Quirky Indie Band recording: new experience for me (comments appreciated!)

[Steve Henningsgard]

In general, I've recorded and mixed 99% metal/hard rock bands, so this was a new experience for me. Being a three-piece "Indie" band, these guys provided some unique challenges for me: their music was quite a bit more dynamic than metal, and thus had a lot more automation going on (something I hadn't really experimented with before!)

They're not the most ridiculously tight band out there, and their sound can definitely be unique, but they grew on me for sure. Lemme know what you think about the mix! It's the longest I've spent mixing anything before...

This song's more "pop"py (not to be confused with "poopy")

This song's more experimental, and thus not exactly catchy. Lots of fun mixy stuff though...

 

[guitarboi89]

Good mix, what kind of place did u record this?
It sounds like the instruments were done seperately, did u just set up a click for the durmmer or were there guide tracks

 

[Decipha]

my only beef lies with the kick on both recordings

 

[eeb]

the biggest thing that bugs me is the overall drum sound.. and the bass...

for this type of music the drums should sound way bigger.. the kick and the snare sound to "clicky" to me. the drummer is really leading the band (i'm listening to the 2nd song btw)

was the bass di'd? it just sounds way too thin and way to far back in the mix. Guitars are perfect.. love the tone you got.

this song is a pop/ less technical version of the mars volta.. it's neat

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

for this type of music the drums should sound way bigger.. the kick and the snare sound to "clicky" to me. the drummer is really leading the band (i'm listening to the 2nd song btw)

Yeah man their drummer is really solid. All of the songs were first or second takes, no click! As for the sound, these guys are really into techno/crazy music (stoners haha) and their drummer wanted an "unnatural, kind of robotic" sound to them. I can't imagine why, as the standard "big huge rock kit" would have been more suitable for the music, but if the client wants things a certain way, I've just gotta give it to them I guess! So yes, I completely agree

was the bass di'd? it just sounds way too thin and way to far back in the mix. Guitars are perfect.. love the tone you got.

I was really happy with the guitars I got. He had this huge Fender 6-speaker monster with all original speakers and tubes, the thing was raunchy as hell! The guy had a couple of crazy guitars too, I should post a picture.

As for the bass, I've never been great at recording bass. I've actually got a DI signal, and two mic signals to work with! I'm completely open to suggestion on how to fix it: I haven't delivered the project yet, and we're in the final stages so now's a good time!

 

[eeb]

okay.. well if that's what the drummer wanted you nailed it.. i just don't get it (i've had to do this too) the drums are the power to the song in this genre .. but you gotta make the client happy..


as for the bass.. it just lacks that natural tone.. I always mic the bass amp and di it.. I personally use 75% mic 25% di.. that might not work for you but try mixing more mic in.. you have a very very clean recording here.. not any mud that i noticed so you're gonna have to be careful not to add too much bass to it ( i find the di tone much easier to work with.. but not really the best sounding) you'll get it.. it's very close

 

[Jack Real]

Hi

Nice mix. Can you add some ambiance reverb to the instruments so we'll have the impression they are played from the same place ? Also, I can hear static (probably comming from an ampli) on the left side.

Nice work.

/Jack Real

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

okay.. well if that's what the drummer wanted you nailed it.. i just don't get it (i've had to do this too) the drums are the power to the song in this genre .. but you gotta make the client happy..

Thanks man, I'm glad I'm not the only one hah

as for the bass.. it just lacks that natural tone.. I always mic the bass amp and di it.. I personally use 75% mic 25% di.. that might not work for you but try mixing more mic in.. you have a very very clean recording here.. not any mud that i noticed so you're gonna have to be careful not to add too much bass to it ( i find the di tone much easier to work with.. but not really the best sounding) you'll get it.. it's very close

I can't rightly remember how much DI vs. Mic I have, but I can definitely hear what you're saying. I had previously entertained the idea of throwing just a little bit of grit on it (a little very mild tube distortion, with a little upper mid boost). I might have to try that as well as messing with the mic/di mix. Thanks for the help!

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

Hi

Nice mix. Can you add some ambiance reverb to the instruments so we'll have the impression they are played from the same place ? Also, I can hear static (probably comming from an ampli) on the left side.

Nice work.

/Jack Real

I had a bit of 'verb on the master bus when I mixed down, perhaps I'll turn it up a bit (I tend towards the "not quite enough" side, vs. the "too much" side). As for the buzz, I kept it 'cause I like it It's amp buzz

 

[mysticjim]

Hey dude,

I quite like both songs, think the second is a bit more dynamic, got more going on.

The snare drum often gets eaten up a bit in the mix, but I like the sound of the rest of the kit.

I actually like the bass tone, I often struggle with recording bass, but I think its almost perfect here, its always there but it doesn't obscure the mix. I guess everyone has a different opinion on how a natural bass should sound.

The guitars are great, but as noted above, I'd remove the guitar noise in the pauses on the first song from the left hand side.

Other than that, its a really good piece of work dude.

Jim

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

Good mix, what kind of place did u record this?
It sounds like the instruments were done seperately, did u just set up a click for the durmmer or were there guide tracks

(Sorry, didn't respond to this one yet ) I recorded at my "studio", which is just a rented practice space with a little acoustic treatment.

The instruments were all tracked separately: I had the guitarist in the room with the drummer, with his guitar going into the computer with a crappy amp sim just to make it easier to track. There was no click track: the guy's just really fucking solid

 

[Steve Henningsgard]

Check out this guy's main guitar!

 

[eeb]

that's retarded!! kinda cool though..