my first new song in awhile

  • Thread starter Thread starter drossfile
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Sounds pretty good.

I agree the intro probably is a bit too long.

What FX did you apply to the vocals? During the quieter parts it almost sounds like you ran them through some kind of phaser?

Edit: I just noticed you've got something like 6 seconds of dead air at the end. It's kind of nitpicky, but it probably wouldn't hurt to trim that.
 
Greg_L said:
The new mix sounds great. The snare sound is much improved. There's something about it though that's just not in my face enough. I can't pinpoint what it is. :confused:
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i think that's the touch of reverb i gave it in soundforge. i'm not liking either version i did w/ reverb (there are 2 other versions that i haven't put up), so i'm gonna run the 2nd raw mix through soundforge again and just give it the master compression/limiting. i thought reverb might glue things together better, but i'm sacrificing too much.

i'll get a new version posted soon.

thanks for your comments, everyone. as for the intro, there's no way i can trim it. the buildup would be too short and the sudden contrast would be lost, imo. just my approach. shit, you should hear some of my other stuff--40 sec intro? pfff. i've gone TWO MINUTES before! :D

vomithatsteve--thanks for pointing out the 6 seconds at the end. it'll be gone in my next link. :)
 
I just listened to versions 2 and 3 and it seems like you took a step backwards. Number 3 leaves a LOT of open sonic space, which can be good, but on a rock track, you're clearing out space for a big vocal, usually. You need to make the tracks bigger (except the kick) or make the vocal a LOT bigger (my suggestion) to fill out the sound.

I'll guess, you're a musician who's a singer by necessity and you don't like your singing that much, so you hide it in the mix. You can't do that and make a great mix. Either confidently mix your voice up front and big (I didn't notice any big vocal stinkers) or get someone to sing it for you.

Everything here sounds very good, there are just a few (mainly EQ) issues to overcome.



Scott
Not an audio engineer.
 
loudsongs said:
I just listened to versions 2 and 3 and it seems like you took a step backwards. Number 3 leaves a LOT of open sonic space, which can be good, but on a rock track, you're clearing out space for a big vocal, usually. You need to make the tracks bigger (except the kick) or make the vocal a LOT bigger (my suggestion) to fill out the sound.

I'll guess, you're a musician who's a singer by necessity and you don't like your singing that much, so you hide it in the mix. You can't do that and make a great mix. Either confidently mix your voice up front and big (I didn't notice any big vocal stinkers) or get someone to sing it for you.

Everything here sounds very good, there are just a few (mainly EQ) issues to overcome.



Scott
Not an audio engineer.
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thanks for your input--i'm not really sure where i stand on it at this point. i've heard the song way too many times, and the problem is that the first mix was the best, but the snare sounded like ass. maybe i should try eqing the original mix and see where that gets me...eff.

you're absolutely right--singer by necessity. good call. i don't think i'm a terrible singer, but it's definitely where i'm least confident (lead guitar is a close 2nd).
 
ok, here's a 4th version. i just gave it a triple-pass through the "master for 16bit" preset on soundforge. no reverb, no maximizing. just master compression. i'm trying desperately to hang onto the dynamics while making it "rock" solid. bad pun.

hopefully someone can distinguish between this one and the others better than i can at this point. i think it's the best one, but my exhausted perspective is not that great right now.

i really appreciate everyone taking the time to help me out--it's making me a better recordist.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=721637&content=music
 
VomitHatSteve said:
What FX did you apply to the vocals? During the quieter parts it almost sounds like you ran them through some kind of phaser?
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forgot to answer your question: i'm applying a chorus effect on the entire vocal track. not much, but enough to notice more on the sung parts than the cookie monster parts.
 
wow very interesting song! lot's of ideas going on - kinda reminds me of pete townshend's comment that he could write several songs from the ideas in one of entwhistle's songs. sounds great - i'm diggin the bass verse groove and the ambient guitars that start later (in section G? haha).
 
A decent mix. Everything seems to be where it should be.
Thanks for sharing!
Much appreciated.

DD
 
Man honestly, I think version 3 is the best. Something goes wongo in version 4 and it sounds lopsided.

