...Never recorded or mixed heavy/rock/ballad before. Here it is.

  • Thread starter Thread starter LemonTree
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LemonTree

LemonTree

Suck 'em and see!
Yeah so, never recorded or mixed this style before I do more indie guitar band sound.

This is one guy that came to me, he's lead singer/guitarist with JMC Band Who are in my area and I've seen many times live.

He came into the studio and layed down a drum track to nothing but music in his head, no click...just sat there and played and this song is almost 7 minutes. He then tracked acoustic guitars, bass, rythm guitars, lead guitars, lead vocals, backing vocals, guitar solos.....he done everything!

He also had a lot of input at the mix stage and as I'd never recorded or mixed this style before I let him have a lot of input. I have tried to hold on to a lot of my own style of mixing while letting him go a bit overboard to my tastes with the depth of the song and the use of reverbs. I just have no idea how this should sound although he is extremely happy with it and I'm quite pleased with it too.

Equipment:

Drums are a Roland TD3 brain with Koby mesh heads triggering EZdrummer DFH

Bass is a cheap knockoff DI'd and put through a pod.

Guitars: Gidson les paul standard through various pod patches

Vocals: Studio Projects B1 through Yamaha N12 Pre's

Recording and Mixdown on Yamaha N12 and Cubase Studio 4



DOES the mix sound restricted for this genre? Just any points you can pick out that aren't working in my mix would be great. Pick it to pecies.

Alex

ALL I WANT - HiFi Streaming

ALL I WANT - Download (256Kbs MP3)


Let's bring it on :o
 
Neither link's working for me, bro.

The streaming page opens for me, but doesn't play. The download don't download.

There's something weird with my browser, though. For some reason, it doesn't always play streams, depending on I don't know what.

So, wait to see if it works for others before taking my word for it.
 
RAMI said:
Neither link's working for me, bro.

The streaming page opens for me, but doesn't play. The download don't download.

There's something weird with my browser, though. For some reason, it doesn't always play streams, depending on I don't know what.

So, wait to see if it works for others before taking my word for it.
Click to expand...
I've always had problems with Nowhere radio. Nothing has changed. I can't get either link to work either. Try http://www.lightningmp3.com/

or soundclick.
 
no way, really? I've been using that site to host files since I first joined here years ago. Weird.

Sight click, save target for the download works (after edit)
 
Rokket said:
I've always had problems with Nowhere radio. .
Click to expand...

Yeah, me too. I didn't realise the links were NOWHERE RADIO. The only other artist that I can never listen to is "Little Purple Circles" and they're on Nowhere Radio, too.
 
Link at the top of the post "JMC BAND" takes you to their myspace, it's their top song.."All I want"...I know, myspace has bad sound compression...bugger!
 
Hehe...OK, I wnet to their MySpace and there's no song called "All I want". :eek:

I'm trying, man....:)
 
worked for me. They sound like Hell Yeah. Can't tell you how the recording sounds because I am on my laptop.
 
Hi Lemon

thanks for the 256 version; reveal some things...
high frequencies above 8 or 9 k are over-culprit is the hi hat, and considering the lack of dinamics too, I´d hicut this frequencies (a bit)- kinda annoying IMO.

Bass is a bit shy in the low frequencies and seems overcompressed.

Overall mix could be benefit of more "breath" (dinamics).

Singer is pretty good and vox mic/tone recording is excellent.

Ciro
 
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I was only able to listen on MySpace, so keep that in mind.

Good tune. I think you got the right vibe for this style.

Vocals sound good. Maybe a little too much high high's on them.

The drums sound, I can't put my finger on it... a little subdued or buried. I can't find the right word. Maybe they just need some volume and/or less compression, if there is any. For samples, they sound good.

I love the placement of the instruments, like the wah part.
 
CIRO said:
Hi Lemon

thanks for the 256 version; reveal some things...
high frequencies above 8 or 9 k are over-culprit is the hi hat, and considering the natural lack of dinamics of eletronic drum, I´d hicut this frequencies- kinda annoying IMO.

Bass is a bit shy in the low frequencies and seems overcompressed.

Overall mix could be benefit of more "breath" (dinamics).

Singer is pretty good and vox mic/tone recording is excellent.

Ciro
Click to expand...

Ciro, thanks. This is exactly the information I'm looking for. I agree the mix could use more dynamics.

The Bass, I found wasn't as strong as the acoustic guitar playing so I let that shine through on the bottom and placed the bass prouder in the mix. I found this a lot easier than making a big bass sound and trying to EQ the acoustic out when it came into play.

I'm not surprised about what you say about the singer. I thought he was great and used the mic well during his performances. I'll add though that all the vocals he double tracked (sang twice) and one had effects under the dry signal in the mix...or maybe occassionaly above it.. lol

Thanks for listening and commenting
 
RAMI said:
I was only able to listen on MySpace, so keep that in mind.

Good tune. I think you got the right vibe for this style.

Vocals sound good. Maybe a little too much high high's on them.

The drums sound, I can't put my finger on it... a little subdued or buried. I can't find the right word. Maybe they just need some volume and/or less compression, if there is any. For samples, they sound good.

I love the placement of the instruments, like the wah part.
Click to expand...

Vocals I tend to agree with you on but think the "high highs" you may hear are the effects tails on the processed track of the double take vocals and not the drigh one, I may have this slightly off balance I fear.

The Drums sound, I didn't want to polish too much as I find this is his weakest instrument. I thought the vocal and guitar parts should be the main focus for the feel and vibe of the song...again maybe why the bass is lacking on the bottom too.

Great stuff so far.
 
Listening again...I understand the reason the guy is happy with the recording...despite the dinamics, which could be a little more "relaxed", everything sounds fine and warm / a "classic" recorging IMO.
Even the bass guitar (not so matched with BD as it could be) has your space and personality, great "Geddy Lee" tone:D

I said about hi hat frequencies, but they are "over" (volume) only in the intro.

I personally think the 03:33 part is really overcompressed, but I know is hard to make different due to the amount of elements.

The vocal is...killler.

Congrats again, great job!
 
The streaming link worked fine for me (though it did download the song instead of streaming it... without asking even... I need to check my browser settings.)

Anyway. The mix is good. Nothing is too buried; everything comes through and is easy to discern.

That being said, the song felt a little boring to me. It could be a lack of dynamics or it could be that the songwriting is just not engaging.

However, if both you and the band are happy with the mix, I'd recommend ignoring me here in the peanut gallery. :D
 
Song's pretty good, man.
Great voice. I'd cut back a little on the ambience in the mix though, and that wah-wah guitar or whatever is a bit too much, almost the whole song through. Dynamically, verse and chorus sound a bit too alike except at the end with the leads on top of them. You could use a better snare sound, it sounds compressed to Hell.....
But nice song anyways, I like it ;)

Cheers
Joe :D
 
I think the mixing sounds great overall except when the lead guitar solo first pops in. For some reason it sounds a tad bit buried then it levels out about 4 bars later.

I understand the restricted sound you're feeling, others feel it's subdued, not breathing etc. is probably because there's hardly any cymbal or open hi-hat riding/sloshing where they usually should be during the harder parts but that's his particular style and not anything attributable to the mixdown. Doesn't quite sound quite right if he doesn't do that where most any other drummer would otherwise.
 
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