Mixing my first multitrack recording... please listen and tear apart

[sprynmr]

Whatup....

Multitrack recording with a Digi 001.

Recording went well. Mixing is tough.

Give a listen and critique it (a lot) if you can.

http://www.5thstreetband.com/internaldl.html

I know a lot needs fixed, but its hard to wrap my head around it all. The main guitar needs eq'd I think (not the intro guitar.)

And I'd like to 'fatten' the sax sound a little... it sounds kinda wimpy. How should I do that?

Please be detailed if you can.

And what do you think of the song itself?

Thanks a bunch,
Robert

 

[Aphex]

1. No backup vocals, they sound totally out of place, except when the song picks up.

2. When the song picks up, the backup vocals should be there but sound completely off the mark. Backup should sing along identical to lead vocals - otherwise it's a horrible idea.

3. drums should be louder, way too low - sound like they're a mile away.

4. sax should also be way louder , it's a freakin solo!

5. lead guitar solo should be raised like sax

6. After the two solos, backup vocals should either be removed or redone, they're way out of sync again!


Otherwise, VERY nice song. Nothing I'd ever listen to myself, but being a record producer - my unbias is good lyrical writing, good voice and nice simplicity of an acoustic progression


well done

 

[bdbdbuck]

sprynmr,
I too like the song very much. It has a Blues Traveler sound to it, and you have a good voice that goes well with the song.
The second acoustic when it first comes in there sounds like someone is on a completely different page until you figure out that it's supposed to be there. Maybe think about changing the first measure or two to make it more melodious to the tune, and set up more of a flow into the fill. I don't agree with Aphex on the b/g vox, only because I just don't like b/g vox that don't harmonize. Only on rare occasions is that effective, I don't think this is one of those rare occasions...IMHO. You could try putting a little delay on the sax and running it with the original track to give it a little sustain. I think it just needs to take up a little more space, and give it a little more gain. I dunno I've been wrong before!

bd

 

[sprynmr]

thanks guys

Thank you very much for the critiques guys....

You're right backup vocals just don't work in a lot of it.

I actually liked the end ones for the last 2 choruses... which happened to be the only time our vocalist was doing the backup vocals.

Any suggestions for how to fatten up the sax aside from the delay mentioned? I will give that a shot.

Keep it coming. I'd love to hear from more people.

And Question... Do you guys deal with the mix by worrying about getting everything where you want it, but then taking the master fader down until it isn't clipping? Or am I just mixing things too loud?

Many Thanks,
Robert

 

[Kramer]

1. No backup vocals, they sound totally out of place, except when the song picks up.

2. When the song picks up, the backup vocals should be there but sound completely off the mark. Backup should sing along identical to lead vocals - otherwise it's a horrible idea.

3. drums should be louder, way too low - sound like they're a mile away.

4. sax should also be way louder , it's a freakin solo!

5. lead guitar solo should be raised like sax

6. After the two solos, backup vocals should either be removed or redone, they're way out of sync again!


Otherwise, VERY nice song. Nothing I'd ever listen to myself, but being a record producer - my unbias is good lyrical writing, good voice and nice simplicity of an acoustic progression


well done

let me guess,super_critic?

 

[CyanJaguar]

you have potential. ON this song, there is nothing that makes me want to download it, or listen again.

Score: D

 

[chrisharris]

let me guess,super_critic?

Kramer - I ran into this particular family member in the Studio Building/Furnishing? Forum last night, was "drawn" there by a search, actually...and I thought the same thing.

Claims to be an attorney

Go check out Zeke's thread over there and let me know what you thinki.

(BTW - TOTALLY sorry about interrupting the thread, sprynmr, but to tell you the truth, I need to make sure YOU'RE a "real person" before I listen, lol.

It's getting curiouser and curiouser all the time...Hey, whaddya' know...the lawyer troll makes a post about vocals... NOT COOL

[edit] - On the positive side, there's nothing like a D rating and the ignition of a flamewar to really get your thread some attention if you're serious, lmao.