Are you happier with the snare? I think it still sounds kind of boxy. Most definitely better though. If you're not happy with it you may want to start looking at changing the heads. What kind of snare is it? Wood/metal? Size?
 
pretty damn good

i like this, i think the cymbals and hats should come down just a nuthair, snare should sound a little sharper (less tubby) Toms should have a bit more ring to them, vox are a little iffy for me in spots, but still good sounding

you have a real interesting thing going on here...keep at it very unique
 
I'd like what's behind door number 3. That one sounds the most solid to me. Let your ears rest for a day, then re-listen. I think that mix is plenty good.
 
thanks for your kind comments everyone!

greg: it's a mapex black panther premium 7.5x14--the batter head is an evans power center dot coated. i think it needs to go (it came brand new on the drum when i got it off ebay). i'll probably go w/ the vented genera dry like i have on my piccolo. i love that head.

riffmaster: thanks. i'm gonna do exactly that. maybe tonght i'll start monkeying with it again, but for now i can't do it. good suggestion.

analytical man: i'm actually fairly pleased with the hats and cymbals, and i don't close-mic the toms, so if i turn the OHs down, the toms get turned down with them. thanks for the input.
 
if you'd all be so kind as to indulge me one more time...

i did a 5th version of the song. let me sum up:

1st version: raw mix

2nd version: new mix w/ eqed snare and master reverb/comp/limiting

3rd version: 2nd mix w/ no reverb, master limiting

4th version: 2nd mix, no reverb, 3 passes of master comp, went over like a lead balloon so i deleted it

5th version: 2nd mix, no reverb, 1 pass of limiting, 1 pass of compression. this may be the one.

so if you're not as sick of hearing this song as i am, please compare the 3rd and 5th versions and tell me which is better. i think i've polished this turd as much as i can.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=721637&content=music

thanks again!
 
I still enjoy listening to #2 the most. Completely dry makes my ears hurt.

:D



Scott
Not an audio engineer
 
There are only 2 things that bug me about the (5th) mix. The snare is so bone fucking dry that it almost sounds unfinished. I'm wanting like some BBE on it or something. :D - Yeah, BBE and some verb...NOT A TON, just some.

And on the lead...I dunno', I'm the last guy who needs to be giving advice on leads...there's just a lot of reverb on the lead and it doesn't seem to fit with the pretty dry nature of some of the other stuff...plus, it sounds kind of like a Steve Vai tone, and I just can't have that, lol.

It's really good man.
 
chrisharris said:
There are only 2 things that bug me about the (5th) mix. The snare is so bone fucking dry that it almost sounds unfinished. I'm wanting like some BBE on it or something. :D - Yeah, BBE and some verb...NOT A TON, just some.

And on the lead...I dunno', I'm the last guy who needs to be giving advice on leads...there's just a lot of reverb on the lead and it doesn't seem to fit with the pretty dry nature of some of the other stuff...plus, it sounds kind of like a Steve Vai tone, and I just can't have that, lol.

It's really good man.
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yeah, that lead patch is kinda the "dross signature." lots of delay on it, reverb, spacey. i've been using a variation of that sound for a long time.

i'd gladly add a touch of reverb to the snare, but the fx on my daw don't work right, and when i wet the entire mix it loses its aggressive feel (although apparently loudsongs prefers that version).

therein lies the problem: everybody has their own take on it, and i'm trying to find that "magic" mix that everyone agrees is "the one." obviously, that isn't gonna happen, so i guess i gotta go w/ my best instinct in the end.

i truly appreciate all the input from everyone.
 
drossfile said:
thanks for your kind comments everyone!

greg: it's a mapex black panther premium 7.5x14--the batter head is an evans power center dot coated. i think it needs to go (it came brand new on the drum when i got it off ebay). i'll probably go w/ the vented genera dry like i have on my piccolo. i love that head.
.
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Yes! I have essentially the snare snare. Put a regular Genera Dry (not HD ot ST or whatever) on it and prepare yourself for some meaty crack. :D

I'm gonna listen to your new mix tomorrow.
 
Greg_L said:
Yes! I have essentially the snare snare. Put a regular Genera Dry (not HD ot ST or whatever) on it and prepare yourself for some meaty crack. :D

I'm gonna listen to your new mix tomorrow.
Click to expand...

cool. i have a poll up too if you wanna vote on it. no bites yet, but i'm definitley leaning towards version 5 for the final.
 
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