Mixing Vocal

  • Thread starter Thread starter Scouse
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Scouse

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Hi Guys

I did the backing track a few months back and was happy with the overall sound. Mixing the vocals however seems a totally different ball game!!

Have a listen to this and give me your feedback. I think its OK but because I've heard it so many times I've lost sight (or the ear) of it!

Cheers

ScouseView attachment Valerie.mp3
 
First, great voice! Really.
Next is the problem of mixing a backing track. Unless you have a lot of experience, leaving space in the spectrum for your voice to shine through is not an easy task.
There are a lot of things I might have done different with your backing track to begin with. Wide panned instruments are distracting (bring em in a bit). A lot of the obviously midi stuff sounds really fake. Use pads instead of "strings" so it's not quite so obvious.
Don't get me wrong. I think this is good. I just think the song could be great.
 
If the backing track is set, to bring this mix into "best results", the vocal need to come down, and if there is some kind of room effect, that needs to be removed or you need to route all of the music so that it feels it sits within the same room.

Great vocal, so that is not an issue, some mixing and instrument choices are hurting the performance.
 
Agree, great voice. The mix and song reminds of something you would hear coming from the 50's and 60's. It doesn't have much power, just mixed neutral(which is not bad if thats where you want it). Vocals sit way back...almost like the singer is sitting 20 feet from the mic.

Also, agree on the midi...sounds very midi. Not everyone has friends that play horns, but real ones would sound awesome on this song. But, finding a way to get them to sound more realistic would help a lot. Good job!
 
Wow thanks Guys, I must say you're pretty all perceptive. :thumbs up:

No the backing isn't fixed I can control it. Yeah the 'brass' was indeed synth and Di and the singer stood about 10ft from the mic.

BroKen_H I can certainly make the backing a bit more 'mono'

Bruthish not sure how I can get more power is it down to the kick?

Scouse
 
It sounds like you recorded her in the bathroom lol. I think the singing doesn't sound like it's "in" with the music. It sounds like all the music is dry and crisp then you throw in some wet and distant vocals. So, it ends up sounding weird.
 
Scouse said:
Hi Guys

I did the backing track a few months back and was happy with the overall sound. Mixing the vocals however seems a totally different ball game!!

View attachment 92888
Click to expand...


I don't hear anything wrong with the vocal mix. Maybe bump it a half db or lower the snare a half db. They seem to both be asking for my ear equally, but other than that it's mixed appropriately.
 
Yes reluctantly I agree FoulPhil he (not she! LOL) probably stood to far from the mic. I said maybe you need to stand about a foot away. It sounded good in isolation until mixing and the room ambience becomes more evident. Of course if I add any reverb to the finished track it will make the vocals worse. I reckon I need some more room treatment as well.
 
wow I thought it was a lady singing too! Not a bad thing by any means...HE has a good voice. A good position is usually no more than 12" from the mic..depending on the singer. You lost a lot of the presence in the vocals from being so far away.
 
Yes your singing voice is nice.

Instrument tracks sound a bit muffled in many cases - the only exceptions are they midi synth sounds on the right side. But the drums and guitar-ish sounds are muffled.

Vocal recording sounds like you're in an untreated room with the mic 4 ft. away. Lot's of room sound.
 
Scouse said:
Yes reluctantly I agree FoulPhil he (not she! LOL) probably stood to far from the mic. I said maybe you need to stand about a foot away. It sounded good in isolation until mixing and the room ambience becomes more evident. Of course if I add any reverb to the finished track it will make the vocals worse. I reckon I need some more room treatment as well.
Click to expand...

He's got a purty voice :p
 
I like the song and vocal. I would use a bit less reverb or ambience on the voice. Some vocal harmony could take this up to another level.
 
I have NO mix advice whatsoever. That won't stop me from throwing in my 2 cents worth of free opinion.

This tune is DONE. It is a great demo.

Get some cash together and go into a real studio (preferably 2 inch tape) hehe, a bit of personal bias.

Get some real instruments, a horn section, a good, in the pocket drummer, and record that song as it was meant to be recorded.