AND - I'd like a pat on the back, please, for actually identifying, locating, and confronting APHEX BEFORE he hit the clinic. If anybody would like a lock on who the troll really is, please send $20 via money order or cash (no personal checks) to "Chris Harris, TrolLocators, Inc, 456 Main...hhehehee

 

[ashulman]

I agree with Aphex except to add that the timing sounds off in places. I would read up on drum micing. I know nothing about it so I can't help but many home recording books devote a lot of time to this subject.

BTW, could Aphex be a reference to Aphex Twin? Could he be someone's evil twin? Speaking of SC, it looks like he's turned a corner and is giving some good advice. Bravo SC, wherever and whoever you are!

 

[Track Rat]

Not a bad tune at all. This is just my humble opinion but I think I'd have liked the drums to be half time. I think it would make the tune "groove" more. To the recording. It sounds very "live" but not in a good way. Kind of anemic. The vocal has a small living room sort of ambience to them. same with the drums (especially) and the sax. I'd try to get your room out of the recording and get some ass in the drums and bass to get a pulse going on in the tune. It definately deserves it. The musicianship is pretty high from what I can hear.

 

[chrisharris]

... being a record producer...

Well, yeah...I guess we all are, if you wanna' get technical about it.

Hey sprynmr, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, despite your incredibly bad timing for your first post, that's probably not your fault... BTW - When I say "bad timing," I'm referring to the generally weird atmosphere of the mp3 clinic right now...the timing on your tune is fine, lol Man, here's something weird...I think for the first time since I've been here, I told somebody to try dropping the bg vocals on a tune, lmao...AND THAT'S WHAT APHEX RECOMMENDS... however, I'm gonna' disagree with Aphex on the vocal issue. I agree the leads need to step forward, but the biggest problem, I think, is that your lead singer (you?) is too far back...Man, compress that vocal a touch and bring it forward...it sounds kinda' like he's singing in a bar somewhere right now...same deal with the drums...

So, let's see, We've now told you to bring the drums, the Lead vocal, the guitar and the sax up and forward - I guess I could just turn up the mix

Seriously, don't kill the tracks (like I do), but get some headroom on the sax and lead guitar and lead vocal so that you can raise them when appropriate...except for that lead vocal, which needs to be front and center BIG-TIME, b/c that's a kick-ass voice...

The whole vibe reminds me of some John Popper (sp?) project (I love Blues Traveller); so you're right man, the tracking went well.

Now I'll step out of the way while everybody disagrees with my "compression" tip (as well they should, lol








but try it anyway )

 

[chrisharris]

And I'd like to 'fatten' the sax sound a little... it sounds kinda wimpy. How should I do that?

compress it.




























No, not really...I'm just trying to induce a coronary in our resident sax player who kinda' hates compression in all its forms... his recordings always sound better than mine, so if he sees this and posts, do what HE says.

His name is "Jamal Buchet."

 

[lynx]

Good song, vocals are excellent. The timing in the break was a tad awful and I'm not even sure if that's a real sax.

This can be a great song though, I really like it.

 

[sprynmr]

My first post was awhile back in the recording section learning how to record

I don't know what the deal is in this forum, but I assure you I am a real person. Wanna know what I look like? Go to the bio section of www.5thstreetband.com.

Anyway, thanks for the advice everyone.
Could you answer this question:
Do you guys deal with the mix by worrying about getting everything where you want it, but then taking the master fader down until it isn't clipping? Or am I just mixing things too loud?

and to you guys who mix a lot... We record in a basement, so the sound dies really quick and sounds flat on the recording. So I tried adding some 'drum room' verb to the sounds, but didn't think I should add that much verb on anything else. I thought it definitely made the drums sound better.. but I have to raise their overall volume.The vocal has a little verb on it (I think its 'tight room' of some sort.)

It is a real sax... I played it.

Yea the timing is off now and then, but its not how we mic'd the drums. Part of the problem is that we've never played along to headphones before, and some of the guys seem to be having trouble keeping in sync with our reference tracks. Any advice there?

Thanks guys.

A very real,
Robert

 

[a_super_critic]

Whatup....

Multitrack recording with a Digi 001.

Recording went well. Mixing is tough.

