Opinion on a mix

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Jack Real

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Hi

I just released a new song on the NoWhereRadio.com site. The song is called "A Jamais" and the group is Soft Sequences.

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists...hy.php?aid=2872

I had difficulties with the backing vocal so the interpretation is the limitation there but for the lead vocal, I think this could sound better because it's not that difficult to sign. Do you have any suggestions regarding the vocals or any other part of the mix ? The microphone used is an AKG C535EB which is a small diaphragm mic. Would a large diaphragm mic help ? I heard they capture more the bass frequencies but I'm always removing them at the mix anyway. I'm not going to quit my day time job for this but I'm looking for advices to make this song sound a little bit better.

Thanks,

Jack Real
 
The words are difficult to make out...OH WAIT, IT'S FRENCH, lol.

I love your voice, especially when you're singing low. I'd change the snare that you're using on the 1 and the 3...or turn the snare down some, b/c it literally makes me blink when it hits. I'd also dig some more variation in the low end...just holding on to the root for 1, 2 or even 4 measures at a time kinda' hypnotizes people after awhile...but maybe that's the point, eh?

whoa...an actual synth. Using retro tones and all...nice.

This is hard to explain, but I'll try: from a mix perspective, it's one of those tunes that sounds a lot better at low volumes than high volumes, and I think it's b/c the low end is soooo prominent.

Oh, and you might wanna' totally ignore everything I just typed, b/c I was listening on headphones, lol.
 
First thing I noticed was the hiss in the recording (sorry)....the low end is pretty prominent on the instrumentation....as to your question I think a large diaphram mic would help bring some more warmth to your vocal (especially a tube mic)
 
Hi

Thanks for the feedback, I agree with all the comments. I usually mix at low volume so that's probably why I have to much low end on the mix. I will mix at higher volume next time to correct this. Thanks also for correcting the URL, I can not edit the original post anymore.

/Jack Real.
 
The synth sounded kinda like one of the Korgs Music was pretty cool and smooth. you already tagged the vocal thing about the mic. You just need more voice into the mic and crank it up a little. Nice writing...
 
Toki987 wrote:

The synth sounded kinda like one of the Korgs Music was pretty cool and smooth.

Ans:

Hi

Actually, the keyboard is an Alesis Quadrasynth. Previously, I had difficulties with it because in mix mode (when using a sequencer), there is only 1 effect program with 2 patches for the full mix so I was trying to root all the instruments towards a chorus, delay and hall reverb effect patch. The result was muddy sound with a drum that had no power. Recently, I bought a digital reverb Roland SRV 3030 so I don't have to worry about creating the ambiance hall reverb effect with the keyboard anymore. On this song, one of the effect patch of the keyboard is used to a put plate reverb effect on the drum and the other one is used to put a chorus/ping-pong delay effect on the wave lead.

/Jack Real
 
I like some of the alesis tones they are as rich as the korgs were. There's another guy on here that has one and is gettin some really nice sounds. I understand where using it as a sequencer most likely creates a different set of limitations on the mixing capability. The low end subsonics are a little strong from it and when you hit those lower level room resonant frequencies on the bass it shows up quite a bit. Taking that down would let more of your other instruments out to play a little..
 
Mix: Definitely some hiss. I'm not sure how you record, so I don't know how to advise you as far as minimizing that.

Performance: there are some off-pitch moments in the chorus vocals. It sounds like you're doubling the vocals, but you need to get the takes a little closer in pitch to one another I think. It is mostly noticeable when you are holding the longer notes.

I don't have much microphone experience at all, so I can't help you there. Best bet would be try a few out and see :).
 
pglewis wrote:

Mix: Definitely some hiss. I'm not sure how you record, so I don't know how to advise you as far as minimizing that.

Performance: there are some off-pitch moments in the chorus vocals. It sounds like you're doubling the vocals, but you need to get the takes a little closer in pitch to one another I think. It is mostly noticeable when you are holding the longer notes.


Ans:

I'm not sure what a hiss is. If it's a recording problem, it has to come from the vocals or the accoustic guitar because the rest is comming from the Alesis. On this mix, there is a 4.5DB gain on the vocals 3 Khz and a 4.5DB gain on the guitar at 700 Hz. Could it be the problem ? also, Im applying a 1.5 DB gain on the high frequency filter for the lead vocal because I want the lead vocal to stick more into the mix. Maybe that's the source of the hiss.

For the backing vocals, in the second voice, I usually try to have it softer and a little bit out of tune compared to the first one. Maybe I'm doing too much.

/Jack Real.
 
I think the vocals could come up after they are retracked, which is definitely necessary due to the intonation issues mentioned above. Not crazy about the snare sound either. Decent song though.
 
