Mix In Progress (This Thread Might Work)

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chrisharris

chrisharris

King of Bling
Hi:

This still needs strings and drums, but before I got knee deep in that, I thought I'd try to get some mix opinions on this tune that my daughter and I are working on. I'm pretty sure I have some vocal level problems, and the electric guitar part is shit, so be honest, lol.

Thanks if you can help.

http://www.betteroffdad.com/mp3.htm
"USELESS DESIRES" (should be the last mix on the page)
 
I noticed the Bass is a little boomy. Maybe a highpass would help a little bit.

The guitars sound great.I didn't think the electric sounded bad. Maybe a little too much verb on it for my taste but other than that it sounded good.

Ditto on the harmonies. Jaimee has such a nice voice, are you sure she's related to you ? :)

There might be a couple of spots near the end that the vocals could come down a bit.

I don't know how the original sounds but this sounds great.

Thanks for posting this tune :) :cool:

I always enjoy listening to your tunes Chris.
 
Beautiful

What a wonderful song and recording! I`m afraid I`m pretty new at this so I`ll just give my first impressions. Take into consideration I`m a lil` deaf also...lol. Mainly everything just seemed to full and strong. I was hearing some distortion so I used the eq to roll off the bottom a bit. Sounds like you are aware of the level problems anyway. But what a great song and great talent there as far as the general mix of sounds and that beautiful ladies voice. My that was nice!

~airdvl~
 
Thanks vestast and airdvl - sounds like I have some low end issues to clear up before the drums go in. Much much much appreciate the feedback.
 
I can't think of anything more to add than what has already been mentioned, but I did really enjoy the song, it's very nicely done so far, I can't wait to hear it finished. :)

BTW, I listened to STS-107, it actually brought a tear to my eye. Good Job.
 
Chris,
As always I enjoy your stuff.
I keep meaning to ask the signal chain- mic combination you use to record Jaimee.
There is a Jazz singer I record that has a similar voice, and I would love to get that "little sizzle edge" you get without being harsh.

I'd love to do drums for you when my system gets up again(off for repairs)
You probably are sick of me taking so long though on the last deal :)

Tom
 
stryyder - thanks a lot. The STS-107 comment made my day too. Much appreciate the listen.

Tmix - Dude, you have NO IDEA how much I appreciate the drums, no matter when they get done, lol. I'm the one who should be apologizing for the last one. I actually forgot to d/l the drum track you did until yesterday. It sounded great, but somebody else had given me a drum track that I started out using as a place holder...but then I got used to it - then I did like 10 mixes of the song before I got your tracks, so I kinda' just flaked out on using your tracks for that tune. I've never been so lucky to have options of live drum tracks, and I appreciate it a ton. You have this thing I like to refer to as "taste" when it comes to the drums, lol...not overplaying, not underplaying...trust me, I'll be begging for some new tracks a lot sooner than you want, lol.

As far as the signal chain on her mic, it's pathetic, at best. It's an old AKGC3000 (apparently, it's a great mic for toms, lol...not so much for vocals) through a DMP3 preamp into my subpar soundcard.

I do 3 things to her vocal usually: (1) run it through a Waves C4 compression preset called "pop vocal." This doesn't really compress levels much at all, but it acts as kind of an automatic High pass filter/top end resonator. (2) Listen and manually envelope the vocal up and down to try to get it to sit better...she's 14, so her mic control is not the greatest at this point; (3) Run a ridiculous amount of track EQ on it to try to get some of the harshness out as well as the mud. Look at the pic...if it were a roller coaster, we'd all be sick, lol.

Thanks for asking. I'm working on another mix to try to tame the low mids some.
 

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thanks NL5 -

I've been through 4 more mixes now trying to work on the low end. I need to put some new strings on the bass is pretty much what I've decided, lol. But in the meantime, I made some surgical subtractive EQ adjustments on the bass and the guitars. Feels whimpy to me now...I dunno'.
 
I wouldn't fiddle with the bottom too much....it sounds smooth to me. I think a crisp drum sound will be a nice compliment.

