Looking for Mix Critique and Feedback

[jallen]

Hey Everyone,

I'm looking for a constructive critique on a mix that I did recently.. I'm just an amateur, learning Pro Tools LE, all I've got is an old Dell Lap Top, inexpensive mike, and using the built-in preamp in the original MBox. I had to mix with headphones, since I don't have any real decent monitors. Nevertheless.. I would appreciate comments, my daughter is singing on this, for the very first time so be gentle.. , and I'm playing piano, and the virtual software cello and bells. I'm using Pro Tools LE 8, and Akoustik Piano, cellos are done with an old Yamaha Motif Rack Mount.

mp3 attached.

Thank you very much for listening.

 

[Live42]

In terms of the mix, my initial impression is that its a bit crowded. The individual pieces sound pretty good, but they are getting in each other's way at times. The piano, the vocals, and the cello are all playing in similar frequency ranges, so you have to be very careful about panning. If you could spread things out a little more I think it would help.

I think the vocal was a little bit loud. I had trouble hearing the piano and cello at times, even though there are only 2 instruments in the mix. I think the mix is crying out for some low end. Since you are using a synth cello, maybe you could add another cello but make it an octave lower. If you add a bass or the second cello, I would leave that panned in the middle. It can be distracting if bass frequencies aren't centered. It shouldn't step on the vocal down there anyway.

I think the lead vocal had a good tonality, even though it had some pitch issues in spots. There was also some sort of chorusy/ phasey effect on the backing vocals. Not sure if you added that intentionally or if that was a result of doubling. I think it would sound better with a more natural sound. There is definitely some potential here, so keep at it.

 

[jallen]

Thanks for taking the time out to listen to the mix.. that is very much appreciated, and I'll definitely be thinking about everything you said.

I thought I had the piano stereo spread pretty wide.. it was somewhere between 70 and 100%.. I'll have to go check again. Vocals were dead center, if I remember the cello was panned to around 15 off the center. But I do think you are right on, that there is still not the separation I would have expected.. I'll have to investigate further. How much of the overall issues could be a result of the cheap dynamic mike, and cheap pre-amp in the MBox? I guess I'm wondering how critical it would be to make a little more investment in an attempt to significantly improve the sound? Most of the stuff I do is all in software, even the guitars using software amps.. so it's really only the vocals and acoustic guitars that I even use a microphone.

The chorusy/phasey effects on the harmonies were not intentional, I think there was a slapback delay, and a fair amount of reverb on the harmony tracks. I believe I also did double the harmony tracks on the bum, bum, bum parts.. I'll have to relisten..

I hear you on the low end as well.. the original song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson has really no low end either if I recall, but all good things to think about in how to improve the overall sound.

Again, thanks for your comments, it's really appreciated.

Anyone else care to take a quick listen??

 

[Live42]

I just had another listen on my better rig. I was listening on IEMs earlier, which are good, but not nearly as good as my monitors or beyer dt880s at home. I think what I said earlier about it being crowded was valid, but now I think I have a better idea as to why.

I think the vocals are just too loud. It should sit nicely in the middle of the stereo image of the piano, which as you correctly pointed out, is pretty wide. I think what I was hearing is just the vocal being overpowering in general. I think it will still be easily intelligible if you turn it down.

Also I noticed that you have the backing vocals panned very wide. I would be interested to see what happens if you pan those closer to center. I think they may serve to reinforce the lead better, and blend with it better in that position. They will also interfere with the piano less. Its kind of hard for me to say on some of this stuff. Normally I would be sitting there and just try it out.

You say cheap dynamic mic, but an sm57 is a cheap dynamic that is legendary in the recording world, and is bad at few things. I'm not sure what you used, but don't count it out just because its cheap. I also doubt the preamp in the mbox would be the weak link in your recording chain. Regardless, I think the quality of the individual sounds going into the mix are perfectly acceptable.

 

[Tobe]

I like it, but find the backing stilted (I would prefer a "trickling sound" to the thumped piano). Also I'm hearing a noise gate or something on the vocal that gives it a low res vibe. Nice voice , it would be better to hear on even a cheap condenser.