Please Comment on Mix and Production

[Vanpeelowitz]

Hi, I'd really like to hear your comments/opinions on these tunes. Specifically I'm interested in opinions on the mix, the song structure/arrangement and general production.

I produced/engineered the songs and help finalize the arrangement of them.

Please don't comment on the vocal performance as I know the singer needs work. Thanks.

Tunes

~Vanpeelowitz

 

[chrisharris]

Please don't comment on the vocal performance as I know the singer needs work.

There was a singer?

Nah, I'm kidding. At least he didn't try to sing actual notes. Atonal is the way to go for him, lol.

The mixes sound kinda' boxy and muddy. I think the drums are a big part of the problem, although the rhythm guitars sound like you haven't taken much if anything off of the bottom of them. The good news is, they seem fairly well balanced to me, and the EQ curve doesn't look out of whack or anything. I think that taking each individual track and cutting somewhere between 100Hz and 400Hz in different places on each of the tracks will clear it up a lot. If you haven't tried this, try it with just track EQ...it can open up your mixes a lot.

 

[bazzlad]

It sounds thin. The guitar could do with standing out more, perhaps more treble....It does sound like when you're at a fgig at a massive venue and pop to the toilet, you get that weird distant sound. Try and bring things up to the front. I like the guitar solo. Hope that helps...

 

[EdWonbass]

I think it to be not too bad. It has that raw sound that works for this music.
I only listened to them on headphones but it sounded like the cymbals were a little weird like a phase shifter or something.
Keep plugging away, you have a good start.

 

[Vanpeelowitz]

There was a singer?

Nah, I'm kidding. At least he didn't try to sing actual notes. Atonal is the way to go for him, lol.

The mixes sound kinda' boxy and muddy. I think the drums are a big part of the problem, although the rhythm guitars sound like you haven't taken much if anything off of the bottom of them. The good news is, they seem fairly well balanced to me, and the EQ curve doesn't look out of whack or anything. I think that taking each individual track and cutting somewhere between 100Hz and 400Hz in different places on each of the tracks will clear it up a lot. If you haven't tried this, try it with just track EQ...it can open up your mixes a lot.

The guy isn't a singer and never claimed to be, but he is the local king of penning the two chord off-beat rockers - so the guys let him sing.

I rarely mess with track eq except occasionally for snare, but I will definitely experiment with the 100Hz & 400Hz cuts on future projects.

Did you notice any difference in the songs as far as drum tracks - I ended up slowing down the drum track on "no bull" the drummer (who incidently is the bass player as well) ended up burning through that one a bit too fast. just curious. We ended up really digging the fatness of the slow down track.

Thanks again for your comments!

 

[Vanpeelowitz]

It sounds thin. The guitar could do with standing out more, perhaps more treble....It does sound like when you're at a fgig at a massive venue and pop to the toilet, you get that weird distant sound. Try and bring things up to the front. I like the guitar solo. Hope that helps...

I am always torn about bringing guitars up in the mix I tend to mix drum heavy, maybe the messing with the eq a little (as suggested) would allow a little seperation and bring the guitars forward a bit.

The guitarist is a real burner, but one of those guys that knows when to just bend a note too. Which makes him a great guy to have in the studio with you.

Thanks for your comments!

 

[Vanpeelowitz]

I think it to be not too bad. It has that raw sound that works for this music.
I only listened to them on headphones but it sounded like the cymbals were a little weird like a phase shifter or something.
Keep plugging away, you have a good start.

Thanks, I did indeed intend it to have a raw 60's 70's rock and roll feel. Like you said this music really does lend itself to that sound. Most of the songs are unpretentious two-chord rockers. the strange phase thing you're hearing maybe from the transfer to mp3. I hear it too but it's not on the original mix.

Thanks very much for your comments. I'll keep working at it.

 

[mook]

The second track = cocaine



You know I don't actually dislike the vocals - they're similar to the Kings of Leon, and I think it's only the slowness of the songs that makes him sound so lazy, when he has to draw out the notes. I think track two should be faster.

 

[ecktronic]

Its alright mix wise. Bad MP3 conversion? or too much high end on the cymbals? take your pick. Snare and kik could do with peircing through the mix more. More attack sound on them please!