SilentJ - Off the Hook - First Rough Mix

  • Thread starter Thread starter BenignVanilla
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BenignVanilla

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Hey guys...here is my first rough mix using Cakewalk. I have not yet recorded the bass line, but figured this was close enough to begin asking for feedback.

Don't be gentle.



Thanks in advance.

BV.
 
The song is good and the performance seems fine. The recording of the drums is what makes this song hard to listen to. The kick sounds like a continuous low rumble coming from down the hall. The cymbal crashes are mushy and smeared together into one loud cacophony. I don't know how you recorded them, but to my ears, the most pressing need is to get a better drum sound. I Like the guitar playing, and mixed with the vocals the levels sound fine. But the drums...
 
Thanks. I had the same thought. When we recorded the drums we put it all on one track. So I tried to isolate the kick and the snare by isolating via EQ. We were just talking the other day about re-recording the drums.
 
if you can get more of a stereo spread of the drums this song could be pretty good sounding. It's sounds very mono (up the middle). it sounds like more than one mic though... it just has no stereo sound to it. drums are definitely the weak point. not the playing but i guess the mix and maybe the recording. How did you record the drums? i say rerecord the drums and then put up a better mix.
 
Good tune. Yeah very difficult to get a decent drum mix off one track. As it is now, the cymbals are sizzling louder than a plague of locusts. From what I can tell the vocal & BV performances are pretty good. If you redo the drums, use at least 3 tracks - kick snare and overhead, and preferably two overheads
 
Well... i think just like the rest... the drums!!!! and yes, is very hard get a good sound when you have the drums in only one track. You could program the drums to solve the problem and mix both sounds. Nice song...
 
Hate to sound like a broken record here, but the drums need to be re-thought. But you already know that and are considering re-tracking. I think you're on the right path. You might even consider getting something like BFD or EZDrummer. They are great and could really serve you well. Good luck though...and come back with another mix. I want to hear it.
 
greyharmonix said:
if you can get more of a stereo spread of the drums this song could be pretty good sounding. It's sounds very mono (up the middle). it sounds like more than one mic though... it just has no stereo sound to it. drums are definitely the weak point. not the playing but i guess the mix and maybe the recording. How did you record the drums? i say rerecord the drums and then put up a better mix.
Click to expand...

The drums were recorded with a bunch of SM-57 knock off's that the band owns. I believe, we had two over heads, one on the snare, and one near the hi-hat all into one track, and then an SM-57 into the kick into one track. I then tried to EQ the hell out of all of it to isolate the kick a bit more. I think I over did it. The kick overdone is probably a function of the fact that I've been traveling a lot and did this mix with head phones.

I am working to get a session in to rerecord the drums. Have a friend that is going to loan me the gear to record each drum into its own track.
 
greyharmonix said:
if you can get more of a stereo spread of the drums this song could be pretty good sounding.
Click to expand...

I am hoping we can get a chance to re-record with each drum into its own track, and then be able to do this. In the mean time, I've been trying to fake this using verb.
 
Thanks for the feedback y'all. I think the answer is definitive...re-track the drums.
 
At least you have live drums...lol... Yeah the cymbals are abrasive. Sounds like you already have plans to redo them so it's all good...
I like the vibe of the song - it's a little bit 60's with a modern edge. Cool....:cool:
 
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