My first full recording:

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris Fallen
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Chris Fallen

Chris Fallen

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Okay, here's the deal:

I've been tracking, re-recording, etc, for the last few weeks to get this all down. I put my drum track up earlier and got some tips to getting it to sound better, thanks to everyone that helped me on that.

Here's the entire mp3, now. I just finished the vocals and guitar (tracking) last night and have just set levels and nothing else. I've noticed it sounds kinda bassy and muddy in the low end, and I'm sure that'll mean that it will jump out with you guys. I'm going home tonight to finish it off, adding 'verb on the vocals, resetting levels, adding whatever I need. I want you guys to help if you can with your [superior?] ears and let me know problems that you know. Repeat them if necessary.

I know there are tons of problems with this mix, and most of you won't like the music anyway, so I'm not looking for a judge of the song, just the mix. :)

Problems I'm having also include getting the vocals to set into the mix a little more. During the verses (not the choruses) I'm having a hard time getting them to blend.

Tips, advice (nobody say 'quit music'), and help will all be appreciated. :D

*Damn, I almost forgot to say how I recorded this all:

Vocals - MXL v67m, compressed to get a louder sound.

BG Vocals were all screamed by myself and Nate (our singer) into an MXL v67m three times. Mixed them all together into one wav and added (FASoft) verb.

Guitar - Epiphone les paul into a fender something amp recorded with a close miced SM57

Bass - Direct into an omni studio

Drums - Snare was close miced with an sm57, kick with AKG d112, r & l overheads with ecm8000s. Overheads were panned hard both ways.

All of these went into my omni studio with a delta 66 and tracked and (kinda) mixed on n-track.

Farewell to the Fallen - The Happiness of Hatred

Christopher
 
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As it will to probably everyone else on this board. That's why I want you to listen to the recording and critique that, not the music. :D

Christopher
 
The guitar is too brown. What I mean is, it has no definition and when you go into thrash mode, it just kind of gets lost in mush. Maybe try keeping these tracks and then find a guitar tone that's a chunkier, more definition, and mix it in with the other guitar tracks.
The snare needs more attack too. Try this. Lay a guitar amp on its back and take the snare drum and lay it face down over one of the speakers. Loosen the snares a little and put a mic (preferably a condensor) on it. Play back the old snare track only with it patched to the input of the guitar amp. Record that and mix it in with the old snare track to taste.
Good luck.:cool:
 
Any tips for getting the vocals to sit better in the mix?

Christopher
 
Re-cut them with a 57 and use a lot of compression.
 
Okay, now here's the hard part: I don't really know anything yet about effects and such. What do you mean by 'a lot of compression?' Mostly I'm wondering what you think would be a good setting. Why do you think a 57 would sound better?

Christopher
 
With the style of vocal that you're doing, IMHO, a dynamic mic SOMETIMES can sound more appropriate. I've done a few bands simaler to yours and at the time, that's what I ended up using.
Do you have any compressor plug ins with your n-track set up?
 
Play around with that on your vocal tracks. It'll bring them forward and also make them easier to mix.
 
I don't hear much bass....

I actually think the vocals "sit" ok....I mean, as well as they can sit with that rhythm section.

I hear LOTS of drums, some guitar....and like 7 singers...

The bass needs to be a little punchier along with the kick to really give the song some foundation....

unfortunately...I'm not good at that either ;)
 
wes480 said:
I don't hear much bass....

I actually think the vocals "sit" ok....I mean, as well as they can sit with that rhythm section.

I hear LOTS of drums, some guitar....and like 7 singers...

The bass needs to be a little punchier along with the kick to really give the song some foundation....

unfortunately...I'm not good at that either ;)
Click to expand...

There's only two singers total the entire time, one during the verses, and the backing vocals are him and I and we tracked them three times over each.

Christopher
 
Okay, so I went over it again, balanced the levels, and cut some of the low guitar so the bass could shine through. I think it's a better over all recording. Let me know if this was an improvement. What went downhill. Any more opinions are great.

Thanks for all of your guys' help.

www.super-rad.net/~chivalry/thehappinessofhatred.zip

Christopher
 
I went thru the whole process of d/ling...unzipping, blah, blah...what a lazy lot we've become to be... anywayzz..that was kinda a bummer.

onto the important schtuff...

The whole mix seems to eminate from an 8" speaker....no lows, highs...kinda like it sounds lo-fi, without being actually lo-fi...but just garage-fi ....or single speaker-fi ...ya know?? Hard song to listen too, also.. you owe us!!!:D like we'll put toothpics in your eyelids to hold them open...
 
Sorry, that's where my mixing skills equal right now. Low fi. Or I guess garage fi works, too. Haha. :)

Christopher
 
in the g'rage, i feel safe...no one care about my way-ay-ays..
in the g'rage where i belong, no one hears me sing this song...

i gots a dungeon masters guide...doom doom doom...

great shit ;)
 
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