Now that I think about it, this song hardly needs any drums at all! Sound really good.
 
JKestle said:
I wouldn't fiddle with the bottom too much....it sounds smooth to me. I think a crisp drum sound will be a nice compliment.
Click to expand...
Thanks a lot for the listen. I get the drum tracks today. I've heard the drummer's mix, and I think it'll be pretty cool...subdued brush snare stuff. It's so cool when people volunteer their time and talent for some meaningless thing like this, lol.
 
anytime you need some bass or guitar let me know,
I would be more than happy to do so.

I have a song in the Mixing Clinic, Life Twice in G.A.. Check it out as a reference if your interested.
 
What a natural and real voice your daughter has! She packs so much meaning and expression into her presentation. Clear, totally on pitch, so beautiful to listen to.

And the harmonies are really, really pleasing. Wow. Wow.

I really like the acapella, harmonized vocal intro! Beautiful interplay between the steady rythmn and that crying lead throughout the song.

Mix is excellent to my ears. It doesn't have all the instruments yet, but so far each is nice and clear and distinct.

Did you write this song? Lyrics and music are as sophisticated and skillful as any I've heard in the top 10 and way better than a lot of 'em, in my humble opinion.

Good thing I like doing this music/recording thing for it's own sake, 'cause hearing this, I know I'm never gonna be able to do this well. Still, doing this is its own reward, it seems to me. And you guys are certainly an inspiration!

We have an 8 year old daughter who loves to sing and is (albeit with resistance to practice) studying piano. We have hopes that she will get over her shyness and as her musical knowledge increases, she will join us in the studio. What a great way to spend quality time with your kids!!!!
 
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Thanks VT - No, this isn't one of ours. I mean, the tunes we write are pretty long, but I don't think I've ever broken the 6 minute mark, lol. The original was written by an Austin artist named Patty Griffin that my daughter and I both like a lot. My daughter had one of the high points of her life last weekend when she got to meet Patty, lol, and she wanted to record this.

Anyway, thanks a lot for taking the time to listen. I just mixed the first version with drums, so any feedback would be appreciated there. Same link.
 
I listed to Be Careful. I like it. It sounds really nice and very professional. Many props. :)
 
chrisharris said:
...

Anyway, thanks a lot for taking the time to listen. I just mixed the first version with drums, so any feedback would be appreciated there. Same link.
Click to expand...

I actually still have your page up, with all your songs on it. Want to listen to them all. Will definitely listen again.
 
very nicely done. it sounds great to me. i like your new to me web page also!!Kudos to Jaimee!!
Jason
 
coufu said:
I listed to Be Careful. I like it.
Click to expand...
Thank you...the guy that played mando on that tune might help me out again on Useless Desires, which would just make my freaking MONTH.

JasonBird - No, Kudos to YOU for spelling my daughter's name correctly, lol. Thanks a lot for the listen. The website was designed by another member here "Bdgr/Badger." The poor guy has to help me out still whenever I want to upload a new song to it, lol. Thanks again.

-chris
 
Chris,
I just listened to a lot of your stuff. WoW! You guys are gettin a real pro sound! So full sounding! The mandolin and drums added nicely to Useless Desires. The mandolin was nicely recorded, nice air there. Man, sometime I`d like to pick your mind on what you use to record all this stuff. I mean you two are VERY talented so that helps but your production is so full sounding. Who does the keyboards and string stuff. That s always tasty too.

I dunno. I sit here and look at my little zoom 1044mrs/cd with its cheezy drums and its really got me thinkin bout goin computer based so I can do some colaberations and stuff. I have access to a real good drummer localy. Maybe I could use the zoom to record him at his house then bring it home. Put one of those usb things they have for the zoom in it and upload the drum tracks to the puter. Then mix em in with some kinda software. I dunno, rambling now...lol. You guys inspire me! I play 5 string banjo and dobro (rusty on both) as well as guitar and it makes me wanna get those out and knock the dust off.

Annyyway!! You guys are great! Tell Jaimee we really like her voice a lot!

~airdvl~
 
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