working mix: "First Tracks"

  • Thread starter Thread starter GONZO-X
  • Start date Start date
GONZO-X

GONZO-X

Well-known member
https://app.box.com/s/j11yz2i30afd7szb0c9q


this is a song i've been working on for some time, it's kind of a happy fast-moving, grooving rock tune at first, then breaks down to a bluesy jam for the last half.

inspired by deep powder snow skiing, this song has been in my head for several years.


i recently repositioned all of my studio gear, sounds completely different in there now, and i've got a series of 4 new songs i am actively "RE-mixing" with the new acoustics in my room.
it's time for a new album. i've got a LOT of material.....
and a lot of new mix techniques i'm experimenting with, trying to simplify things quite a bit.

any comments are appreciated.
 
Very nice! Did you use the Palmer PDI-09 on the guitar tracks?
 
ocnor-
thanks for listening!

no, not on this track, all the guitar parts were good old cab and mic.

the lead tracks were done with a close miced condenser, the rhythm tracks were all close miced SM57.

the 2nd half solo track, had two clones made- hard panned left and right, with everything below 200hz rolled off, and everything above 3khz rolled off......
left track moved a couple of milliseconds behind the center track, and the right track a couple of milliseconds ahead of the center track, then both of those barely mixed into the sides.
 
Man....what a nice job!! Just excellent !! In listening to your tracking and mix work I find myself with about 751 questions I'd like to ask. But that's for another time. In the ultimate of nit picking.......the one thing I noticed was that the vocals got overwhelmed in a few spots. The vocal track sits a tad low in volume but that's not the issue really. From time to time........part of the lyrics gets washed over. Or.......the other side of my brain says.........it's perfect as it is and leave it alone. Anyway.......congrats.......work!!
 
Vocals came out on my system. Could probably be beefed up, but since it is a rough mix, I'm sure that will get sorted out. Definitely has an 80's style to it.

Overall good first cut.
 
I like what you have done. Keep up the nice work. I like that you have a good grasp on gear LOL. I also love gear.
 
mickster
thanks man, 751 questions, hm, i don't know....
i'd be happy to answer a couple.
LOL
vocals, levels, yes, it's always an issue with my mixes,
because i dig the old classic rock mixes where sometimes the vox were just barely there,
it always makes you listen harder,
which i believe part of the intent is to get the listener to engage more,
get more into the OVERALL sound, instead of just focusing on the vocal,
which is more of a POP element, in my mind...

if i do more LOW volume mixing, i can probably spot where the vox really just drops under that certain level where you can clearly understand it....
which is what i'll do now.
thanks for commenting
 
dm60
thanks for listening! appreciate it....
beef up vox, check, i assume you mean levels, like mickster suggests, or do you mean eq as well?

funny, you mention 80's, it's 2014 now, i wonder what it is that sounds like 80's? just curious, i don't hear it like that, but i didn't get into a lot of 80's music anyway, so i may be off the mark....
 
backstory on song:

not only is it about getting first tracks in the winter backcountry or off piste,
it was also the very first song i recorded after i finished my custom strat build:

USACG, vintage white, alder body, bill lawrence electronics, hipshot bridge,
custom nitro paint, gibson scale length, tiltback headstock, contoured heel,
pau ferro fretboard, graduated locking tuners, master vol-tone, some cool pieces/parts.

just an all around fantastic playing and feeling guitar.

snow strat
SNOW_STRAT2.jpg



Headstock front and tilt
2013_08_04_15_58_21_420.jpg



headstock back
machinehead.jpg



body shot
usacg_strat_vintage_white.jpg



cutaway
cutaway_small.jpg
 
GONZO-X said:
dm60
funny, you mention 80's, it's 2014 now, i wonder what it is that sounds like 80's? just curious, i don't hear it like that, but i didn't get into a lot of 80's music anyway, so i may be off the mark....
Click to expand...

I think it is probably the way vocals and the guitar sounds that gives me that vibe (more of a vibe not a duplication/imitation). Almost anything guitar lead dominant reminds me of the 80's.
 
mspin

thanks, appreciate the comments....

gear:
i've got a bunch of cheap gear.
bottom line, i just squeeze the most out of it that i can get.
moving it around every once in a while, makes me feel like i've accomplished something.
LOL
 
mickster,

it is on the bottom side of the belly, like a les paul:

rig_full.jpg




i just hate that plug coming out of the top of a strat.
 
Really cool stuff. I was less enarmoured with the jammy parts of the 2nd half, (some Hendrixesque tones and lines), but enjoyed it nonetheless.
That's one dominant snare thwack. Might need to rebalance the kit a tiny bit.
 
rayc
thanks for listening!

appreciate the comments....
that snare, yes, i actually eq'd the track to BRING OUT that snare...
for some reason, i just hear it dominant, that's that way i wanted it.
 
just as a followup to my FIRST post....

after moving my gear, i decided it wasn't enough,

and I don't really have any money for any gear right now...

but i've been wanting to change out my little KRK rokits for a while..
i've had them a long time, and know them pretty well.. but need a new perspective.

and i have material for a 3rd album, that i want to final mix on, so figured now is a good time to learn some new monitors.

on sale, everywhere right now....

JBL LSR 305's

JBL LSR305 5" Active Studio Monitor | Sweetwater.com

so cheap, i figured, why not?
18 months no finance charge, 14 bucks a month, 30 day return policy....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top