Great tune, great vocal performance. You got some pipes.

Properly recorded, this could pass as something that came out of Motown in the 60s and 70s. I could see this being done by the 4 tops and other similar artists. In my opinion you got a gem in your pocket there.
:thumbs up:
 
RFR said:
Properly recorded, this could pass as something that came out of Motown in the 60s and 70s. I could see this being done by the 4 tops and other similar artists. In my opinion you got a gem in your pocket there.
:thumbs up:
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Judging by his username, the influence is Northern Soul. But I totally agree. This song is ready for the studio and some real horns.
 
Now I'm going to agree with the last two posts to a point. Something about the name HomeRecording.com just screams out a huge, "HUH?!?" when people start saying take it to a studio...

But Scouse, here's where I agree. IF you can find a good studio locally that will allow you to be a part of the mix process, this is a great idea. It may cost you a bit more, but I'd say if you can afford it, go for it. You can get some hands on time with someone who already knows a bit about mixing techniques, etc. etc. Great experience!
I learned most of what I know from standing on the other side of the mike in the 80s. I'm still figuring out how to apply some of it, but I've got most of the tools to do the job by watching other people do it. Watching a video on how to goes just so far, but being with the instructor and being able to ask questions about why that mike was chosen, what does that do when you turn it, why did you choose this compressor for my voice, but that other one for the horns. You can see where this is going.

Several of our HR members are there in the UK. Maybe see if one of them would be game for the challenge? If you were near NC, I'd be pretty tempted to work with that kind of talent.
 
I'm not on a computer where I can listen to this now, but is this not a cover of Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse's version of Valerie? If so, if it sounds like it could be a global mult-million selling smash, then that's probably because it was. And if it sounds like something that could have come out of Motown, then that's because Ronson's spent his career apeing that period.

Not trying to rain on Scouse's parade, as it looks from the comments that the vocals are strong, but I think some mix commenters here are under the impression that it's an amateur's original that's just crying out to be professionally done.
 
robgreen said:
Not trying to rain on Scouse's parade, as it looks from the comments that the vocals are strong, but I think some mix commenters here are under the impression that it's an amateur's original that's just crying out to be professionally done.
Click to expand...

That's a bit of a harsh statement and incorrect. I was one of the first to recommend taking it into a studio. Because it's an "amateur's original" ? No. Because it is a great song that deserves real instruments, real horns, a great room to record them in, and pro gear to record them on.

Your statement implies that it is a slight on the original poster. Not in the least. The song is great and deserves to be taken to the next level. If a major artist were to pick up the tune, that's what they would do anyway.


Edit:

Major update. I take it all back. The song sounds like a hit because it is a hit! I thought it was an original, but I was mistaken. I am not that familiar with Amy Winehouse but just found the tune.
In light of that the heck with it, good cover just work on the mix a bit.

I humbly eat crow.:D
 
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Unless I'm mistaken, the poster isn't the singer. That's how I took his comments anyway when he wrote "the singer stood about 10ft from the mic." Nevertheless, the singing is really great. And a very cool song too. I agree with the panning being too wide for some instruments. But it was hard for me to focus on them and not just listen to the awesome melody and singing.
 
RFR said:
The song is great and deserves to be taken to the next level. If a major artist were to pick up the tune, that's what they would do anyway.
Click to expand...

agreed. If the room is limiting what the song could use, go studio. Horns are almost essential for this. I see no shame there. It's not a skill slam, it's a physical environment problem.
 
Major update. I take it all back. The song sounds like a hit because it is a hit! I thought it was an original, but I was mistaken. I am not that familiar with Amy Winehouse but just found the tune.
In light of that the heck with it, good cover, just work on the mix a bit.

I humbly eat crow.:D





I think in the future all people recording covers should disclose that it is a cover and who's song it actually is.
Not everyone will be familiar with all the different genres of music out there, and not stating it is a cover is deceptive.

It certainly deceived me. Now I feel like a fool for so enthusiastically complimenting "your" song:(
 
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