Reviews
Hey guys,
I finally found the time to listen through most of the other mixes again. Some I couldn't download, so they won't be included here for that matter. Mind you, I'm talking about my opinions here, not about perfect truths. I may sound rude, but really, I don't intend to be. I'm just reviewing mixes and giving my opinion. Feel free to rip my mix apart as well.
So, lets see...
chessrock
The additional keys do give the song a nice touch. Maybe a tad too much reverb on the vocals in the intro. Fat snare (maybe too fat?). The electrics seem to be quite midrangey and stick out compared the chorus; they add more drive, though (that's a good thing). Much more creative use of delays and cutout vocals in the 'let it out'-part than in my mix. Nice.
Doug H (problem is I don't know which version of your mix I have...I guess it's the newer one)
Suffers from mp3 encoding, which could also be a source for the other problems. I don't quite like the sound of the Overheads, a little EQ could have tamed them. The snare sound could also be improved. I think the backing vocals are too dry or maybe just too loud compared to the main vocal. And watch out for that 'inexplicably loud' line in the main vocal, there's something distorting! I tamed it and those other words or syllables that just seem to jump out at you in my mix using automation before doing anything else, the rest is handled by compression.
The acoustic has a peculiar wobbling to it, as if it was played back from and old tape deck, especially right after the first chorus. I don't know where this is coming from, maybe you can check and tell us?
And finally, the Cure-ish melody guitar could use some more presence to stand out a little more.
Good overall balance, though, I guess.
fenix (mastered version)
The drums are quite loud, and I think the snare reverb doesn't fit. Here's the opposite problem with the backing vocals, too wet and too quiet. The distorted vocal in the stop-part doesn't fit the song and therefore startles pretty much. Apart from that, nice mix, a lot of punchiness quite similar to chessrock.
Oh, I listened to it again and heard a very sharp attack on the acoustic somewhere in the second chorus (about 2 mins into the song). I remember when I did my mix and I discovered that attack, I just cut out a similar chord from somewhere else in the track and crossfaded that in. Took about two minutes.
freeztar
Very dry mix. Quite unprocessed overall. The kick drum could use more punch, try compressing and/or EQing it. I'd like to hear the electric guitars louder. The whole mix doesn't seem to be as 'stereo' as the others, don't be afraid of hard-panning things, as long as you don't do it all the time. Watch out for volume inconsistencies in the main vocal, try some fader moves. Try to seperate the guitars more (panning, EQ).
Kramer
I'll review mix 1 here, because mix#2 just sounds awfully squashed, sorry.
I think the guitars, especially the acoustic is too quiet, as is the kick drum, while the snare and the backing vocals are too loud. Vocal reverb in the choruses doesn't seem to fit, maybe too much HF content? Watch out for sibilance.
LooneyTunez
First impression is very good, although the timing issues in the drums should have been adressed (but that is true for some of the other mixes as well). A little more spaciousness in the 'let it out'-part would be nice. Maybe the electrics could be just slightly louder in the verse part? I don't know.
Definitely one of the best mixes around here. Flies.
DonF
The whole snare track needs help. The snare itself doesn't open up sound-wise, and the rimclicks also lack presence and seem to be too quiet as well. The bass is somewhat on the boomy side and tends to overpower the mix, especially in the low mids. I guess you compressed the whole mix, which becomes apparent in the 'let it out'-part between choruses 2 and 3, where the bass kinda ducks the mix. BTW, where are the electrics? I think by having them that low in the mix you give away some of the songs dynamics. The melody guitar in the end is nearly not there.
Fishmed
First off, the acoustic seems to be chorused, which I don't like, what did you use to stereoize it? Maybe it's a harmonizer set too high?
The bass is too quiet. And with the bass that low, the deep low end of the kick seems to be way out of proportion.
You're right with the electrics, same problem as with DonFs mix. And yes, I also think that the rimclicks are too soft.
man@work
Oops, totally different sound. The vocals and the acoustic sound thin, the drums are harsh, the whole mix sounds squashed, distorted and unpleasant, at least to me, sorry.
The only thing that seems to have gained character is the bass.
christiaan
Another mix lacking electric guitars. The snare reverb doesn't fit. Maybe the bass could be brought up a bit. I'm not sure, but the vocal seems to be a little overcompressed, but maybe it's just my ears slowly falling apart, after hearing 10 different mixes for several times. Apart from that, nice mix.
caryindy I guess I'm listening to the newer version of your mix.
I guess I can make this one short...The whole mix seems to be bass-shy, at least on my system, while the overhead and the hihat seem to be too bright, or maybe it's just that scooped-mid-sound mixmkr talked about (but he was reviewing the older version of your mix, right)? Nevertheless a nice mix.
wetteke (second mix)
At last someone with a different approach. The vocal effect is interesting, but to keep it up all the time doesn't help the song, IMO. And the chorused lead guitar is somewhat over the top, too. In addition, I don't like the combination of the two sounds - a virtually modern vocal sound combined with that super-wet 80ies guitar? No, not my style.
BUT, the mix is different and therefore refreshing, although not really usable as a final mix, sorry.
So, that's it for now. I guess I've missed sae, SLuiCe, voxjockey and NikD. Sorry, guys, I'll try and see if I can get a download of your songs as well, but that won't happen before next week.
Comments?
imho...
