My first mix

  • Thread starter Thread starter elbenj
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elbenj

New member
Hey Everybody,

This is my official first mix. I would appreciate any
and all opinions on the arrangement, performance,
and the mix itself.

I made a major error and inadvertetly roecorded
the project at 44.1k 16 bit. So I am gonna redo
the whole thing at 48k 24 bit....this would be a great
opportunity to get an A/B comparison of what a difference that can make. Although most may already
know.

The only thing I did to the main buss was normalize
and ran it through Sonic Foundry's Wave Hammer.

Thanks to all of the help you guys having giving
thusfar!

I dont know how to insert links...duh sorry!
Can someone help me?

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/urban/2bdetermined/

Song title: Heavenly Woman
 
very different. Um, it sounds waaay too midi-ish. What "instruments" did you use to record this? Background vocals are too loud, and the main vocal isn't loud enough. The mix otherwise is good. Breakdown at 2:00 sounded realistic, but unfortunately, the rest of the performance sounds kind of phony. Not my style, but it sounds pretty good.

Mike
 
Mike,

Thanks for the feedback. The horns, strings, guitar and
drums have no effects on them at all. I use the Korg Triton exclusively for my sounds. And I agree about the
vocals.

Thanks again!
 
It's interesting -- I can hear what mike was saying. Maybe the normalization flattened it out too much. The performance is tight; very skillful. I'd also like to hear some edge on that lead vocal.
 
Thanks LI,

What exactly do you mean by edge? Ive heard the term
before, just not sure what it means. I like the fact that
the song is considered interesting by those who listen to it. The song kinda just evolved to where it is now and
I wont have anything like it in my other works.

Thanks for the feedback!
 
Neato! Sounds like some old Eno/Bowie stuff...

I'd like to hear some more mids in the vocals (sooooooo close to Barry White, I bet this is what he sounds like without bass & mids).

I think taking the lead hi-hat click out would work well, and perhaps removing the lead-in chorus... The song has constant vocal "action" as is, and this would allow (1) a chance to hear just the music for 23 seconds and (2) the vocals to introduce the song.

The orchestral hits at 2:26 keep the song interesting, but then they kinda stick out after five seconds or so (especially at 2:33, with that little arpeggio... they're pretty busy until 2:40). I'd try A/B-ing the song with those "hits" only at the beginning the measures/phrases (the initial "bum bum-bum"), and allowing the other instruments to glide through the rest of the song. If you like the lines your getting from those horns (same sound) when they become melodic (the rest of the phrase), maybe try an electric or regular piano...

I've found that most sample-generated music benefits from an expressive "intentionally-non-quantizised" track. It gives the swing and soul to the music, and would add that "oomph" this song lacks (every quantisized song lacks it, i'm not dissing this song). Maybe a piano, or drop the orchestral/horn hits and play a nylon-string guitar through one of the phrases. Get an egg shaker and shake a steady eighth-note throughout the song, tambourine, castanets, whatever... folks hear the "off-ness" against the straight, perfect beat and relate with it.

Otherwise, I'd think of ways to either shorten the song or add another break (a expressive solo would work well, especially since it's about a woman).


(And speaking of women... I'm a dude, dude. :D)
 
Yeah, Kelly, I can tell you get freaked out when guys assume you're female and start flirting with you!

Elben, what I mean by "edge" is mostly a perfomance thing- more intense, less concerned with smooth. I think you can also add edge somewhat with effects, say, with a little more high end, but this is something that depends very much on the particular track and I'm unable to make a more specific suggestion...
 
Kelly,

First of all, sorry about the gender mishap :)

Once again,you have made some real solid points
and recommendations that I must seriously
consider and I thank you for that!

May I ask what you meant by boost in the mids?
What freqs? I applied a high pass starting at about 250
and boosted 10k about 6db and rolled of the highs at about 15k...30mil delay and a little plate reverb preset
from Waves TrueVerb..bad moves or what? (Referring to
the lead vocal)

LI,

I think I feel what youre saying about the edge
now. I was definitely singing with an attempt to
really smooth the lead vocal out. Thanks again
and good luck on your NY venture!
 
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