new song - this recording rules. my best so far i think!

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shackrock

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ha...yeah. i'm proud of this one anyway.

peep this:
www.nowhereradio.com/shackrock/singles - VID by FOF (it's the only song up there!)

i want mix and performance and recording critiques. ESPECIALLY stuff about the mix though, because changes can still be made. (remember i still dont have monitors...oi...ha)

thanks peace out.
 
Vocals could come up in the mix a bit.
I think the challenge with that singing style is to be understood.
Is that a real drummer?
I like the drum performance, it feels very human.
IMO the song could have easily ended around the 3:40 mark.
 
we're all about the extended endings. plus at shows - breakdowns are loved by all. haha..

but yeah, i think i will turn up the singing vox up a bit. i dont know about screams - you think those should come up a bit too?

i'm the drummer ..yah! haha.
 
Good guitar riff - good tone on it too. Lots of energy. I liked the rhythm guit parts too. Strong voice. Good drumming.

Some pitchiness in the vocals. The tempo floated around a bit - some parts I think it was supposed to, but other spots I don't think so.

The vocals (the screaming part) are competing a bit with the main distorted rhythm guitar part for space. The guitar wins for the most part. I'd recommend some EQing, and bringing down the guit - it's plenty loud.

Some weirdness with (I believe) the vocals at 1:57, 2:01, and 2:03. Small clicks.

Just some ideas that may help improve it. Good job.
 
I'd also say the vocals need to come out front. Also - the whole mix seems almost foggy - needs crispness. I like the song a lot.
 
Drummer has tempo issues. I'm not sure if it was intended or not, though (so maybe he doesn't. :p). The drum mix (as well as much of the mix) has a very "live" sound to it... and (unfortunately) I mean that in a bad way. :p It's kinda like somebody stuck a few mics in a room with a band and this is what came out. You might wanna try compressing those vocals more, get them more leveled so that the screams aren't really much louder than the quieter parts. Then you can bring that vocal up. And mix the drums separately at first. Give them their own "room". Compress that snare to give it a more in-your-face consistency (the quieter snare hits are almost inaudible), and definitely normalize those cymbals a bit, they sound like they're not in the same room as the rest of the kit. Try doubling some of those screams and hard-panning them. That may help give the vocal a little more "presence", because right now, it sounds like a guy yelling from behind a band. :p It also sounds like this was mixed by a drummer, cause the drums seem to have a pretty prominent place in the mix and the guitars/vox just aren't getting enough of their "fair share". :p And the whole things sounds very "dry". That may be the jist of what I'm hearing... just an overall lack of ambiance. I'm not sure what platform you record on (i.e. Pro Tools/CEP/Cubase, Analog, stand-alone DAW/etc.) so all of those suggestions might not even be possible this late in the game.

That's my input man. It sounds like it can be a pretty good recording. The performances weren't "bad", by any means, but there were a couple aspects that made it sound a little "garage band" (but, of course, tons of bands are going for that sound these days, so that might be exactly what you'd hoped to hear. :p).

WATYF
 
It's ok to be proud, I understand what it means to be excited about your latest.

Yup those vox even though they sound like screams, they sound kinda distant.

The intro guitar riff had me thinking Maiden. I can see if you guys do this live where none of the mix comments would make a difference I can tell you are all bringing a lot of energy to the stage.

Haha, it over... PSYCHE!! No it's not!
 
hmmmm thanks guys

i'm recording everything into delta 44 - onto ntrack...
basically everything i seem to record doesn't ever sound "clear" to me. always has a bit of mud in it. anyway, that's also the drum sound you get with:
dmp2 for kick and snare (at pro25 and sm57)
berhinger mx802a with 58's and mxl603s(2) being mixed down to 2 stereo tracks before it hits the computer!

also, i still dont have monitors! i really am looking for a decent pair, because - already - by listening on different systems i notice pretty huge differences that seems like i shoulda got in the first place! ha.
 
I like the mix-definetely a great improvement over the last song I heard of yours-that was a long time ago...For the style of music I think the mix is damned good-it captures the energy of a performance warts and all (ie: the section starting at 1:00)-guitars are nicely panned and make a nice full stereo spread-vocals could come up a bit-Drums sound good-I think alot of people here are spoiled with drum loop stuff-getting real drums recorded well with basic equipment in not so good rooms isnt easy-I think you did a nice job-they're not dragging the tune down (which I know from experience can happen)-a little more snap on the kick would be nice. Most of all this ROCKS! and the sound of the band and your song is coming through! A little more high end across the board might help add that "sparkle". Maybe not...Anyway, I like what you've done here-you're definetely on the right track.
 
an while we're at my mix...which of these do you think would best help improve it? haha.


Edirol MA-10D Amplified Digital Micro Monitor Pair ($140)
Edirol MA-20D Digital Stereo Micro Monitor Pair ($270)
M-Audio SP-5B Studiophile Active Monitors ($200)


any more suggestions? or which out of those? i know i've been reading old posts here..but still... haha.

thanks
 
I use Studiophile 8B's and I'm pretty happy with 'em. I'm not sure how much different the 5B's are (obviously there's a 3 inch difference in the woofer.. but you know what I mean. :p). I've heard mixed reviews on them, though. Either way... you need to get you some good monitors. :p That's pretty important.


I used to use n-Track. Now that I know your recording interface, it gives me a little more to work with. How do you compress/verb/EQ? Do you use plug-ins or out-board FX? What kind of plug-ins (if you use plug-ins)?

And I know what you mean aboot it not sounding "clear"... that's kinda what I was talking about in some of my comments.

I'm not saying that the tracking is bad... or that the recording is hopeless... :p I guess I'm just saying that it sounds like it hasn't nearly reached it's full potential. You could breathe a whole lot more life into those drums and vox (and maybe even gits) with some strategic mixing/EQing/effects.


WATYF
 
i use sonic foundry paragraphic EQ for basically all EQing that needs to be done.

as for compression - i dont have enough $$$ to buy anything, so i'm stuck using BLUELINE effects.

nothing outboard, all software - DX.

even with no effects though - it seems as if the mix is muddied from the start. like everything i record, it's never "clear".
a good friend of mine has one of those digital 8 tracks. the snare sounds soooooo perfect, as does the kick. and it seems to stand out in the mix no matter what. and everything seems very clear and very unique. yet, it has all been miced the same way! haha.

anyway, i dont know - could the delta 44/ntrack/dmp2(preamp) make that much of a difference?
 
I would say the mic placement, the room, and the mic (in that order) have more to do with it then the pre or software.


WATYF
 
then that makes me think that my room is just automatically "muddy". it's my basement, cement walls and floors, wood beams going across ceiling (open).
i DO have carpet on walls and floors though. seems like it wouldnt make THAT much of a difference. i guess i'll have to try his stuff at my house, and see what happens! ha.
 
For this particular recording, I would say sure, the room/mic placement had something to do with it... but this is more than salvagable. You just need to do some proper mixing/effecting to get it closer to its potential.


WATYF
 
well shucks. haha. i suppose i'll keep working...even though i'm not positive what to work! haha.
 
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