mp3 mix questions

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jitteringjim

jitteringjim

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got a couple of new tunes up & have some questions about the mixes
http://www.mp3.com/gregbrogan

They're acoustic guitar and vox, so if you don't dig that kind of music, you've been warned - also, ignore the pic - I put it up as an inside joke. :)

1. Speed of Sound
ok, I have two sets of monitors & a set of cheap headphones - the better set of monitors (KRKs) and the headphones seem to say this mix is ok. The cheaper set of monitors (audix) has a rise in the midrange and puts the vox WAY out front - would like some feedback on the mix, please.

2. 20 Mile Open
I'm getting distortion in the bottom end here, and no matter how I seem to mix, I can't get rid of it without losing all of the punch - the original tracks aren't distorted, just the mix - maybe a problem with too much compression?

[This message has been edited by jitteringjim (edited 11-17-1999).]
 
What kind of compressor did you use? Did your wav files have matching voltage offsets? If not, they might produce the problem you're having. Maybe your pc is pushing the wav files hard enough to overdrive the cones, does the noise go away when you turn the volume down?

I'm downloading the files now. Will reply again later.
 
They both sounded great to me but my speakers are pretty flat and generally crappy. Great tones and a wonderful "live in the room" sound. I'd like to know your recording/mixing procedures, you must have a good mic for certain. Do you have lines coppied into the pan field and if so, how do you space them out? Please hook me up if you can cause I have no education in these areas and you've got a great sound. Not to mention tasty chops and that melodic knack that so many people strive for.

I converted 20 mile open to a wav file and opened it up in Goldwave. The profile of the sound wave appeared to be spiking up into the clip zone, definately being pushed by the low freqs. I did some volume % cuts which often eliminates minor clipping but the noise was still there. Did the file have this problem before conversion to mp3? I suspect so. What kind of setup are you running? Have you had this problem before? Do you do any kind of track normalization? What kind of acoustic guitar are you using? We are currently experiencing a cycle of solar flares, the radiation of which may be causing inverted harmonic feedback in the finish of all pre 1983 Martin acoustics. I talked to a Martin sales rep who told me to play Bach's Tacotta and Fudge in A minor on the ancient ancestral Hungarian fitted nose pipe while traversing backwards (barefoot of course) in gradual widening elipses about the guitar in question. He told me he could hook get me a great deal on the nose pipe. Should I put you down for one?
 
Hi crazyhorse, and thanks for taking the time to look (listen) things over. The more I listen to "Speed of Sound," the more I hear slight distortion in the vocal range - I use an Aphex 661 compression unit when tracking vox to keep things under control, and it has some sort of tube emulation thing going on - also on the final mix, I used a plug-in version of a vintage tube compression unit, so maybe that's where all of that comes from. I kind of like it, but if it offends the ears of the discriminating listener I guess I'll adjust it.

20 Mile Open - there's a real problem. The vox and guitar were tracked together just as a demo, but I decided to keep the take - I built the rest of the arrangement around that track. I'm almost sure the distortion is coming from the bass / kick drum tracks, but I've done everything I know to do save from scrapping it all and starting over - I've rolled off some of the bass frequency, pulled them back in the mix - tried limiting - on those tracks I'm not in the peak area, so I dunno. The acoustic I used was a bit "boomy" and the signal has been pushed as far as it will go, although it doesn't distort when I isolate the wav... maybe I'll look into that further.

About my sound (on "SOS")- I just set up the mic and went - I record in my apt. so I don't have a great studio room. I used a Rode NT1 mic, and on mixdown, I panned main vox and guitar slightly favoring opposite sides and the 3 part backing vocals to left, center, and right.
I added a plate reverb to the tamborine to give it more impact and mixed down to 2 track. I then got the eq where I wanted it, and added a SLIGHT bit of reverb to the final mix to get the room sound and add a little shimmer. I think my settings were: dry out: 0 db; reverb out: -13.6 db.

I'm going to look a bit further into the solar flare theory, I think that applies to pre 83 Hondos as well - I already have a nose pipe of my own, though Hondo reps told me to get lost when I asked if they would come out and traverse backwards (barefoot of course) around the guitar in question with me. :)
Thanks again for taking the time, man.
 
Speed of Sound...Really like the tune! The bare acoustic sound is one my of favorites. Like the vocals, but I do agree with your comment. It seems on my monitors that they are a little too out front. Did you compress the entire mix? I'll give it another listen, as well as download 20 mile open tonight. I've gotta go do that work thang now!
Ranger
 
Really great plug for the NT-1.
What do you use for phantom power?
 
Hi Doc,
I use an Alesis Studio 12R for a preamp/line mixer - has 48v phantom power

Ranger: Yes, I compressed the entire mix with Timeworks Mastering Compressor
 
I've got a Hondo flying V with a no name tremolo that my buddy bought for me at a pawn shop for $130 and it totaly kicks ass. One of the best rock tones I ever heard came from an 80s model Hondo with the old Van Halen red, white, and black striped finish. Seriously!
 
I was wondering what card you record to? What plugins do you use?
 
Hi Fender,
I record to a Sound Blaster Live! via the digital input -
For plugs I generally use Steinberg's Free Filter, Sonic Foundry's Acoustic Mirror, and Timeworks Mastering compressor - sometimes Waves RCL (compressor / limiter)
Thanks for the interest. :)
 
Hey man, what does the 'Free Filter' plug-in do? I've seen other referances to this plug-in but I don't have a clue what it is. Thanks!
 
Hey CH,
Free Filter is a plug-in from Steinberg that allows you to capture the EQ curve from a source and apply that curve to other material. Basically, it lets you steal the EQ from your fave tunes and apply it to your own stuff. When it works, it works great - but sometimes you have to work with it a bit before you get the sound you're after.
 
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