Pop Jazzy Alt Americana Whatever - looking for mix critique

[DogmaticVox]

Hey guys,

I decided to try recording a different style than I normally do. As usual, I haven't tracked the vocals yet. I'm curious, especially from those of you that are more familiar with they type of tune, what your take on the mix is and what you would change.

Thanks,
Garry

Mix 1


Mix 2


Mix 3

 

[maximusbs]

ooh! Firsties ! That was a pleasant listen. I'm on the second run through as I type. Yea, this is ready for vocals and quite different from your usual tune Garry. That break is, well, kinda unique . I gotta see how the vocals play with that before I pass further judgment . My only arrangement nit would be the two guitars. I can hear them both, there is some separation, and they are great, but I get a little lost between he two sometimes. And it seems like the verses and choruses have similar sounding guitars doing similar things. I guess I'm looking for more obvious dynamics and for the verse to drop down and open up for vocals. I don't know if the answer for the verse is to drop one out, change the tone or effect on one for more contrast, use a different instrument or just a plain volume change. I love this kinda tune- just an understated rock tune - right up my alley.

 

[DogmaticVox]

Alright, so I made another mix: added an intro, tried to separate the guitars a little more, and added a little effect in the break after the bridge. I'm thinking I might hold off on trying to differentiate the verse from chorus until I get vocals on and see if it needs it then.

 

[Volrath]

Very very nice tune man. I love the smoothness of the guitars. How'd you get that tone, if you don't mind my asking?? Anyway, back to the mix. Lovely. I can't wait to hear the vocals in it. Maybe it's my crappy speakers i'm listening through, but I don't hear much seperation on the guitars.. I do agree that they do seem to do similar things, but I like it that way. Kinda keeps the song in a certain focal point imo... I think the only thing I'd change is how fast the guitar drops at 1:25.. I'd let it sustain until the fill is over and the riff picks back up.. but that's just me. Other than that one little thing, I think it's just a great tune. Again, can't wait to hear it when it's complete. Props dude.

 

[maximusbs]

Alright...I listened to your second mix (you got me hooked). Those guitars are really cool and really have something to say, so I can see why you'd be reluctant to change them much. Get some vocals on here. Keep it simple, but get to work man! I gotta see how this story ends.....

 

[DogmaticVox]

Volrath, the guitars are a Fender Super-Sonic combo amp, an Orange AD-30TC combo amp with slight gain, and during the bridge is an Orange RockerVerb 50 MKII through a rotary speaker cabinet. The solo is a Roland JC-120 with a distortion pedal and some tape delay. There's no way I could afford all that equipment, so it's all done through Amplitube - probably my favorite app on the planet.

Brad, thanks for the kind words man. I'll try to do the song justice with the vox - still working on a solid melody.

 

[Volrath]

Amplitude..... I'll have to check that out.. cause those tones are just heaven to me ears!! Thanks for letting me know. One up on the second mix man! I'm with Maximus... I'm hooked and can't wait to hear the final product. Thanks again

 

[Greg_L]

Not too bad. The drums sound pretty rough though. Way too roomy. Way too robotic. Way too repetitive. Way too busy. The kick is too clicky for this song. They don't jive with the rest of the instrumentation. I like the guitars. They sound pretty nice. Bass rumbles along nicely. The stop at 2:57 is awkward. Not crazy about the fade-out. It's like, "okay, we don't have an ending, so we'll just thow a fade-out wherever".

 

[DogmaticVox]

Fuck you Greg. Kidding, I think it's hilarious how many people get butt hurt when you post after they've asked for critiques.

Anyway, I'll try taking pull down the room volume on the kit and round out the kick to be a little more thumpy. As far as the repetitive and busy goes, I'll try to do different snare accents to change up the feel, but I think there's not much I can do with how the busy part is - what do you think? I've tried playing a little more straight and it completely changes the feel of the song. On the ending - yeah, I didn't really have an outro but I think I have a simple idea I'm going to plop in there. *plop*

 

[kcearl]

i really like it.. the intro sounded like it could go one way but when the second guitar came in it almost reminded me of early REM stuff (yup they were good once)...Im not sure the drums fit, I get Greg saying about the tempo but for me its that kind of jerkiness and off beat stuff..I think a simpler pattern would work better


the mix sounds good to me, bass, guits all nice levels..but I really love the guitars but this song could really go anywhere from alternative indie to light rock depending on the vocals

please post it up again with vocals...I hope you surprise us

 

[Greg_L]

Fuck you Greg. Kidding, I think it's hilarious how many people get butt hurt when you post after they've asked for critiques.

