Sounds good or sucks?

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Potsy24

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I used to run a home studio as a business, and I'm just getting back into it. There seems to be waaaaaay more studios out there than there were 4-5 years ago. I'm trying to blame the lack of interest I've gotten so far on that. Just to make sure it's not because my recordings suck, could you guys give a listen to the samples set that I'm using for my website? Just looking for a general consensus, do you think it's something I should be charging for?

7thfloorrecording.com by 7th Floor Recording on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

Please be honest but constructive. I don't love all of these songs, it's just past work from the old studio. If anyone is interested, the website is www.7thfloorrecording.com
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I like the bass, and guitars. The drums are way too far back in the mix. It has a Sabbath feel too it. The vocals do not improve this in the beginning. When the song "kicks in?" They are much better..

It does not suck. But it needs a mix master.
 
Hmm... that sort of helps. Could you tell that the vocal sound in the verse was a stylistic choice and not just a poor recording? It was a sort of "telephone" eq plus distortion. Did you happen to listen to any of the other stuff? Some of those mixes are more straight forward.
 
I did not listen to the other stuff, but now that you mention that it was used "as an effect?" It makes more sense.

Still though? I would pump those drums a bit...
 
I think the mix overall is messy. Vocal is too loud, except in beginning and would benefit from automation, harmonies are too loud, and the drums lack punch sit too far back in the mix and sound muddy. I wouldn’t say it sucks but IMO it needs work.
 
Thanks for the input guys. I'm not looking to remix these songs (the files are on an old computer with a different DAW), but I will keep these issues in mind in the future. In the OP, I deleted the widget for the first song and just left the link to the full set. I'm more looking for a general impression of all the songs, and an opinion on if somebody might want to pay for a recording of this caliber (keep in mind I'm not charging very much).

**Edit, the order of the songs on that set has changed. The above replies were about the song "Undertow".
 
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None of it sucks by any means (I couldn't get 'My Flight' to play for some reason) Undertow was my favorite, just a personal preference not necessarily the best mix. I'm no expert, but to be the drums fall flat in every song, except maybe aAnthem for the Nameless (which to me might be the best overall mix). But there is a bit of an issue with the drums sounding like they're in another room. I used to do that all the time, now some might say I put drums that dont sound so good too up front. Its a fine line. Thats really the only criticism I find in the mixes. Some things might be a little muddy here and there, not bad. I assume theres been no final mastering done? I was recently in a studio with a friends band and they paid $50 an hour and it didn't sound that much better. It was a great learning experience for me , I don't know how much experience you have recording, or what kind of gear you have, but I'd recommend to you or anyone if you can go hang out at a studio and watch what they do, then definitely do so. You're never so good that you can't learn any new tricks or techniques. Seems to me you have the skills and the ear, you just need a little more work at it. And they all still sound better than my mixes. Good luck
 
Thanks Jim. I totally agree, you can always get better, and know I've got plenty of room to improve. I fully believe the knowledge/skill of the engineer and the quality of the musicians are far more important than gear, so I'd rather concentrate on improving myself than buying more stuff. I've been doing this sporadically for about 10 years. I've taken some classes at a bigger studio and spent a little time in others. Mostly I try to read and try techniques I learn that way.

I'm actually glad to hear that you guys think the drums are a little too far back. Believe it or not, I'm a drummer. So I've always been careful (apparently too careful) about not overdoing it with the drums in the mix. I guess I can relax and trust myself more. But, you may have created a drum monster.

I did basic mastering, but nothing much. Just a slight eq here and there and enough limiting to raise the volume without noticeably changing the sound. Here is a different "My Flight" link in case you want to hear it:

http://soundcloud.com/7thfloorrecording/marty-peterson-my-flight
 
Hmm... that sort of helps. Could you tell that the vocal sound in the verse was a stylistic choice and not just a poor recording? It was a sort of "telephone" eq plus distortion. Did you happen to listen to any of the other stuff? Some of those mixes are more straight forward.

I did not, but then again? My post is on here? And you haven't listened to it? So... Karma?
 
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