Vocal buried by rythmn guitar / solos too thin...

  • Thread starter Thread starter get2sammyb
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get2sammyb

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Hi,

I'm recording everything with a Line 6 Toneport. Not looking for amazing results but trying to get the best possible mix I have. Now I've recently done a new mixdown of one of my bands songs Tincap To Rosemary but there are just some elements of the mix that I can't get right.

Firstly - during the chorus you can hear how the vocal is buried by the rythmn guitars - now my guitarists wanted a middley bright sounding guitar tone, which I attempted to create but I've found that its not leaving space for vocals, even when I pan out wide. How can I keep the guitars bright but the vocal still clear?

Also the vocals sound so dry, how can I wet them a little? I already have plenty of reverb - should I be looking at other solutions?

Finally - lead guitar, particularly solos are causing me massive amounts of headaches. Whatever I do they sound digital and thin (probably due to the Toneport but no doubt a problem with my mixing also). How can I give them that phatter, stand out sound? I've attempted doubling, offsetting and all sorts but yet they still sit horribly in the mix as they are far too dry, thin and digital sounding.

Link to the song is:



Any advice would be SO helpful guys, while I wait for your expert advice I'll see what Google can come up with too :)

Thanks in advance.
 
Didn't listen to your clip but the reason your guitar buries the vocals in spots is because they are competing for some of the same frequencies and the louder one wins. Use your EQ to etch out a spot for each.

The thin part of your lead may be due to the way you track it or it could be the same reason as above. Try micing the amp. Listen through your monitors which are hopefully in another room and move the mic around until you get the sound you are looking for. When you track try using less distortion than you think you need.
 
The less distortion thing sounds like a plan actually. I'll give that a go. I have the EQ's cutting out the stronger frequencies of the vocals from the guitar. Example I boosted 6000 on the vocals so cut it on the guitar.
 
Your mix does sound kind of boomy. Especially the bass guitar. How about rolling off a bit on the low end for the bass guitar? There may be a build up of low frequencies from all of your tracks.
 
Sounds like a plan. I'm rolling off the bass at about 100, guitars at about 200 and the vocals at about 100. I'll try and roll them off at higher frequencies.

Any tips for the solos?
 
I think you need to re-record all the guitars micing an amp rather than using the line 6. Just from my experiences, I hate everything that line6 makes. Simply put, it sounds digital and fake because it is digital and fake. Everything besides the guitars and a few boomy notes in the bass sounds real good.

If the vocals still seem too dry, switch the reverb settings up a bit or try using some delay.

Ben
 
I'd love to record a miced amp but it's just out of my price range. I mean I'd have to treat my room, get new mics etc. I mean I can't expect brilliant results with my Line 6, but I'm trying to get the best I can afford.

I'm gonna experiment with some delay on both the vocals and the guitar :)
 
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