You must listen to this or suffer!

  • Thread starter Thread starter chessrock
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Nice rhythm; reminded me of that swingy tune Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz danced to in "The Mask". Maybe the reason nobody likes the vocalist is that -- there's no real definable melody? It's kinda all over the place. Plus, his tone was nothing special :)

Anywho great production as usual from checkerspunk :) Really liked the kick drum sound.


Chad
 
Thanks for the honest comments, all.

I think I should share some of the blame on the less-than-stellar vocals. In hindsight, he has a breathy-sounding voice that would have sounded better through a dynamic mic. Something less accurate.

A mic that suited him better probably would have made it sound more bearable or less obtrusive, I will admit. I should have insisted on using the sm7, but we were trying to change things up and try different things on the different songs.

Ultimately, I think maybe what we have here is someone trying to sound like something other than himself?

Thanks again. It's really helpful.
 
Reminds me of Aussie band "Mental as Anything".
I think for the style of music you've captured it well. They should be pleased.

Scott Tansley
 
Sounds great Chess. Good job. A dirty slap back echo might help give the vocals a little more of a vintage feel. Cool funky tune.
 
I was listening a second time. That is a cool song. What is your high hat mainly coming from, the OH's? What are you using?

The only thing that might need a little polish is the floor tom (or is that the kick?). It gets a little borderline boomy in a few places.
 
The beginning of this kind of reminded me of something out of the 60's and the vocalist seemed to be going for a "THEM" kind of sound (a la Van Morrison). Actually, the entire song kind of reminded me of THEM.

The tune is pretty cool and moves along nicely. I like the playing style and the rhythm is cool. You've already heard the feedback regarding the vocals. I didn't think they were that bad, but I can see where they may need a bit of tightening up.

Overall I think you did a good job on this!
 
TexRoadkill said:
I was listening a second time. That is a cool song. What is your high hat mainly coming from, the OH's? What are you using?

The only thing that might need a little polish is the floor tom (or is that the kick?). It gets a little borderline boomy in a few places.
Click to expand...

The venerable mxl 603 would be the culprit on this one. Just two overhead, with an AT 25 on kick. Nothing else. The 603's performance on this particular session actually prompted me to start this thread: https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?threadid=57858&highlight=mxl+603+rocks

The boom might be coming from the standup bass coupled with the kick drum. On some parts, they kind of cross. The band liked it though, so I didn't complain and just kept it in.

Should have used more slap-back on the vox. The only time that I don't over-do the slap, it actually could have used it. :D

Thanks to everyone who commented! ! ! ! I really value all of them -- particularly the negative ones. The honesty really helps me to improve what I'm doing and how I will approach future projects.

Oh and by the way. Listen to "Solid State" down just a few songs on the list (same band, actually, although I listed them different for a joke):

http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=1298&alid=-1

Are the vocals any better on that one, or do they still sound pretty bad? :D I used a different mic and preamp setup. Anyone think it works better on the singer?
 
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I got shafted. I listened and still suffered.






















Nah, just kidding. I really dig this kind of thing.

Stand up bass? To boomy & up front IMHO.
Guitar, could use a boost IMO
Drums sound very cool. Using those 603s?
Vox would maybe have come across better with a condenser as you've already stated. & maybe a dirty sounding pre...
I understand why the harp is panned as it is, but I think it may have had more impact if mixed in wide stereo like the hand claps.

It sounds like I'm shredding your work, but I'm not. It already sounds great. If I'm going to comment in the clinic, might as well try to make it count. :rolleyes: :D
 
jitteringjim said:
I understand why the harp is panned as it is, but I think it may have had more impact if mixed in wide stereo like the hand claps.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing. I actually suggested double-tracking them, but the band got side-tracked and ran out of time. Some kick-ass suggestions. Thanks.

Don't you love the 603s? :D
 
Nice mix. Good separation. Nice depth. I guess all those Chessrock--> how to EQ posts-- actually work. Nice panning.
I like up front drums but they were a hair too up front and the bass drum a little too deep and aggressive for this kind of music but the drums are what makes this song work. The energy is there and playing is there. The vocals need more compression, they fade in and out a bit. Maybe also some more top end for definition. Also the guitar gets lost as it trades space with the organ an vocals. Theres something very chicago about this band. I would see em live. Their sound sans organ reminds of this three piece band I played drums for in college, the guitarist/vocalist was from chicago and sounds alot like the singer here.
 
Thanks, Jusum.

I don't think I've ever faced a more daunting task in terms of finding a place for everything. There's lots going on, and particularly with organ and guitar, you've got a lot competing for the same space. Not as much for Blue Baby, but definitely on "Solid State" and most of the others we tracked. I tried doing a lot of "carving" as per some of my threads, which worked somewhat. In the end, though, some of the tracks just had to trade off accepting compromises.

I like the sound of dirty guitars, but they're a bitch come mixtime. They like to blend with everything. :D
 
Hey, I digs it!! It doesn't really go anywhere, but it is what it is, and it is pumping. Great live energy, sounds full and present and real. I agree the vocal could use something, dirt or space, delay or a hallway or something. What's your gear?

Macle
 
BTW, this song is the shit. Id sign these guys in a heartbeat and this style isnt usually my bag. The originality and energy make it happen.

I hear what youre saying about the organ and guitar. That part of the midrange is where alot of definition gets lost (the mid mids) ESPECIALLY if youre monitors arent telling you whats going on. But we're nitpicking. The mix is good. There could be some more definition but its ready to go. The meat isnt the guitar or organ, its the drums and vocals.

What are you monitoring with?
 
Well,

In answer to Macle and Jusum, my gear is about as stripped-down and simple as it gets. There's the mackie board > m-audio sound card. I monitor with a couple of Hafler m5's through a 30-year old home stereo receiver. The highlight of my gear collection is a mindprint d.i. port (used to preamp drums and overdubs), and a Joemeek vc6q (electric guitars, vocals). You'd also think I raided Harvey G's "mic locker B" with all the oktava mc012s, cheapo Marshalls, and the sm7.

The challenge about this particular group was in all the conflict going on with some of their instruments. Looking at the spectrum analyzer, one of the guitarists was peaking out consistently at 200 hz. That's snare drum territory, and a guitar has no right peaking there unless you're playing death metal.

Both of the guitars and the keyboard all wanted 2,000 hz. They also all wanted 159 hz, which the bass was stubbornly staking claim to. The keys actually wanted ALL of the bass' and both the guitars main freq's.

What a mess. You could eq some things, but ultimately, that only made them sound unnatural if I went overboard. Their guitar tones were way too driven; too many big muff pies, fuzz boxes, driven tubes, etc. To the point where it made them sound kinda' undefined, lacking in dynamics, and indestinguishable from one another. Ironic how that works.

The band's input was key during mixdown. They seemed to have unusually good ears, and knew what they wanted. And they were good at communicating; example: "Put the keys down low with the bass guitar. Put the bass down lower with the kick. Give the kick a chest-thump, etc." And in the end, at least I knew I gave them exactly what they wanted, which is what it's all about.

Going forward, I explained to them that they're going to want to change the tone of their guitars and keys so they don't get all this midrange battlestar galactica going on during their live gigs. :D The pure joy of it all was that they actually got it., and they're now experimenting with different tones. Gotta' love that.

Wow. So cool to have Macle and Jusum helpin' out with the critiques. I'm honored. Sorry for all the babbling.
 
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