Looking for some help mixing some Punk music

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Bguzaldo

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I've been working with this punkabilly band for about 2 months now and I've never really done any serious mixing with music like this and I have a ruff mix that's pretty on track with what I think sounds good for their style and I'm just looking for any input at all. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

One thing I noticed that's pretty apparent across the board is that the cymbals are pretty loud, I told the drummer that his cymbals were way louder than his drums and he should try cymbals that were more balanced with his kit, and he told me he liked his cymbals and he thinks they sound fine :( (ego prevails)

Stressed-
http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?id=23162

Waste of Time-


Got No Arcade-
http://www.lightningmp3.com/live/file.php?id=23164

Thanks,
-Barrett
 
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It's hard to talk about the mixing on something like this because it depends what you want it to sound like. Right now, I think it sounds great for the style. The cymbals aren't really standing out as too loud to me either. On Stressed, try an eq cut maybe in the upper mids on the singers voice, im down with those long screams, but they are really hard on the ears as they are.
 
jlewis said:
It's hard to talk about the mixing on something like this because it depends what you want it to sound like. Right now, I think it sounds great for the style. The cymbals aren't really standing out as too loud to me either. On Stressed, try an eq cut maybe in the upper mids on the singers voice, im down with those long screams, but they are really hard on the ears as they are.
Click to expand...

Well thanks a lot for checking them out and giving me some feedback, I really appreciate it! I was thinkin when we do the final mix of putting the screams on a separate track and givin them some compression. I'll definitely try cuttin some of the high mids as well.

Thanks a lot,
-Barrett
 
I played in a punkabilly band for several years. It was a lot of fun.

Stressed - this mix is a mess. There's no definition or seperation anywhere - except with the vocals which are harsh, bright, and sound distorted. You can't hear the guitar licks and the drums are just a mash of noise. Did you close mic the snare? If so, use more of that and less overheads. The cymbals are loud, but they're also really loud in this mix. Reel em in some. Since the bassist doesn't do a whole lot of walking around and just bangs out root notes like a retard, drop his shit down in the mix. Basically, get the drums clear and present and build the mix around them. The kick is pretty much the only part of the drum mix that seems okay....which is suprising since that's the part that usually gets fucked up the worst. And drop the vocals way down and EQ the harshness out. They're literally killing my ears.

Waste of Time - No clarity or space. The mix seems to swimming in reverb and roominess. It sounds like it was recorded in a bathroom. I think this one could be better if you dried it up. The drums seems to be mixed a little better and the guitars and vocals aren't a mash of distortion. If you added a bunch of reverb, undo it.

Got No Arcade - More of the same. I have to wonder about your monitoring situation. This isn't true, authentic rockabilly, so throw out the idea that it has to be roomy and reverby.

I'd personally treat these as just plain ol punk or rock and mix it accordingly. Get the kick and snare audible, and build around them. If you didn't close mic the drums, I'm afraid you're probably screwed.
 
Greg_L said:
I played in a punkabilly band for several years. It was a lot of fun.

Stressed - this mix is a mess. There's no definition or seperation anywhere - except with the vocals which are harsh, bright, and sound distorted. You can't hear the guitar licks and the drums are just a mash of noise. Did you close mic the snare? If so, use more of that and less overheads. The cymbals are loud, but they're also really loud in this mix. Reel em in some. Since the bassist doesn't do a whole lot of walking around and just bangs out root notes like a retard, drop his shit down in the mix. Basically, get the drums clear and present and build the mix around them. The kick is pretty much the only part of the drum mix that seems okay....which is suprising since that's the part that usually gets fucked up the worst. And drop the vocals way down and EQ the harshness out. They're literally killing my ears.

Waste of Time - No clarity or space. The mix seems to swimming in reverb and roominess. It sounds like it was recorded in a bathroom. I think this one could be better if you dried it up. The drums seems to be mixed a little better and the guitars and vocals aren't a mash of distortion. If you added a bunch of reverb, undo it.

Got No Arcade - More of the same. I have to wonder about your monitoring situation. This isn't true, authentic rockabilly, so throw out the idea that it has to be roomy and reverby.

I'd personally treat these as just plain ol punk or rock and mix it accordingly. Get the kick and snare audible, and build around them. If you didn't close mic the drums, I'm afraid you're probably screwed.
Click to expand...

I do very often worry about my monitoring situation. I try non stop to tune it up but never get any better results, I'm wondering if its time to get new monitors.

I didn't "add" any reverb seeing as I don't have any reverb units, I just used a lot of room mics, apparently too many, but I've always liked the roomy, bathroomy sounds, But I think I went a little overboard on these tracks. I'll try to clean up some of the roominess and post up something hopefully listenable.

Thanks for listening and givin feedback, sorry to have offended your ears,
-Barrett
 
New mix, hopefully better, this time around I realized that this hosting site isn't the best. It sounds harsher, so If you want a lossless file let me know and I can email you one....

 
That's ten million billion trillion times better.

Use some automation or volume envelopes on those vocals. The screams are still harsh and distorted. They sound pretty thin too.

Nice fix though overall. Way better.

Lightningmp3 doesn't do anything to the files. It spits out what you put in. I upload 320kbps MP3s on there all the time.
 
Greg_L said:
That's ten million billion trillion times better.

Use some automation or volume envelopes on those vocals. The screams are still harsh and distorted. They sound pretty thin too.

Nice fix though overall. Way better.

Lightningmp3 doesn't do anything to the files. It spits out what you put in. I upload 320kbps MP3s on there all the time.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much, I couldn't have done it without you! I showed the band and they were pretty blown away. I really appreciate the help, I'll have to go thru and make similar changes to all the other songs.

I'm glad to hear that lightningmp3 is a clear host. Maybe it was just my paranoia...

Thanks a pantsful!
-Barrett
 
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