Mix Help (No Explaining)

  • Thread starter Thread starter dnkygirl
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dnkygirl

dnkygirl

M42 Entertainment
Hi All,

I have been working on trying to mix the vocals and music better on this track. I posted the old mix and new mix. I tried bringing the bass and drums out more on the new mix. I also tried placing the vocals more in the middle. I think i like the music mix a little more on the first mix, but I like the vocal placement on the second mix. What do you guys hear? Any tips or tricks on mixing this one? I've got to get them to do a radio friendly version of this song... so please excuse the "R" rating on this one.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=331276


Demi
 
I dont know demi it still sounds like to me that they are recordings in a can.. the vocals doesnt sounds clear to me (could be that I'm listening on computer speakers..but i have heard clear vocals before) Do you record their vocals in stereo or mono? (you should be recordings in MONO)

I still think you need to get that clear vocal sound so your mixes can be better...

tell us how you are recording and location agian.. so we can give more suggestions..
 
I agree with knothead on this one. I still think the best advice I could give you to fix this problem is to go with the PVC pipe booth with the moving sheets. If the sound going into the recording aren't good, it's gonna be HARD to clean them up...if its even possible. That's just on the vocal mix.

On the beat, I'd say cut the bass. If I can hear that much bass in my pc speakers, I'm willing to bet it'd sound distorted anywhere else (stereos, cars, etc.). I'm listening on PC speakers with a subwoofer, but I know these well and can see issues with the mix even in those.

I'm sure you could easily do the PVC pipe booth for under $100 easily. It might be worthwhile to invest in it. Hit me up if you want some specs or what not of some ideas for it.
 
Man..recording vocals sucks... I recorded them out in the open room, with a rigged up isolation area. I'm starting to get discouraged with the vocal stuff... my room is 11.5 X11.5 and i only record in mono. I'm using a rode nt1a condenser mic direct to the digi 002r. I'm getting a 1db interference from the 002r pre... i have changed mic cables and had the mic checked. I do hear the pc noise in the recording, but i tried compressing it, and that seemed to kill it. I also eq'd the vocals in the 250 frequency range.. this is the range normally used for vocals. Your PVC booth is simular to what i was using to record this take with Fiev.. I'm thinking maybe i should get a reflexion filter setup and a different mic or try recording in the bathroom or out in my open living room next.


demi
 
are you recording separate tracks or copying and pasting them? That can do some shit too.
 
Ok let's try it this way. I dropped out all the music except the bass and the snare. Now you can hear the vocals in the bare... I have a little verb on the lead and the chorus parts to give them life. I also eq'd them in the 250 frequency range to fix the room sound.

Copying and pasting to double up the lead and background vocals... I have the panning set in the middle for the lead. I have the background vocals doing a 57/57 so that they are not hard mono left and right. I could change the pitch of one of them to make it slightly different from the original...??


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=331276



Demi
 
you need to record the vocals dry.. then add effects to taste... this might be the problem with why the vocals are sounding the way they do right now.. record them dry then add your effects to give them life..
 
bknot1 said:
you need to record the vocals dry.. then add effects to taste... this might be the problem with why the vocals are sounding the way they do right now.. record them dry then add your effects to give them life..
Click to expand...

Actually i did record them dry... no effects. I added the effects later in the mix. They are bone dry... and mono...
 
It sounds like i'm not getting the space/reverb the way everyone else is hearing it? If i'm starting out flat and adding for dimension... anyone have a song example that could show me the direction I should go for adding space? I've been listening to alot of stuff on the radio and it's compressed to death and it's really hard to hear the real way it was recorded. I also purchase my tunes off of itunes... so mostly i'm listening to mp3's and aif files. Aif's good mp3's... not so good. How did everyone else here learn to mix? I've been reading the mixing engineers handbook by bobby ownsinski and recording flat tracks and listening and adding. I'm a beginner and am looking for ways to improve....


demi
 
when you are apply effects.. they really should't be noticed unless you want the noticed.. don't added effects to the mail wav file.. add the effect on a bus and add the wav file to the bus track.. that way if you mess up the effects it won't mess up your original wav file.. JMO
 
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bknot1 said:
when you are apply effects.. they really should be noticed unless you want the noticed.. don't added effects to the mail wav file.. add the effect on a bus and add the wav file to the bus track.. that way if you mess up the effects it won't mess up your original wav file.. JMO
Click to expand...

Actually Knot that's what i am doing. I only add effects at the bus not make and not permanent to the wav file. Perhaps i should post a recording of just the flat tracks so you guys can hear what it sounds like before i have done anything to it. Or in this case bypass the effects...


Demi
 
yes bypass the effects totally....record it all flat with no treatment at all. Then we can advise from there.

Fiev.
 
Try using the expander/gate plugin, set it to vocals and slowly increase it till you notice the floor noise lessen but don't over do it and make the track sound like stabs. Use a compressor also. maybe 3:1-5:1, fast attack and medium release. Mess with it though. Listen to the vocals only when you're doing all this then add it to your mix and place the eq before the compressor in the chain. Not a Pro at this but it's some shit that I do. It might not even be that right but it won't hurt to try.
 
Ok I have posted a totally dry with no effects on the vocals. Only instruments are bass and snare. This should tell you how the room sounds. After listening to this some more i do hear alot of reflection on the lead track. They were both recorded with a Rode NT1a and straight to Digi 002r pre. i have a make shift vocal booth that sits in front of the mic and some foam on the rear wall. I think it's time for me to invest in acoutical tiles for the whole room and buy a quiet power supply for my pc.


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=331276
 
yeah the reflection on the lead track is from you untreated room or recording area.. since your using a condensor mic it picks up everything (sound) in the room..try using a dynamic mic like a shure SM57 (its what I use for my recordings) its pretty good on rap vocals..

I posted a link awhile ago from a member here about a portable booth set-up he made.. that Fie touched on..
 
demi...do me a favor. Take pics of your recording area and send them to me. I might be able to suggest some things that could help you out.

quite possibly on the cheap side too if I might add.

F to tha I to tha E
 
Fieva said:
demi...do me a favor. Take pics of your recording area and send them to me. I might be able to suggest some things that could help you out.

quite possibly on the cheap side too if I might add.

F to tha I to tha E
Click to expand...


Here are the pics of bad recording central. I took down all the rigged up sheets from the ceiling and ripped out all the wall covering from the closet...formerly called the vocal booth. i now need to buy a new door... for the closet and shelves... to make it a closet again... because it's definately not a vocal booth. I am also in the process of reading and gathering information on placement of wall panels... i've got to spend some money to get a better sounding recording space.
 

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I've been reading Ethan Winer's website on acoustics and it's really good information. He also suggested how to repair the vocal problem in another posting on the board. That DIY rig is very simular to what i had going with the heavy blankets and sheets. I think i'm going to just shell out the cash and get the wall mount panels and call it a day. I am also going to get a reflexion filter... or a portable vocal booth

I have also learned from this that good sound is also a learned effort. I am going to have to spend alot more time in perfecting the mix and getting a good track take from my performers.... in the beginning. I'm also looking at getting a different condensor mic for my vocals. The Rodent1a has a low noise shelf, but it also sounds different with different voices. Better yet if i take more time in listening to how they sound i can get a good mix with the equipment i have... just need to fix the room reflexions... :o)
 
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