Need ears to help with mixes

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SixString6666

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Hi Guys - guitar player, singer, songwriter - been learning over the past 4-5 months to record and mix at home. I've got all the gear, have watched hundreds of hours of mixing advise videos on youtube (Warren Huart, Recording Revolution, etc.) but stil not getting the mixes where I want them.

I have a new demo I just tracked and I had someone mix it for me, but I think it's missing some of the "floatyness" I want in the song (in the vocals and the overall vibe) - so today I've tried a few mixes myself - if you guys could have a listen and hit me with any feedback it's much appreciated.

Since this is my first time posting in this forum, the rules won't allow me to share the link, but if you go to reverbnation dot com slash domsdemos you can check out the tracks

Song name is "Shine"

V1 is the mix that was given to me (done by the studio from where I tracked everything)
V 2a is the first one I did that I think is close to what I want - but to me a little too thick
V 4a is the 2nd one but I think this is a bit overcooked

If you guys could give me honest feedback it would be super helpful

Thanks
 
I'd prefer vocals from 2a, bass from 4a, then change the guitar to a 12-string acoustic with constant, even strumming, keeping it's volume at the same level.
 
Participate by listening to others' mixes, and make comments, and you will be able to post links soon - and get more responses.

Mix 1 - the bass is boomy, Mix 2a it's worse and the drums are buried. Mix 4a is a little more balanced, but the bass is still boomy on the low end. Cymbals/high hat are almost unheard.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I'm trying to do 2 things with this mix (1) get the "floaty" sound I hear. Maybe the bloat is my using a bit too much pump for the bass and kick. (2) the second thing is something more of a challenge and might call for me to re-record the drums - they were recorded via midi and his original smare tone is way too hot and snappy for this song - I'm trying to squash that (unfortunately he gave me the drum parts all on 1 track) so while trying to tame the snare,drum I'm burying everything else. I'll make another run at it tomorrow
 
Oh, if you've got the drums on 1 track, you are screwed - trying to fix shit takes forever is seldom successful, ask for the orginal drum tracks, or re-do them.
 
mjbphotos said:
Participate by listening to others' mixes, and make comments, and you will be able to post links soon - and get more responses.
Click to expand...

Yep! (Don't worry about if you feel like you're not expert enough yet. The way it works is that having a wide variety of levels of experience giving feedback helps us all.)

So I listened to shine 1 and 4a.

The vocals sound really affected. Lots of artifacty-sounds from I'm not entirely sure what in your signal chain. Pitch correction? Compressor running into chorus?
What's an example of the effect you're trying to achieve for comparison?

As to the drums, +1 on trying to get something besides the pre-mixed track. It's really hard to do much with that. If it was midi, they ought to be able to at least give you the raw midi data which you could run through your own drum machine.

That said, the backing tracks are sounding pretty good relative to each other so far.
 
VomitHat, thanks for the feedback.

Yes, on version 2a I have added probably too much to the vocals. I've done is doubled the original track, on 1 I've added a "Big Wall" room reverb (just a touch into the mix / 17%) and on the other I've added a catherdral room reverb (20%). I think he did some vocal correction with Melodyne (while this guy at the studio is very good at what he does, this song and the other 5 I recorded, to me, sound too sterile - too mechanical and I want a more organic sound.

On version 4a I've done WAY too much to the vocals - reverbs, multiple EQ, compression, rotary speaker on one of the vocal tracks

I've asked the guy at the studio to give me the original separate drum tracks so hope to have them in a day or 2.

Getting the effects in there and making them sound "natural" is tough. Again, I'm going for a "floating in the clouds" type of feel for this tune

VomitHatSteve said:
The vocals sound really affected. Lots of artifacty-sounds from I'm not entirely sure what in your signal chain. Pitch correction? Compressor running into chorus?
What's an example of the effect you're trying to achieve for comparison?

As to the drums, +1 on trying to get something besides the pre-mixed track. It's really hard to do much with that. If it was midi, they ought to be able to at least give you the raw midi data which you could run through your own drum machine.

That said, the backing tracks are sounding pretty good relative to each other so far.
Click to expand...
 
Listening to V1.....I think it sounds pretty good but low/mid-low sounds a little strong which makes it sound a little muddy down there. The vocals are a little inconsistent in the presence(could be a little EQ cut needed). Acoustic sounds pretty good but really dominates.

V2: Bass way too loud and overpowering rest of song. Drums and guitar lost life from V1

V4: Bass still too loud/boomy. I do think the vocals sound better but still need some EQ adjustment. Its a matter of taste and what your trying to accomplish...I don't really hear them being to "overprocessed".

And don't give up. 4-5 months of mixing is a very short time to get a grasp on things. I have been mixing a very long time and I learn new things every time I sit at the console. And once you learn something you new, you will want to go back to old mixes and re-do them lol.
 
Guys, thanks a million for the honest feedback. I spoke with the guy who recorded the tracks - he's going to send me the original drum files and he told me he did a little vocal tuning, which is some of the weirdness we're hearing.

I haven't yet gotten from him the files, but I did spend today remixing the track - check it out (mix 5) at reverbnation dot com slash domsdemos - let me know what you hear. I've learned that (a) I need to get cheap speakers to mix on and (b) I need to dampen and bass trap this room a bit to help with future mixes.


Thanks again all!
 
Mix 5 is much better, but the bass is still a little boomy, and drums of course are still buried.
 
" I've learned that (a) I need to get cheap speakers to mix on . . . . No, you need to get the best monitors you can afford and mix on those. Then listen to the mix on "cheap" speakers, in the car, and on decent ear buds. Definitely treat the room.
 
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