"Muffled" Track-Please help

[Animus]

My issue is that I have been recording songs combining both live and direct techniques, but no matter what I try, my recordings seem to have a "thin layer of opaque film" over them. It creates a slight muffled effect when listening back to the tracks, even a slightly flat sound. I am using the various delay and compression plug ins that came with my Cubase LE program (please see equip list below). The highest compression rate I use hovers around 6:1. The highest I pump the EQ is maybe a +2.5 around the 2-3K freq.'s on guitars. I have cut the 250hz range to try and cut out the "mud", but I still seem to hear a muffling or under a blanket/behind a curtain type of across the entire track.

I am using an EMU-1616, SM58's/57's, and Cubase LE (which came with the EMU). I have been using "The Mixing Engineer's Handbook" by Bobby Owsinski as my primary guide for eq's etc.

Instruments:
Yamaha Keyboard (recorded direct to EMU using the Yamaha Grand sounds)
Customized Fender Acoustic (Dreadnaught style) with SM57 direct to EMU
Les Paul through Marshall (Vin 30's) with SM57
Drum Machine (Alesis SR-16, direct to EMU)
Vocals - Direct using an SM58

Here is a link to some of my tracks (not all instruments listed above may be on these particular tracks), if anyone has the time or inclination:
myspace.com/facelessandnameless
Thanks.
Mike
Baltimore, MD

 

[guitarboi89]

Alot of it probably has to do with only using 57/58's, they are fine for guitar cabs and great for live work BUT they dont have much high end response.
have you had/are you able to have experience with some good condensors? Especially the vocals and acoustic guitar.
I had a listen to Loves endless goes round and can hear what you mean. What are you mixing with (heaphones/monitors) because that could be the main problem

 

[Animus]

I use a mix of headphones, crappy computer speakers, and my car speakers. I figured that if I get a good mix on the same types of speakers that people will probably use to listen to the music, then I should be good to go.

Thanks for the tip on the microphone, I will try to see how I can get a hold of a decent condenser. Any suggestions on an affordable one?
Thanks!!
Mike

 

[Elton Bear]

I use an AKG C3000B which gets a lot of bad rep but I really like it considering the price.

 

[giraffe]

sooooooooooo many things contribute to this, so it's really hard to give genralized advice.

but..........
watch the low mids (be careful, it's easy to overcut this area, and it's essential to "fullness"), and especially the bass.
too much bass (freq range, not instrument) usually in the 90-200 hz range is very common in home recording.

an easy trick that you can learn from,
import your song into i tunes..... then just use the on board eq to try and make your stuff sound more like things you like.
can be very informative.