Sideways- really need some input/help on mix!

  • Thread starter Thread starter dreib
  • Start date Start date
D

dreib

Active member
My ears are fried everything is sounding the same, I need professional help, and some feedback on this mix/song would be great too!

My 13 year old daughter wants to start singing more so I wrote this song for her to sing, not really her style, she's more into more electronic type music, but this is the best I could come up with a drumset, guitar, bass, and a toy keyboard.

The title of the song is "sideways"


Constructive input is all i want---levels, eq, etc etc blah, blah.

Thanks!

stevens-8's sounds on SoundCloud - Hear the world
 
Heya. Don't think I've heard your stuff before. The instrument levels seem pretty good with the exception of the bass maybe being a little murky and low, and the overall mix seems like it lacks a little sheen (earbuds/laptop). It's a fun song though and your daughter did pretty well with what I'm assuming was limited tracking experience. She could sound a little more confident, but it's really not bad at all. Maybe if she likes the tune, have her retrack it after a few weeks. I'm sure she'll listen to it like a thousand times. :)
 
Last edited:
Thanks, yea she has only recorded one other time with me.

Im thinkin I may have over cooked the drum bus?...Im hopin somebody with good monitors will take a listen!

I'll mess with that bass,

Thanks!
 
Not bad. :)

I hear a whole lot going on in the upper mids, that seems a bit fatiguing. HH is loud there, keys are fighting the same frequencies as the vocals, and the guitar seems to be winning the fight for space as well.

What software are you using? This seems like a fun project to play with. I would enjoy playing with this mix myself, if you would share the raw tracks. Maybe I could give another perspective. :)
 
Im using reaper.

Im gonna see what other feedback I get , give my ears a rest and then give it another go, after I screw that up I'll shoot you a pm so you can fix it if you still want! LOL!

Thanks!
 
LOL! Cool man, I know its your baby. Not trying to infringe on your game. Just offering an alternate option. I get tired of the same old heavy rock stuff I work with...
 
Im not worried about infringement Im worried about someone hearing my crappy recording process and noisey basement!!

I'll let you know!
 
Strong tune, for sure. Nice, infectious hook.

Mix worked OK for me, but I do agree it's a little "upper-middy." Not a big fan of that gurgly 2013 guitar sound but I know it's hot and it does work for this tune. A clean Strat with some tasty delay and very light overdrive would be my preference for something like this. Different generation, though ;-)

Your daughter has a sweet, poppy tone to her voice and she cut this thing pretty well. I'm sure you (and she) can hear that she missed some intervals. A little more rehearsal and a few more takes, and I'll bet she nails it. I think I'd bring her vocal up a bit in the mix and maybe dial back on the fx (which I know currently serve to fatten up her voice ... but still). It's likely you could get her vocal up front more by simply emphasizing the highs a bit.

Look forward to hearing updatd version.
 
Thank you for the input! One thing I do need to get is a decent tube amp or good effects pedal. Im am far from satisfied with the guitar sound, at least the distorted parts.

Yea i put a fattener on her vox and doubled alot, your points are on my list, Thank You!!
 
I don't think it's too bad. The vocal effects kill it for me though. Too much room. The vocals are mostly unintelligible for me. They need to be clean and clear and up front for a song like this. The drums are pretty good, but I'd like to hear more close mics from the kit. The bass is almost invisible. I kind of like the guitars, but they stick out too much by being seemingly very dry while everything else is awash with room. Just clean it up. Cleaner vocals, more bass, more presence from the drums.
 
Thanks Greg, your pointers are on the list.

Im a drummer but always feel like I should hold back so as not do what most drummers do when they mix, ya know? Kill everything with drums. I recorded that drum part about a dozen times, Changed heads twice and finally said enough. I know one thing ,Im going back to my birch set, they just sound better in my crap room than my maples.
 
Back
Top