E
elmedia
Not gettin' any younger
It took well over three years to complete this song and get a mix that I am happy with...but I still want your opinions on the song. Any tweaks to make it better? Or is it good the way it is?
DM60
Well-known member
Don't do anything until more people have commented (Just a warning as I still don't fully trust my ears or system).
On my stereo system, the bass was thumping like a teenager's car on a Friday night cruise (might be what you want). Also seemed like the highs were rather extreme. Because of those two things, it was difficult to really listen all the way through.
Let's see what others say and go from there.
On my stereo system, the bass was thumping like a teenager's car on a Friday night cruise (might be what you want). Also seemed like the highs were rather extreme. Because of those two things, it was difficult to really listen all the way through.
Let's see what others say and go from there.
R
RAMI
Guest
Agreed on both counts. Especially that high end that's whistling all through the tune, it hurts my ears. It seems to only be happening when there are vocals, but it doesn't seem to be the vocals that are causing it. But, man, it's really piercing and painful.
B
Bulls Hit
Well-known member
Yeah that HF thing is really distracting, Sounds like a flock of really angry birds. Otherwise the tune rocks along pretty well
Llarion
New member
Oh, my. Well, let's work from low to high. First up - I think you may be doing your mixing and mastering on monitors that are not accurate; they are probably heavily mid-biased, because your problems lie at the ends of the sonic spectrum. The bass is wildly unstable, poorly defined, and the "teenager's car" comment DM60 made pretty well describes it. Oddly, through that, I can barely hear the kick drum. I like the bass and kick to hit with about the same level of urgency, so they are a team. On the upper end, you have so much sibilance and edge in the master that it's distorting, and is nearly unlistenable. It starts in the drums, but is primarily evident in the vocal part and one of the guitars. The drums sound like they are being compressed until their little eyes bug out. Let the snare breathe more...
On the plus side this is a VERY catchy tune indeed. A pleasing melody, and superb performances all around. Nary a missed note. You really have a home run once the mix and master are sorted out.
ido1957
9K Gold Member
Very cool tune - nice use of echo on vocals. Auto tune is apparent - is that intentional? Yes there's some kind of whistling high pitch whine going on. The cymbals are pretty bright too. And the bass is pretty flubby (is that a word?) and is too loud for me.
Chili
Site Moderator
WOW, the bass is way too much. Makes me wonder what environment you are mixing in. You need to acoustically treat your room!!!!
Yeah, sorry, couldn't listen to the whole song.
Yeah, sorry, couldn't listen to the whole song.
E
elmedia
Not gettin' any younger
Run to you re-mix
Thanks to ALL of you for your honest crits and comps. This song has been a challenge to work on regarding the mix. Re-listening to the tune I hear where you are coming from. I have re-mixed the tune, brought the mids in, and tried to center the vocals a little more in the mix while trimming that high end harshness that was present.
Honestly, I had my room tuned perfectly with acoustic treatment until I replaced my built-in desk with a new ergonomic one - it's really thrown off the acoustics in the room and I am thinking about hiring an engineer to help re-position the panels.
Regardless, here is the revised mix - please keep those crits coming as this song will only benefit from this communities help.
Thanks to ALL of you for your honest crits and comps. This song has been a challenge to work on regarding the mix. Re-listening to the tune I hear where you are coming from. I have re-mixed the tune, brought the mids in, and tried to center the vocals a little more in the mix while trimming that high end harshness that was present.
Honestly, I had my room tuned perfectly with acoustic treatment until I replaced my built-in desk with a new ergonomic one - it's really thrown off the acoustics in the room and I am thinking about hiring an engineer to help re-position the panels.
Regardless, here is the revised mix - please keep those crits coming as this song will only benefit from this communities help.
T
TripleM
Well-known member
I listened to the first version and agreed with all the comments.
The second version is a definite improvement, particularly in the low end.
I still think the low end is a problem - just not as big of one. The bass is really boomy and muddy. Still a bit too loud as well. the bass is still clobbering the kick.
The lead vocal is a little better. But there is still a bite to it. Still too much high-midrange and hyped high end.
The song is good - real good energy to it.
The second version is a definite improvement, particularly in the low end.
I still think the low end is a problem - just not as big of one. The bass is really boomy and muddy. Still a bit too loud as well. the bass is still clobbering the kick.
The lead vocal is a little better. But there is still a bite to it. Still too much high-midrange and hyped high end.
The song is good - real good energy to it.
E
elmedia
Not gettin' any younger
Final Mix?
So, I have spent hours going over each track and have really tightened up the entire song. Very stark difference from the first version I posted to this, and I owe it all to the tremendous help from this forum - THANKYOU!!!
As always, please offer crits and comments!
So, I have spent hours going over each track and have really tightened up the entire song. Very stark difference from the first version I posted to this, and I owe it all to the tremendous help from this forum - THANKYOU!!!
As always, please offer crits and comments!
DM60
Well-known member
Dude, much better. Kick is still a little thumpy, but that could also be what you want. Seems like there is some compression pulsating. You might want to check to see if you have too quick of a release. I suspect the kick drum, but you may want to revist some of your compressions.
Lead vocals and instruments need to sit better with each other. Voice was to far up front for my liking and it seems like there is a female voice, but it can barely heard.
Over all the mix is improving.
Lead vocals and instruments need to sit better with each other. Voice was to far up front for my liking and it seems like there is a female voice, but it can barely heard.
Over all the mix is improving.
E
elmedia
Not gettin' any younger
Thanks DM60. This has been one of those songs that seems to take forever to get right. I used an expander to add some punch to the mix, but I will increase the release and see if that eases up on the pumping.
Lol...No female voices in the song, just me. That said, there is a fair amount of artifacting is the background vocals which is why I brought them down. I think I may need to bite the bullet and re-record the lot.
Lol...No female voices in the song, just me. That said, there is a fair amount of artifacting is the background vocals which is why I brought them down. I think I may need to bite the bullet and re-record the lot.
DM60
Well-known member
Here is something I learned once I started doing this a few years back. The better the mix, the longer it takes as you are nearing perfection. As with most areas, it is a matter of dimensioning returns, the closer you get to 100%, the longer it takes to get there. Now that you are close, those things that were hiding are coming out. Don't get frustrated.
If you look at others on the thread, you can see tweaks over many passes until no one has any comments. You're close, but that becomes a finer skill/art. You're doing good.