my first mix

[luminosityband]

this is my first mix with my new gear and it is my first post to this forum.

i know I need better equipment and more experience to get really nice mixes - however - that said I know there are people here with great ears and depth of knowledge. please listen to what I have done here and let me know if you can hear anything off the bat to help me along.

i recorded the guitar (taylor 714ce) with two condensors (mxl 991 on the 12th fret and mxl 990 on the bridge). I ran each mic through the pres on my firepod, through a dbx 160A (i have 2) and into sonar. I recorded these two tracks simultaneously. I went to tape mono with completly flat EQ and no effects. I was careful to keep plenty of head room. (average peak -12db or so)

i recorded my voice the same way except only through the mxl 990. (i used a "p-filter" over the mic as well)

when I did my "mix" i first adjusted levels. I then applied the Sonitus EQ plugin that comes with Sonar4 Producer edition to each track until it sounded as good as I could get it with my current knowledge and ear.

I tried a little Lexicon reverb on the vox but it sounded too effected, i coudnt make it subtle even with only 4% mixed in - so I removed it. I tried a few other plugins, but I eventually decided I would keep things simple for now.

Anyhow, once I got the EQ set for all three channels, I adjusted the EQ output gain and "fader" levels until I thought it had reasonably good EQ and level. (I was monitoring through Mackie HR824s and Beyerdynamic DT770's). Then I cleaned up the lead ins and lead outs of the sonar tracks using my wave editor (sound forge 8.0) and mixed the whole thing to a stereo wav file.

Then I gave it a two hour rest.

Next I opened it in Sound Forge 8.0 and trimmed the lead in and lead out and also applied fade in and fade out.

Then I brought the overall gain of the wav up so that it was as hot as it could be without ever clipping.

The result is here:

The song is not really finished lyrically which is why I mumble through it.

Anyhow, please give it a listen and let me know how it lacks and how I can improve.

Many thanks!
-Alex

 

[Dogman]

Well, vocals really stand out. Can't say I'd know how to mix them any better. Tone them down a few db, and bring the guitar up a few? I like your voice. It's pretty cool. Just needs some edge taken off. Again, can't say I could do any better, but it seemed too in my face. Just my opinion. Maybe try and compress it just a hair, to make it sit better.

Good tune, and good job.
Ed

 

[seansigep]

i think the acoustic sounds awesome. just tone down the vocals a bit. That sounds really good. Keep 'em rollin in.

Scogs

 

[gumplunger]

Acoustic sounds good, vocals sounded a little to roomy for my taste, but if that's what you were going for then congrats. Makes me feel like I'm watching some guy in the middle of a room playing and singing live.

 

[luminosityband]

Acoustic sounds good, vocals sounded a little to roomy for my taste, but if that's what you were going for then congrats. Makes me feel like I'm watching some guy in the middle of a room playing and singing live.

so I will remix to cause the vocals to sit back a little into the guitars - less "in ones face"

how can i reduce the "roomy"? I didnt use any verb - just EQ. My proximity to the mic was very close (just the mic screen the p-filter and me all sandwiched in there). I have a feeling you are going to tell me room treatment, which is something I havent delved into at all but want to start doing (maybe building some tall panels covered with sound absorbing materials). But let me know what you think. I am way open to suggestions. I am just listening to what people here are saying, reading a lot and trying to expand my ears ability to make nice recording.

I really appreciate the feedback. Thanks again!

-Alex

 

[travelin travis]

sounds like a good "live recording", probably due to the room sound. maybe try setting the mic up in a different position as far from any walls as possible or a makeshift booth with heavy blankets or reduce the mic gain so less of the room is picked up. WTF do I know?