Give a listen and critique it (a lot) if you can.

http://www.5thstreetband.com/internaldl.html

I know a lot needs fixed, but its hard to wrap my head around it all. The main guitar needs eq'd I think (not the intro guitar.)

And I'd like to 'fatten' the sax sound a little... it sounds kinda wimpy. How should I do that?

Please be detailed if you can.

And what do you think of the song itself?

Thanks a bunch,
Robert

in the hands of the right producer and engineer this song could work. studio musicians all around, of course.

 

[dobro]

Robert asks for details and you give him a truism. In the hands of the right producer and engineer, plus studio musicians, 95% of what's posted in this clinic could sound better. Engage your brain. This is home recording.com, not musicbiz 101. What a doober.

 

[a_super_critic]

Robert asks for details and you give him a truism. In the hands of the right producer and engineer, plus studio musicians, 95% of what's posted in this clinic could sound better. Engage your brain. This is home recording.com, not musicbiz 101. What a doober.

i know that this forum is for home recording posts. however, it is a very rare thing for a good song to be posted here. there are a few talented people that post songs that are oatmeal but the artists vocal or instrumental talent is worthy of note. on this particular song the instrumental talent is nonexistent, but the song itself has potential. being a good songwriter is much more difficult that being a good musician. in fact, most songwriters don't choose to record their own songs. and... owning the mechanicals on a good song is far more lucrative than just being the mouthpiece.

 

[sprynmr]

i know that this forum is for home recording posts. however, it is a very rare thing for a good song to be posted here. there are a few talented people that post songs that are oatmeal but the artists vocal or instrumental talent is worthy of note. on this particular song the instrumental talent is nonexistent, but the song itself has potential. being a good songwriter is much more difficult that being a good musician. in fact, most songwriters don't choose to record their own songs. and... owning the mechanicals on a good song is far more lucrative than just being the mouthpiece.

Wow... I guess I didn't remember asking for straight out unconstructive insults.

The instrumental talent in this band is very very good. Our combined musical experience totals over 45 years. We are very very good when playing all together. We've never done this recording with headphones to a reference track thing before Mr. Nice Guy. That would be the only reason the intrumental talent might sound off.

Where we lose rhthym a little bit? We hit that perfect every time as a full band.

Go harass someone else. I don't like you.

 

[dobro]

"i know that this forum is for home recording posts. however"

It's like you never took on my comment. So did you come around here to remind all the amateurs here that they're not pro? And if you're actually engaged in that graceless and unkind program, what do you get out of it? Some kind of feeling of superiority? Cuz you're sure as fuck not helping anyone improve their recording or mixing with comments like: "the right producer and engineer and studio musicians could make this work better". We all know that. Don't you? Doober. The last part of your more recent post is full of generalities that everybody knows as well. Get real. This is a homerecording forum. People here are looking for practical help and encouragement. Here, I'll show you how to do it. Pay attention, cuz I know your heart ain't in it...

sprynmr: My first impression is that the intro guitar is a bit dark (EQ) second impression is that the intro guitar is too loud in relation to the excellent vocal (levels). My third impression is twofold: you have timing issues (tracking), plus the overall sound and feel of this song is great (feeling). I don't mind the timing issues that much, because I feel commercial music is way too anally compulsive about playing in time/in tune/with a smile on your pretty face and big tits on your backup singers. Having said that, the drummer's a bit sloppy. If it's you drumming, try somebody who's a bit angrier - angry drummers tend to nail the beat with an exact vengeance. Maybe you could ask supercritic?

My final impression is this - this is a really good song with a really good feel and good sound. If you redo it, pay attention to timing. If you don't redo it, pay attention to timing on the next song you do.

 

[sprynmr]

Awesome Dobro... Thanks.

Nope I play sax. The drummer I think was having trouble following the reference track. I don't know if there is a different way we should be doing it or not. Do you guys usually use a click from the recording program?

~Robert

 

[dobro]

I almost always use a click these days, yeah. The only time I don't use a click is when I'm doing just voice alone or voice plus guitar. And even then, bsabbath can spot that I haven't used a click.