Wide awake ROCK

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ecktronic

ecktronic

Mixing and Mastering.
Heres a new mix of a song by the band Serotone.
Its called "WIDE AWAKE (NEW)"
http://www.soundclick.com/serotone

Just spent like 3 hours mastering this track. :eek:
Please comment on the mix if you get a chance.
Cheers.
 
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I really like the guitar tone/effect at the start. It's just very cool. The vocals on this one seem a bit buried in the mix. When the guitars and drums are louder, it's kind of hard to make the words out. Actually, the voice is kind of quiet throughout. They could stand to be a bit louder. Other than that, I really like the tune itself. Bass is a little hard to make out at times, but that might be the player at soundclick.
Ed
 
I agree with Dogman on the vocals. The main track is a pretty buried. it sounds a bit flat also. The harmonies and overdub tracks are loud enough. The snare drum could use some reverb. This song is pretty ambient, which sounds great, but some reverb on the snare would sound great. Try also adding a tiny bit on the overhead tracks too. this can really bring out the fullness of the mix and overall hall type of sound vs. that small room type sound (just don't go overboard). This is a great mix though, very very well done on the guitars and bass. Love the cleaner parts. Perfect amount of echo.

Sounds great!

Ben
 
The bass players dynamics were all over the place, used a bad amp, so not a very good recording. Alot of bass volume automation had to be done.
The singer had a bad throat at the time so his voice was breaking at points. You can hear it whe he trys to sing more powerfully. Again ALOT of volume automation had to be done.
Thanks for the comments and listen Dogman. Yeah the effect at the start is cool. An eck creation! does kinda blur the notes a little but its a kinda good dreamy blur.
 
Cheers Emergencyexit.
I originally had more reverb on the snare but i prefer it with less, just a personal preference i suppose.
I did use alot of the OHs to give that spacey real drum sound rather than just using the close mics. You can hear it on the snare quite a bit. The hi hats are only from the OHs didnt use the hihat track. oh did you mean add reverb to the OHs? never tried that. good idea if thats what you mean.
Again cheers Ben. :)
 
Vox are REALLY REALLY buried. Really. A lot. They only pop through when the guy shrieks...

The guitar phasing is tres cool. The instrumental balance is great by itself, and nice and punchy. But, it almost sounds like the vox are hard panned to another speaker that isn't in my mix... like it's ALMOST a Karaoke track. Pull the vox up a full 6dB in relation to the rest. Don't touch the instrumental balance, you NAILED that. Stuck it, planted it deep. I disagree respectfully on the snare and reverb. It's a great tone, leave it fairly dry. Let the guitars provide the dimension. And the vox, while WAY WAY back there; they do sound like they are prepped well; so it's just a levels thing. Distractingly so. The boys got game though; good tune!
 
Cheers Larion. I have to disagree about the vox. now 6db up is a bit drastic. I actually brought the vox down from the last mix I did because they were so out of place in the mix. It just sounded like a baking track and then vox plastered ontop!
I think its good at this level as i wanted the guitars to be up a bit more.
Thanks yeah i like the snare tone too. quite snappy and kinda bright. ;)
Ta
 
I don't think the Vocals are so much buried(volume seems fine), as they are a bit muffled in his singing style. Which is a cool style(I like it myself), but could use more distinction in his 'dreaminess'. Because instead of a dreamlike aura, it is coming out as muffling. The dreamlike effect with distinction, IS possible to do as in Pink Floyd, Moody Blues, and others etc, have all done well with it. Even Peter Frampton with his Tube was distinct in his words, without loosing the effects. I do not know how to go about it, but I do not think it is with increasing the volume. I could be undoubtably wrong. :D

And come to think of it, this is exactly the same thing going on in this tune as in the other one"new"
 
Larrion. I listened to the track on like 4 different systems earlier today becuase you said about the vox being burried. ON 3 of the systems the vox were perfect in volume and distinguishable enough. on the 4th the vox were totally burried. Im thinking that True is right in saying that its not a volume issue but something else. The singer dosent pronounce that well at times which makes it hard to mix. Maybe a boost in the presence might help stand them out.


Cheers again True and Larrion.
Yeah great title. especially for you that one ! :D
 
The overhead reverb thing was just a little tricked I picked up when recording a prog band. They wanted more ambience, and after a long night of mixing while the bassist was yelling at me for not making his track punchy enough, I accidently mixed up the overhead tracks with the snare track, and.... it sounded great. Works for some stuff, others are better untouched. It's a matter of opinion.

Just listened to the mix again, and noticed that it actually sounds kinda nice with the vocals how they are. Its mysterious and pulls you in to listen to the band harder. Tool actually kinda burried the vocals a bit on their latest album... Maybe thats a new secret I've just never tried.

Sounds great! Keep it up.

Ben
 
The vocals definitely need to be more upfront. As it is they're buried behind a slew of other instrumentation. Also, the vocals appear to be too dry. A touch of verb wouldn't hurt one iota.
 
ColdFrixion said:
The vocals definitely need to be more upfront. As it is they're buried behind a slew of other instrumentation. Also, the vocals appear to be too dry. A touch of verb wouldn't hurt one iota.
Click to expand...
Sorry but have to disagree on the too dry vocals. I like the vocals to be dry like this.
Thankyou for the listen and comments. :)

Eck
 
emergencyexit said:
The overhead reverb thing was just a little tricked I picked up when recording a prog band. They wanted more ambience, and after a long night of mixing while the bassist was yelling at me for not making his track punchy enough, I accidently mixed up the overhead tracks with the snare track, and.... it sounded great. Works for some stuff, others are better untouched. It's a matter of opinion.

Just listened to the mix again, and noticed that it actually sounds kinda nice with the vocals how they are. Its mysterious and pulls you in to listen to the band harder. Tool actually kinda burried the vocals a bit on their latest album... Maybe thats a new secret I've just never tried.

Sounds great! Keep it up.

Ben
Click to expand...
Gonna try the reverb on OHs the next time i get a chance (if i ever do get another chance in a studio).
Actually come to think of it I have notice the vox on Tool being kinda burried a little. The vocals dont really need to be totally up front IMO as thi aint pop music although it is good to be able to make out what the singer is singing.

Eck
 
I like your drum sound a bit better on this tune as compared to "Blinded(new)"..phase effect during the beginning was cool...nice and clean.This one seems to have a bit more "uumph" when the heavy part kicks in...you guys have some cool tunes..keep it up!
 
variaxman said:
I like your drum sound a bit better on this tune as compared to "Blinded(new)"..phase effect during the beginning was cool...nice and clean.This one seems to have a bit more "uumph" when the heavy part kicks in...you guys have some cool tunes..keep it up!
Click to expand...
Thanks alot Variaxman. :)
PLenty more tunes. Our debut album will be released soon. Looking forward to that loads.
Eck
 
Very cool guitar lines in this. The way the vox are mixed I'm hearing this as a guitar-focused piece with the vox functioning essentially as instruments in the mix, and I like that approach.

As the gtr alternates between the arpeggiated lines and the heavier chord rhythms I think it gets just a little strident at times in the louder chords. Maybe that's not a bad thing though, as it's very live sounding. If it was tamed just a little it'd be more headphone friendly, heh-heh.

Tim
 
Cheers for the listena nd comments Tim.
I did want the vox to be like this so the guitars could come out a bit more to give more power to the song.
Not really hearing the live sound though. I used alot of processing in this but I didnt compress the guitars which maybe was a mistake as you say they jump out a bit at times and could give them a live feel i suppose.

Cheers.
Eck
 
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