Some Help Please

[ntnguitarist3]

I have been working on recording my band, and i just want to know if theres anything i can do "mixing" wise to get a better sound... check it out, is this the best im gonna get with the gear i have now, or can i do better...

it was tracked through a digi002r...

Bass Drum - AKG d110
Snare - Sm57
Overheads - Nady CM88 (Dont laugh its all i can afford right now)

For Guitars
- Mesa dual Rect, mesa oversized cab...
- SM57 on grill, And MXL 990 a few feet away...
Bass - DI

Im thinking some better mic's and a nice preamp some where down the line, would make a big improvement... thanks

 

[XLR]

I think you're getting a very good sound. Those mic's aren't hindering you much. The main thing that stands out to me isn't a mix issue - though it affects the mix perception... the gtrs and drums are just ever so slightly out of sync with each other... happens a lot...if you could get them to really lock in together rhythmically the song would be perfect, IMO.

Tim

 

[ntnguitarist3]

so more solid playing will improve the overall recording? i didnt EQ any of the tracks, could this do anything to help the mix out? i have no idea how to EQ, so i left it alone. i did use some compression on the drums & bass but thats it. there must be sumin i can do to get a better mix.

 

[metalhead28]

Some EQ I would try out on this track

First of all, cut the kick drum pretty good at around 300 Hz to give it a deeper "thump" sound and not so boxy, perhaps add some 5 Khz and 80 Hz to give it more click and thump, respectively. You could probably bring it up in the mix more if you did that too.
I would say more mids in the guitars as well, maybe sweep a little boost somewhere between 1K and 2.5 K to see what makes it jump out with out drowning out the vocals. Maybe even some boost up even higher to make them a little crisper.

Cool Song too!

 

[Zed10R]

so more solid playing will improve the overall recording? QUOTE]

Yes.....you have captured good sounds there. IMO, the biggest difference you can make is to get everyone to play more precisely. Have everyone record their parts one at a time to a click track if you have to, untill they are perfect. Drummers don't typically like that, so beware.......but if he is any good he will be able to do it and do it well.

i didnt EQ any of the tracks, could this do anything to help the mix out? i have no idea how to EQ, so i left it alone. QUOTE]

It will help A LITTLE. But you should still focus on perfecting your sounds at the source. Once you are happy with your source sounds, try carving out room for the bass and making the guitars sparkle...but not too much and generally do everything metalhead said....

there must be sumin i can do to get a better mix.

It takes time. I've said this quite a few times.....turn the vocals DOWN!! They do not need to dominate the mix!! It is just my opinion, but properly mixed vocals will sit "IN" the mix, well defined and clear. Not "on top of" or "punching through" the mix. It takes time. Record everything the best you can and take few days (or weeks really) to experiment.

 

[Supercreep]

The low lead guitar during the beginning of the song is walking all over your rhythm section. I like your drummer.

 

[xfinsterx]

With this style of music id prefer that the drums had more of the close mics in the mix.

I mean, yeah, you got a damn good overhead sound happening, but there isnt enough Wham! in the drums.
Also, metalhead28's comment about the kick is dead on. Scoop it out a bit in the lower mids to beef'n and snappy it up.

The guitars.....did you make sure the two mics (close and far) were in phase?
If you didnt, id suggest nudging the far gtr track into phase with the near track.
Itll surely add more depth to the gtr's sound.

-Finster