it.

Amen brother, mentioned that a few posts ago but maybe wasn't clear enough.

G

 

[robgreen]

Thanks both of you, I hear what you're saying there. I've re-tracked the acoustic break section, so hopefully there are no tuning issues this time around.

I've also re-mixed the whole song and I think I addressed the low end mud. It was a bit of a eureka moment listening back to quite a few mixes after reading the comments on here for this tune. For some reason it was an angle I'd never listened to anything I'd recorded from before. Odd.

Here's the updated mix, though nothing changed in the arrangement I'd love to know if it's an improvement on iteration 1. My ears are getting too jaded with it now to be properly objective, but my gut feeling is that it's a lot better:

Knots In White Cotton - Mix 2

Massive thanks for all help so far

(EDIT - would have added new link to first post too, but seems like I can't edit it any more)

 

[Manslick]

Nice tune Rob. The new mix sounds better. I think the best jelled part is at 1:36.

The thing that sounds like Northumbrian Smallpipes could be tamed a bit.

The best vocals yet from you me thinks.

Cool groove, kind of Mediterranean.

 

[robgreen]

Nice tune Rob. The new mix sounds better. I think the best jelled part is at 1:36.

The thing that sounds like Northumbrian Smallpipes could be tamed a bit.

The best vocals yet from you me thinks.

Cool groove, kind of Mediterranean.

Ace, thanks Manslick, good to see you on here again. Hope you're still making tunes.

I like the groove too - was a bit worried initially that the mix was an odd collection, with latin, dubby stuff, brass and my very un-latin voice, but I think it gelled well.

Is the melodica still too loud then? I tamed it, but like it to still be fairly prominent in the mix - I remember hearing Augustus Pablo for the first time and the melodica was far too loud and sounded great for it!

Glad the updated mix worked better. Thanks for your kind words on song and vocals too - I think increased familiarity with/confidence in my voice and less reliability on hiding behind reverb is paying dividends.

Cheers man

 

[kcearl]

Thanks both of you, I hear what you're saying there. I've re-tracked the acoustic break section, so hopefully there are no tuning issues this time around.

I've also re-mixed the whole song and I think I addressed the low end mud. It was a bit of a eureka moment listening back to quite a few mixes after reading the comments on here for this tune. For some reason it was an angle I'd never listened to anything I'd recorded from before. Odd.

Here's the updated mix, though nothing changed in the arrangement I'd love to know if it's an improvement on iteration 1. My ears are getting too jaded with it now to be properly objective, but my gut feeling is that it's a lot better:

Knots In White Cotton - Mix 2

Massive thanks for all help so far

(EDIT - would have added new link to first post too, but seems like I can't edit it any more)

night and day mixes...much, much better

i love the harmonium, I bought one myself a few months back

this is a big improvement


in regards to not being able to update your link maybe drop Chater a PM...I asked a mod but Im not sure chater cares what I ask for

 

[heatmiser]

That sounds so much better Rob. Much more room for everything now. Not boomy...more air...levels better, etc. I think the melodica is just right as is myself.

Best of all - the offending acoustic guitar note is no more!

Well done.

 

[robgreen]

Excellent, thanks a lot gents. It does seem to add a lot more colour to the mix, you and all the clinic folk who commented have been a massive help here. Hopefully, I can keep it all in mind for future work too.

Glad the new guitar break worked. I love the melodica too, it's only just within my power of restraint to hold back from using it on every song I do...

 

[BroKen_H]

Nice. I noticed a Led Zep recording techniques and saw your pun and wondered if you could do one about a girl refusing to change...The Thong Remains The Same???