My MP3 Mix

[EnderChildGeniu]

I would like to start off with a few disclaimers:

1. I know that the mix is soft which is why I don't want anything to clip. So, the process of raising that in volume is one of the many chores in mastering, correct?

When doing this, are usually each individual parts compressed and then pieced together, or do I apply compression to the piece as a whole? I'm assuming it's the first one.

2. Also, this mix is done with the drums, bass, and electric guitars without any kind of effect on them. You'll notice that I'm sure. I haven't done anything because I honestly do NOT know what to do to them. I can set the song to fit together, but I need advice on getting things to sound good. I have vocals, but they suck and I can make them better, so I'll put those in someday. But for now, I'm just curious about the three guitar and the drums.

First of all. The bass is too low IMHO. Yeah.

What can I do to make it sound more natural and not raw? Haha. Just advice is nice... Thanks in advance!

-Daniel

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/8/goodguys3music.htm

It's titled "realsample".

And it's my first mix of all guitars, drums, and bass. I haven't got to work much with full band stuff. 17 years old... gotta get started sometime, right?

And just so you guys know, I'm not going to go cry myself to sleep in some corner if it really sucks. I care, but I'm not going to be a baby about it like many people here have done. Again, thanks.

 

[thajeremy]

wish my first mix had been that good....

you are right about the bass...needs to come up. maybe the kick too. Guitars sound good but maybe a little heavy in the mids. overall...i think its a great start...

 

[sile2001]

Well, I like the riff...it's got a nice groove to it and is definitely a decent start. Now that beind said, here's the constructive critisizm:

1) You already called it...the bass is too low. The riff matches the song well, but it just needs to be brought up a bit.

2) Main guitar in the song from about 0:07 on needs to be doubled and the two tracks panned out left and right. It's a decent riff but the guitar just sounds too thin.

3) The drumkit sounds a bit muffled and the kick, while it is nice and defined, doesn't seem to have any real power behind it. Sure you may want to be keeping the drums somewhat in the background, but even in the background they should still be very clear sounding. The drums definitely need a bit of reverb on them, but don't get carried away, and in my opinion they could use a presence boost of maybe 2 or 3 db at about 10KHz.

You asked about effects and here are my thoughts. Absolutely no reverb on the bass, a little on the drums and guitars, and maybe on the voice when you bring that in but be very sparing with it there. The goal is to give it just enough "space" that it doesn't sound like they're playing inside your head, but not make it sound like they're in an arena or stadium.

For compression, there is no hard rule about how to use it. Some things need to be individually compressed and some don't. Sometimes the entire mix needs a little bit of compression, and sometimes it doesn't. It just becomes a matter of taste and experience.

I have more thoughts, but not enough time for them right now.

 

[pattygram]

this is rock music....... you,ve got to be able to hear the drums loud and clear. way to muffeled, needs a little snap to the snare. guitars are way to thin try a second trk. with just a hint of delay to thicken it up. bass guit. is muddy, try cutting btw.50-80hz. and bring it up. keep on rocking!

 

[EnderChildGeniu]

WEll

For the main guitar part at about 0:07, I already have two tracks panned hard right and left.

And then when you say add a second guitar part and add delay, what do you mean I should do?

Sorry being such a newbie. Thanks for the help. I appreciate it.

-Daniel

 

[ecktronic]

Thin sounding mix. Drums dont sit that well in the mix. Boost the lo end and thiken up the mix. Not bad though.

 

[HangDawg]

The guitar tone is horrible. I don't think any amount of eq will fix it either. Needs retracked.

 

[thajeremy]

The guitar tone is horrible. I don't think any amount of eq will fix it either. Needs retracked.

whoa...tons of help there...

Re-tracking it the wrong way wont help a bit...maybe you could give him some advice on how to re-track it and make it better?

well Enderchildgeniu...maybe you should tell us how you tracked (the first time) as well.

 

[HangDawg]

maybe you could give him some advice on how to re-track it and make it better?

Use an excellent guitar properly intonated and tuned and run it through a kickass tube amp with less gain and more mids than you would normally use and place a high quality dynamic mic (such as MD421) or possibly a ribbon mic in the sweet spot of a 12" celestion. Crank that baby up to 11 and enjoy the lush tones.