Opinions on mixdown ...

[dalley]

Thanks for checking this thread out ... this is a tune my friend and I did this rock tune about 5 years ago and I just remixed it this week. I am currently getting back into the project studio thing and upgrading all my gear.

Back then, I was using Pro Audio 9 and just dug this up and remixed it in Sonar yesterday. Your opinions are encouraged! Thanks again...

Equip used:
Rode NT-2 (vox, guitar, tam)
SM57 (guitar)
Mic pre: Mackie VLZ
Gina 24 sound card
Drums were done via Midi using Sonic Implants sound fonts

 

[STAT1STICK]

Listening now...

Hmmm... Very good. I like the vocals. I'm not sure what I like more about them... The way they were sung or the way they were recorded. Hmmm... Good all around I guess. The distorted guitars sound a bit covered up a bit in some places but they sound good none the less. It's got a late 80's, early 90's feel to it. Especially with the guitars. The clean guitars are screaming Metallica. And that's a good thing. The bass drum sounds a bit poofy? Does that sound right? I'm not really sure how to describe it. If it was me, I would have boosted the highs a bit to hear a little of the head. The bass is perfect for this song. It kind of reminds me of the bass in SRV's music.

I give it an 8.5 out of 10! Good job!

 

[dalley]

It's got a late 80's, early 90's feel to it.

funny.....Thats exactly when it was written ... thanks for the compliments. The mix is also a little "wetter" than normal because I was playing around with some of the plugins that came with Sonar.

 

[rayc]

Hi dalley,
A very good song mate. I do have a couple of concerns though that may simply end up a result of me listeing with h'phones:
*The panning of the gtrs is generally good UNTIL the holes are left between one & the other - it creates, to my ears, an overly extreme panning effect
&
*It's just me but I'm certain you could have created a more original gtr sound. I like the playing but the sound, to me, comes across like something dialed up from a short list of 80's metal classes.
As I said, just me. It is a good song, good playing, good mix though & I like all bar the 2 things mentioned.
Cheers
rayC

 

[dalley]

Hi dalley,
A very good song mate. I do have a couple of concerns though that may simply end up a result of me listeing with h'phones:
*The panning of the gtrs is generally good UNTIL the holes are left between one & the other - it creates, to my ears, an overly extreme panning effect
&
*It's just me but I'm certain you could have created a more original gtr sound. I like the playing but the sound, to me, comes across like something dialed up from a short list of 80's metal classes.
As I said, just me. It is a good song, good playing, good mix though & I like all bar the 2 things mentioned.
Cheers
rayC

Hey Ray....

what would you suggest for the guitar sound to make it sound less dated?

less gain? different EQ? I thought it was pretty dry, not much effect on it. I can see your point about the panning. Maybe I will try 9:00 & 3:00 instead of hard pan. Thanks for the input!!!!

Ed

 

[rayc]

dalley,
Does you guitar have a sound of it's own? How does that sound at vol. but with only a little o'drive?
Maybe played through a little old pignose or some cruddy amp in the corner that has a distinct character.
It just that the song, the vocals, the arrangement all have a terrific & individual character and yet the guitar sounds imported & not your own. Does that make sense.
Others commentors like the axe sound so, perhaps wait for a bit more feedback from various folk & then, MOST IMPORTANTLY, follow your own feeling on it.
Cheers
rayC

 

[B.SABBATH]

not bad.. my main complaint is the guitars have too much treble and overall high end imop.. it might not be just the guitars.. maybe someone less than qualified tried to master it.. treble boosting and compressing isn't what mastering is and it's hurts my ears here.. the recording probably sounded a lot better before the added harshness..