Mixdown of our band - feedback please

[ido1957]

We started a new Soundclick page with songs we recorded in Mike's basement.

This is a live take off the floor - so there's lots of bleed.

We recorded this three piece - guitar, bass and drums with no overdubs (not sure if we will yet - what do you think?).

Mike is mixing here and is looking at getting a nice mix on live stuff - if you can't play it live.....

The name of the song we'd like you to review is Sympathy.....Mike on vocals and bass, me on guitar and Lee on drums.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=578794

Any feedback you can give us would be appreciated......

 

[RAMI]

I will definitely check it out in a few hours...I'm at work right now.
I hope everyone checks it out as IDO is probably the most helpful guy on this board.

 

[Greg_L]

hell, sounds pretty good to me. i like that simple and clean guitar tone. you guys sound like you know what youre doing as far as playing goes, so youve got that cruicial part of the equation down cold. i like the mix overall, but it sounds a little low-heavy to me - especially in the vocals and bass. its so close though that im sure it can be easily fixed with a little tweaking. and with it being live, it has an 'airy' sound to it that i think gives it a classic blues bar live sound without it sounding forced or faked. overall cool song and a good job laying it down.

 

[Dogman]

Good live sound....Maybe bring the vocals up just a little...they seem to get stepped on at times. Might just need some compression on the entire mix to even things out....I don't know, so try a few things like that. No real nits, as for live, it's got good balance. I'm sure there is a lot of small tricks to clean it up, but all would probably be experimentation. Try some multiband compression, and if it doesn't work, start over....

How was it recorded? Just room mics, or more elaborate than that?

 

[RAMI]

Sounds good, Ido....Funky. I hear the vox fine, but I would maybe move that guitar away from centre to give them more room.
I know it's a live recording, and sounds great for one, but I wish the snare would come up a bit, it's the only thing that might be a little weak in the mix. Sounds like it doesn't have it's own mic. Great song and nice thick voice. Is that you singing?

 

[tubesrawsom]

darn i shouldnt have stoped listening to maiden. thanx.

 

[SnakeDog5050]

Very nice tunes ido, I listened to all three. Perfect fun blues for bars/parties and so on. Playing is tight and the guitar tone is just right.
Mix sounds good, but I'd try low cutting it. It's a bit boomy right now... low cutting the mix below 40Hz to 80Hz usually does the trick for me. If you don't have a program to try that with I always use Goldwave, it's free at www.goldwave.com
Great stuff, you guys are good

 

[true-eurt]

Hi Gerry!! Live takes!! My favourite!! Could use a bit of low conversation, some hoots and tinkling glass in the background.

You have such a great voice for blues!! This tune is funk-blues get down stuff!!

The opening axe sounds great~!!

The guitar tone is just right.

Bass sounds right on and funky.

The cymbals sound good. Love the highhat!! Snare tone sounds great, but needs to come up in the mix. I am not hearing any toms here. Is the drummer not playing them,or are they very low in the mix? I am only hearing snare, kick, and cymbals. It sounds good, I am just checking out my ears for what they are/are not picking up today.

It leaves me forgetting I am listening to a 3 piece band. Sounds bigger.

 

[DavidK]

Sounds great for live. I have phones on, perhaps its a lil boomy on the low end but I really dont know. Nice and tight, pretty much sounds like it should

 

[rayc]

Gerry,
I'm at the staffroom computer right now so am unable to listen. I'll do the Roman 1st thing this arvo when I've done the Harry from the shop.

 

[bigbubba]

Pretty Jammin'.

Very nice, live feel to it. Like the git's, drums, vox, bass. Sounds touch rumbly. All suggestions have been made already anyway. I'll just say, very good job on the entire playing and the singing.

Keep having fun.

 

[RAMI]

I'll do the Roman 1st thing this arvo when I've done the Harry from the shop.

Crikey, you're spitting out some serious Strine, there Cobber.

 

[Bulls Hit]

I like that Sympathy song. It's good for a live recording. I'd look to give the kick a boost. Otherwise everything seems nicely balanced

 

[rayc]

Sympathy started & I though of Tony Joe White almost instantly. Cool.
It's a bit muddy - maybe fiddle with some mid cut or something somewhere - it depends on how you recorded. If you used a mic per instrument or not. If you did then a little top definition in the bass a little somethjing with the guitar, lift & clarify the vocals ( abit fo EQ carving again) & give the kick a kick.
Apart from that it actually sounds like it's live and kicking, funky & fun.
Is this another of your gems that's been hidden away?
I'll have to down load the lot to be able to say I have the "complete" set.

Strine translation:
I'll do the Roman (lend ears) 1st thing 'sarvo (afternoon) when I've done the Harry (Harold Holt - bolt - leave in a hurry - Harold Holt was our Prime Minister in the late 60's he went out snorkling & didn't come back rumoured to have been stolen by a Chinese submarine) from the shop (place of work).

 

[mjhamil]

Recording Stuff

Good live sound....Maybe bring the vocals up just a little...they seem to get stepped on at times. Might just need some compression on the entire mix to even things out....I don't know, so try a few things like that. No real nits, as for live, it's got good balance. I'm sure there is a lot of small tricks to clean it up, but all would probably be experimentation. Try some multiband compression, and if it doesn't work, start over....

How was it recorded? Just room mics, or more elaborate than that?

[Hi, Mike(mjhamil) replying: Recorded with Shure SM58's on vocals, Beta58 overhead on percussion, SM58 front centre on percussion. Guitar and Bass were line in to mixer from amps. Mic's picked up some live monitor which added Bass "boom" and some problems with reverb/delay. I may try DBX "overeasy" compression after mixdown to stereo, maybe some low cut, just to see...Thanks!!/QUOTE]

 

[minofifa]

kindof reminds me of some claption. nice!

 

[true-eurt]

Strine translation:
I'll do the Roman (lend ears) 1st thing 'sarvo (afternoon) when I've done the Harry (Harold Holt - bolt - leave in a hurry - Harold Holt was our Prime Minister in the late 60's he went out snorkling & didn't come back rumoured to have been stolen by a Chinese submarine) from the shop (place of work).

I am compelled to inform you, that a Chinese submarine is not responsible for the missing Prime Minister. He broke the most important snorkling rule of all....never go into the water smelling of bacon......

 

[DavidK]

kindof reminds me of some claption. nice!

Gerry is Claptons evil Twin Every time I hear Gerry it reminds me EXACTLY of Clapton.

 

[jpw23]

Nothing I can say that has not been said in all the other posts.......cool tunes, I like it!!!!!

 

[rayc]

So true,
You feel the hapless Harold habituated with a plethora of porcine portions on his plate. Are you intimating that a Noah took him for tucker or that he carked it as a result of porking out, as it were, on pieces of preserved pork?
Interesting scenario. I'll inform A.S.I.O. (Aust Spec Intel Office) of this development.
Meanwhile back at the ranch. Gerry, Mike & Lee - I like this stuff, you can cut it live &, please record them in your studio when you get a chance.