Some seattle hardcore for ya.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris.
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Chris.

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This was my friend's band. I recorded them a while ago and since I haven't had time to record anybody else I just keep on messing with stuff on a few songs I did of theirs. I think this one is sounding pretty damn good.

Anyway, I just wanted to post this up. I'll post it as both an mp3 or a wav for people that have better connections.

This was done ITB of course, on sonar 3.0 producer's edition. All the effects and compression were pretty much my UAD-1 (except for my waves c1 on the bass guitar). Everything was recorded in a practice room which probably shows.

Just curious about general mixing and just general advice. I'm mixing in a bedroom, so the bass area of my mix probably suffers because of that. I tried to make it as good as possible by switching between loud and soft levels on my yorkvilles, then switching to a small pair of crappy computer speakers, then using headphones, all back and forth to try and get everything balanced. I also switched between mono and stereo to make sure everything sounds good in both.

I wouldn't comment on the singer. Haha. He is a little skinny guy that was trying to sound tough, so yeah. His voice cracks a few times. I wish I could get him back in here to redo all of the vocals, but alas, nothing can be done.


Anyway, listen, let me know what you think, and what you think could be done better.


.wav (20 mb)
(2.73 mb)
 
What mics did you use on the drums?
How did you record the guitar?

The bass bothers me the most. It's very twangy and high at the beginning... and then non-existent in the middle breakdown (where it's needed most). Maybe you could find a level in between and then boost the low end of it. That's just my suggestion.

This isn't about mixing, but near the end, the guitar rhythm is off... and I'm pretty sure it's not intentional.
 
the snare is kind of loud when it kicks in, it sounds good but i'd make it a bit brighter maybe, maybe even add reverb. the high mids on the bass are a bit overwhelming even though it sounds good. i think a good mastering job would help this out a ton!
 
noodles2k5 said:
What mics did you use on the drums?
How did you record the guitar?

The bass bothers me the most. It's very twangy and high at the beginning... and then non-existent in the middle breakdown (where it's needed most). Maybe you could find a level in between and then boost the low end of it. That's just my suggestion.

This isn't about mixing, but near the end, the guitar rhythm is off... and I'm pretty sure it's not intentional.
Click to expand...

Drums:
snare: sm57
kick: d112
rack tom 1: senn e601 silver
rack tom 2: senn e601 silver
floor tom: sm57 I think? I don't remember
OHs: mxl 603s

Guitars:
Lead: e601 silver and d112 mixed together
Rhythm: sm57 and d112 mixed together


I'll try and work more on the bass. Like I said, my bass response in my room is probably terrible, so it's really hard for me to work it and get it to sound good.
 
I like the guitar sounds and the L/R contrast in the gtr parts. The buzzy bass sound doesn't fit the tune IMO. Sounds too funky. Drumset overall sounds overcompressed to me... not enough transient detail. Otherwise I like the overall mix balance. Hell, the guitars have enough low end that you could probably get by leaving the bass track out.

Tim
 
Timothy Lawler said:
Hell, the guitars have enough low end that you could probably get by leaving the bass track out.

Tim
Click to expand...

Thanks. I think that is the primary reason the bass is more tinny. In order to get it to stand out I think the eq made it a bit brighter since the guitars need their low end to chug away.

Also, I have compression on the snare and kick drum, but that is it on the drum set. Can you describe a bit more what you think is missing due to compression?
 
New mix. Brought up the kick drum a bit. Added a compressed to shit vocal behind the original. There were two tracks I was using with the guitars that were recorded at the same time as the other ones through a d112 to give the fattness to the guitars, but I muted those to see how it sounded and the bass covers it well. Ummm. Added a bit of high end to the vox. I think tha tmight be about it. Let me know if it's better or worse. Haha.

unspoken mix 5c.wav
 
sounds better but now either the reverb or the room on the vocals is somewhat annoying, although not really noticable
 
Listening to the first version right now:

I love the tune! The guitars sound heavy, I like the stereo spread and they don't barf on each other.
Overall though, I'd prefer to have all the elements more in your face. Specially the drums (the skins, the cymbals/hats are fine). They're a bit too polite and somewhat cardboardy (specially the snare, it needs more smack).

I agree with Tim's comment that you probably could get by w/o the bass.

(waiting for the new mix to download... still in dialup hell :D )

OK downloaded... I don't think I like the vocal that loud. It was fine in the first version. I like the kick better, but still it needs more punch... what kind of compression are you using?
 
noisewreck said:
Listening to the first version right now:

I love the tune! The guitars sound heavy, I like the stereo spread and they don't barf on each other.
Overall though, I'd prefer to have all the elements more in your face. Specially the drums (the skins, the cymbals/hats are fine). They're a bit too polite and somewhat cardboardy (specially the snare, it needs more smack).

I agree with Tim's comment that you probably could get by w/o the bass.

(waiting for the new mix to download... still in dialup hell :D )

OK downloaded... I don't think I like the vocal that loud. It was fine in the first version. I like the kick better, but still it needs more punch... what kind of compression are you using?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the feedback.

I'm using an 1176 on the kick drum. I'll do a drum mix when I get home and put it up.
 
how'd you record the bass?
it doesn't seem to have much bass in it.
 
Any critique must first begin with whethe or not you accomplished whatever sound you were going for with the song. The overall sound of the mix is pretty consistant with what I know of indie hard core recordings, so in that way you definately achieved a mark. Overall the song is a little dull sounding, not boring, but the mix lacks a snappy high end and the whole things sounds a little soft and mushy. The drums especially sound boxy, but the guitars seem to suffer the most, which is probably why you had so much trouble with the bass in the mix. There is just too much emphasis on the lower end in them, and while I love a good bassy guitar track, they have to have some sizzle in them as well. Without that the song is going to sound lack for energy and that betrays what you're playing.
 
THIS COMMENTS WERE MADE LISTENING TO THE FIRST MIX...
Songwriting
Good intro, would be great with a crescendo.
The song goes good but I think there should be a clean voice answering the dirt voice.
So far you get at 00:44. Here the song gets boring, you guys just repeat the same note D D D D D D D D D D It´s D minor the hole song
The vocals proposal is good but doesn´t convince at all

Mixing
1 The hats are way loud
2 Drums in beginning just can´t be heard at all .
3 Tons have no low end
4 The bass drum has not enough body and tip
5 I can hear the bass after 00:44
6 The right guitar lacks definition
7 Hole mix need ambience
8 Mastering ?

"Solution"
1 - Lower the volume !?!
2 - Raise the volume !?!
3 - Not shure if that´s a problem at all.
4 - Maybe too much on around 2khz, why not 4khz. boost near 125hz
5 - Change the bass note, raise it´s volume or kill the frequency struggle
6 - Take some 250 of it and maybe, some 3-6k boost.
7 - Just add room to the hole mix , about 30s time, just a little bit
8 - Use and ultramaximizer around -9...

I did not have time to read what the other guys did post, so If I just repeated everything, sorry!
If anyone could visit my thread and give me advices!
http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=186600
Thanks and all the best!
 
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