I do too. I'm just one guy, with one opinion, and I just post what I hear. It's nothing to get angry about. No one is forced to do what I say....although they should be.

Anyway, I'll try taking pull down the room volume on the kit and round out the kick to be a little more thumpy. As far as the repetitive and busy goes, I'll try to do different snare accents to change up the feel, but I think there's not much I can do with how the busy part is - what do you think? I've tried playing a little more straight and it completely changes the feel of the song. On the ending - yeah, I didn't really have an outro but I think I have a simple idea I'm going to plop in there. *plop*

The busy-ness of the drums is okay in spurts, but the pattern is extremely repetitive. If you wanna keep it busy, you gotta dig deep and use some interesting chops. Get creative. If you don't have the chops or drummer's vocabulary, then I think it's best to go simpler. You don't have to change the feel of the whole song, but some variety won't hurt. This thing is like a loop of the same thing over and over.

 

[DogmaticVox]

MIX #3! (see up top)

• I rolled the high end of the kick back to try and give it more thud.
• Muted the room mic for the drums completely
• Added an outro
• Removed the few measure of weirdness and abrupt stop/start after the bridge
• Redid the drums to change the monotony and simplify in areas

 

[kcearl]

you midi cheat


yeah thats much better pattern wise..gets a change up in the chorus pre chorus..still busy but i think you want to keep it that way


I think the drums dont have as much body as they need, the low end of the guitars was taking the kick away on my set up...but much better pattern in the verse part

watch as it goes from the break into the song again it almost sounds like you're upping the tempo artificially

really like this tune though

 

[mountainmike]

Hi there, I'm a little late it looks like but I'm listening to the first mix and the guitar sounds really great, I'm a guitarist so my ear just always goes there first, and this mix is definitely solid on the guitars. As I move on to the second mix, the guitar got weaker. Maybe it was what you were going for in the added intro, but it sounds like a wimpy amp, amplitube is definitely the best amp modelling software in the universe but there are still times when its painfully obvious that is just that; software. The other guitar tracks are great, and I'm looking through my amplitube right now looking at the amps you used and you made em sound great, the solo is a little weak though, I don't really have any suggestions on that though, because software will always be software. The third mix is really good, what guitar(s) were played? very cool track, I'd say its ready for vocals.
this is also my first post ever on homerecording so pardon my audacity for such a long reply!

 

[philter1]

Great mix, loved it. I'd agree on those drums though, too busy for my tastes and a bit awkward in places. Overall though, really good song. The vocals will help even further I think
Cheers
Phil

 

[DogmaticVox]

you midi cheat


yeah thats much better pattern wise..gets a change up in the chorus pre chorus..still busy but i think you want to keep it that way


I think the drums dont have as much body as they need, the low end of the guitars was taking the kick away on my set up...but much better pattern in the verse part

watch as it goes from the break into the song again it almost sounds like you're upping the tempo artificially

really like this tune though

Thanks KC. Of course I'm going to cheat. Cheaters always prosper... that's how the saying goes, right?

Safe travels!

Hi there, I'm a little late it looks like but I'm listening to the first mix and the guitar sounds really great, I'm a guitarist so my ear just always goes there first, and this mix is definitely solid on the guitars. As I move on to the second mix, the guitar got weaker. Maybe it was what you were going for in the added intro, but it sounds like a wimpy amp, amplitube is definitely the best amp modelling software in the universe but there are still times when its painfully obvious that is just that; software. The other guitar tracks are great, and I'm looking through my amplitube right now looking at the amps you used and you made em sound great, the solo is a little weak though, I don't really have any suggestions on that though, because software will always be software. The third mix is really good, what guitar(s) were played? very cool track, I'd say its ready for vocals.
this is also my first post ever on homerecording so pardon my audacity for such a long reply!

Thanks Mike. The guitars themselves didn't change at all between mixes. I just panned the two that were at 75% L/R respectively to 100% L/R. Then changed the bass level and drums. The solo, I tried to go for a more subdued feel but with some gain still in it because I'm going to track vocals over it and just wanted that as a filler during the end of the tune. I may even lower the volume of the solo more if it gets in the way of the vocals.

Great mix, loved it. I'd agree on those drums though, too busy for my tastes and a bit awkward in places. Overall though, really good song. The vocals will help even further I think
Cheers
Phil

Cheers Phil!