My two mixes...do your worst

[Whoopysnorp]

Hello, I have a couple of mixes up, and I'd like some feedback. I know they're not perfect, but I'm a beginner. Any comments are welcome.

Just a note...'Beat Up A Cop' has a bit of a throwaway song called 'Ow! My Parts! Ow!' (whose name is a long story) attached to the end of it. I included it because it's always been part of the idea in my head, and that's how it'll go on an album (assuming I make one). When I posted the rough instrumental mix of this, somebody didn't like the ending, so I thought you'd better hear the ending how it was supposed to be.

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

We don't have to... looks like *you* already did!

Kidding!!!


Listened to the 2nd tune........

Too much 'verb on the guitar for my taste -- the part would be more effective dry and up-front. The vocal is not well-placed in the mix, in this style of delivery, the vocal needs to be clear and distinct and the centre of attention...

Other mix elements seem reasonably well-balanced. Watch for too much verb on the drums in certain spots......

Overall, nice job - go for a drier sound, I think you'll get more out of the tracks...... and work out a better vocal placement....... other than that - keep with it!

Bruce

 

[Dolemite]

Iowa City, eh? Me too...small world or something

Heh...oddly catchy songs and well-mixed overall. I tend to agree w/ Bruce, you could do with less reverb here and there. "Beat up a Cop" is better in this respect.

In addition to making the vocals more up-front in the mix, I think you'd be better off using a less laid-back vocal style.

 

[Whoopysnorp]

You had me scared for a split second there, Bruce.

I was thinking the same thing about the reverb. It sounded cool when I first applied it, but with all the overdubbing I've gradually gotten tired of it. I didn't put any reverb on the drums, so I don't know what you're hearing there...maybe the reverb that pans back and forth on the distorted guitar. I was thinking of easing up on that too.

Regarding the vocal, do you mean it should be louder, or that I should do something with EQ to put them in a better freq. range? The vocals were too quiet on the first mix I did of this, but it seems like if I turn them up any louder it distracts from the music, which I care more about than the vocals. The problem is that I'm a very bad singer, and if I deliver with any more energy I sacrifice pitch accuracy. I tried redoing these vocals last night, and it was a total failure.

Oh well, I'm currently looking for a singer for my band, so eventually I won't have to be the one worrying about this aspect of things. Let the guy with better pipes take care of it. Hey, Dolemite, you know anybody who wants to sing in a band?

Thanks for the comments.

 

[Whoopysnorp]

Well, I'll be damned...the vocal sounds a lot more present in the wave file than in the mp3 file. I never noticed how much of the high end Sound Forge's encoder takes off. I mean, I've never been one of those who claim that mp3s sound just like wavs (not since I learned how to listen, anyway), but jeez!

 

[Whoopysnorp]

Wait a minute...on second thought, I'm a dumbass. I forgot to convert the latest wave file mix to mp3. The vocal actually WAS quieter on that mp3. I'll convert it and upload it shortly.

BTW, Dolemite, are you a student or what? I'm seriously desperate to find a singer, so I'm not kidding...if you have any leads, e-mail me.

 

[Dolemite]

Yeah, I'm a senior @ UI. I know some people, so I'll see if anybody's interested.

BTW, I don't think your vocals are too bad, I just think you need to be less tentative and give the vocals more prominence in the mix. LMK when you get the new version up.

 

[Whoopysnorp]

It's up, Dolemite. I put it up the other day. It's the same vocal performance (which I'm getting used to), but it's definitely higher in the mix. And I nixed some of that reverb too.

I'm a junior. What are you studying? It's Spanish and Portuguese for me. Do you play in any of the bands whose name I see on fliers all the time?