I'm not sure what a hiss is. If it's a recording problem, it has to come from the vocals or the accoustic guitar because the rest is comming from the Alesis. On this mix, there is a 4.5DB gain on the vocals 3 Khz and a 4.5DB gain on the guitar at 700 Hz. Could it be the problem ? also, Im applying a 1.5 DB gain on the high frequency filter for the lead vocal because I want the lead vocal to stick more into the mix. Maybe that's the source of the hiss.
Click to expand...

Remember that EQ can only work on things that are in the mix. The eq boosts, especially the high frequency one, might bring out any hiss that's already there. But the trick is to identify the source(s) and keep them out of the recording in the first place, as much as possible. Are you recording to tape and then transferring to the computer? That could definitely be a source. Or there may just be a noisy piece of equipment somewhere in the chain. If your connections are clean and cables are good then I wouldn't expect much hiss from the keyboard.

For the backing vocals, in the second voice, I usually try to have it softer and a little bit out of tune compared to the first one. Maybe I'm doing too much.
Click to expand...

Being off pitch a little bit can give a really cool, chorus-like effect for sure. But there are a few spots in the vocs where they are off just a little too much for my ears. Like I said, mostly on the sustained notes at the end of some of the chorus phrases.

It's really easy for me to focus on the things that need to be improved in this forum, so I don't want to give you the impression that I think this is an awful recording. These are just a couple of things that caught my ear while giving it a spin, it's a good effort. Keep at it!
 
I did get a bit too much low end in this mix. Some crackling here and there maybe from levels. I liked the writing. One of my roomates is from Paris I'm gonna have him listen and tell me what is going on with the vox.
 
pglewis wrote:

Remember that EQ can only work on things that are in the mix. The eq boosts, especially the high frequency one, might bring out any hiss that's already there. But the trick is to identify the source(s) and keep them out of the recording in the first place, as much as possible. Are you recording to tape and then transferring to the computer? That could definitely be a source. Or there may just be a noisy piece of equipment somewhere in the chain. If your connections are clean and cables are good then I wouldn't expect much hiss from the keyboard.

Ans:

Everything is recorded with the digital recorder Yamaha MD-8. I suspect it's the accoustic guitar since the input is low and I used 2 microphones and one of them was connected through a Hart tube amplifier. I will listen to all the tracks and identify the source of the hiss.

pglewis wrote:

Being off pitch a little bit can give a really cool, chorus-like effect for sure. But there are a few spots in the vocs where they are off just a little too much for my ears. Like I said, mostly on the sustained notes at the end of some of the chorus phrases.

Ans:

I agree with you. That chorus part is very difficult for me and there are parts that are clearily out of tune. I will try to retrack the voices with a large diaphragm mic and for the chorus, i will track it piece by piece because if I do it in one try, my voice is really too tired at the end.

Khompewtur wrote:

One of my roomates is from Paris I'm gonna have him listen and tell me what is going on with the vox.

Ans:

The song is about a girl friend who left and then tries to get back after a couple of years. The traduction of the chorus is:

- We never ask, what it takes, to be meaningful, for the people that we miss
- We never going to see again, the time when everything was, easy to understand, without pretending
- That you will never leave again, for ever
- That you will never leave again, for ever

Regards,

Jack Real.
 
I'd put money on the tube amp being the source, though I could be wrong. If the hiss is something that bugs you and/or it's easy to re-cut the tracks just watch your levels all through the signal chain. Make sure the mic is close enough to the guitar without getting too much proximity effect. It could get boomy if you're too close. Make sure you are getting a healthy signal without over-doing it at the preamp, and the same thing at the Yamaha... all in that order. If you make any changes, be sure to re-check the levels coming in at all points after that in the signal chain.

With the vocals, I totally understand. I'm no singer myself, and those sustained notes can be hard to hold pitch. You'll get it.
 
pglewis wrote:

If the hiss is something that bugs you and/or it's easy to re-cut the tracks just watch your levels all through the signal chain.

Ans:

I can live with some hiss but if I know where it come from, I will be careful next time I track a guitar or a voice. I put a new song on the site. It is called "Et Si Elle":

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=2872&alid=-1

It's a dance song on keyboard only so normally, it should have no hiss. If it's still have some, then it must come from the vocals. Also, the chorus is easier to sign so it should be on tune. Finally, I changed my EQ setting on the low end. In "A Jamais", the low EQ was at 90Hz and +7 DB. In this new song "Et Si Elle", the low EQ is at 60H and +3 DB. Can you tell me if it's o.k. ? I listen to music at low volume so this seems to lack in the low end but If I understood well the comments that I received on "A Jamais", this should be the right setting before it gets too boomy.

Thanks,

Jack Real.
 
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