Your Sympathy - hard alternative pop rock, i guess. feedback???

[andrushkiwt]

I was satisfied with the minimal "mastering stuff" I did, so this was a long mix (2 weeks) and 1 day, quick master (widener, 3 EQ notches, slight compression, and some limiting).

The challenges this time involved getting the synth to cut through the wall of guitars, so i ended up doubling the synth with a guitar part that I also decided to use in the bridge since i liked its sound. I think the vocals are more consistent in level in this one, as compared to my last post - compressed heavier this time thanks to some suggestions from here. finally, finally, finally, i've found a decent "chug" setting on my lepou/recab setup...how's the chugs sounding to you? bass/kick combo ok too?

looking forward to the good and the bad. thanks!

 

[Robus]

Levels sound fine. Bass is right. Guitars are where you want them. Tone was fine. I didn't hear much synth. Vocal level was a bit low or masked in places here and there. Thought I heard harmony vocals. If so bring them up. Overall the mix sounds congested. Good playing and arranging.

 

[Music Box]

I wish there was slightly more bass, then again most of my tunes seriously lack bass. Otherwise mix was good. Song itself is very good, pro level I would say.

 

[andrushkiwt]

I wish there was slightly more bass, then again most of my tunes seriously lack bass. Otherwise mix was good. Song itself is very good, pro level I would say.

yeah, bringing the bass down a notch was a last second decision due to how loud it was at lower listening volumes...kinda wish i kept it. and thanks for the kind words, i'm working on that

 

[andrushkiwt]

Levels sound fine. Bass is right. Guitars are where you want them. Tone was fine. I didn't hear much synth. Vocal level was a bit low or masked in places here and there. Thought I heard harmony vocals. If so bring them up. Overall the mix sounds congested. Good playing and arranging.

"congested" as in too much going on? there's not too much, a set of hard panned guitars, one set playing octaves tucked inside of that, then a lead synth/guitar supplementing everything. some area in particular that it sounds the most congested? thanks Ray

 

[VomitHatSteve]

This is sounding like a really solid mix. Everything seems to have its place; nothing's overpowering anything else.

I'm not hearing much of the synth throughout most of the track, actually.

Did the bgvox lose timing a little bit at the start of the second verse? It seemed a little shaky.

Good mix!

 

[andrushkiwt]

This is sounding like a really solid mix. Everything seems to have its place; nothing's overpowering anything else.

I'm not hearing much of the synth throughout most of the track, actually.

Did the bgvox lose timing a little bit at the start of the second verse? It seemed a little shaky.

Good mix!

hey, thanks steve. i had a hard time finding a "character" for the background vox - but yes, the take of the main vox was a different pace than the background line. oops. good catch. i do about 10 takes on the main vox and only one or two for bgv. i try to keep the main takes the same so i can easily interchange them between lines (and even single words sometimes, if they'll fit). the take i ended up using on the main vox was a different phrasing pace. like i said, good call.

and yes, i had a hard time getting the synth to cut through the guitars. it didn't sound good when it was louder, particularly because i COULD NOT adjust the volume of the midi notes...i mean, i could move the volume down for each one, but it did not do anything. at 20, a single midi note on the synth was the exact same volume as it was at 90 (after i played and recorded it, that is - in the midi editor). couldn't figure it out. only thing i could do was rerecord the synth part and try to press my keyboard perfectly each time. ha. didn't want to do that.

thnx for the listen and comment!

 

[Robus]

No, there aren't too many parts. More a matter of your guitars monopolizing the midrange. The vocals need a bit of air around them, IMO. Background vox is getting buried.

 

[andrushkiwt]

No, there aren't too many parts. More a matter of your guitars monopolizing the midrange. The vocals need a bit of air around them, IMO. Background vox is getting buried.

Ah got it. Yeah, bgv were not easy to bring forward.

 

[TripleM]

Overall a very good job.

I love the growl in the guitars. They get a little splashy at the beginning and other spots. Maybe a small cut at 5-6K or so might help. Other than that, they really rock.

Great vocals.

Drums sound pretty good. Snare is missing a little pop-and-sizzle. Just a little. Cymbals are a little swirly, but it sounds like the trademark SoundCloud mangling.

Bass is a little indistinct and a bit far back in the mix - at least in spots.

 

[4tracker]

I don't hear anything wrong with this mix. Tom hits sound a little weird/hollow, but that's nit picky. Agree with the guy above the bass sounds a bit far back, but again, nit picky.

 

[andrushkiwt]

I love the growl in the guitars. They get a little splashy at the beginning and other spots. Maybe a small cut at 5-6K or so might help. Other than that, they really rock.

i was back and forth on how much treble/presence/drive to use. a minor adjustment really made them stick out more/less. yeah, i probably should have backed those knobs up a touch in the end.

 

[andrushkiwt]

I don't hear anything wrong with this mix. Tom hits sound a little weird/hollow, but that's nit picky. Agree with the guy above the bass sounds a bit far back, but again, nit picky.

i'll tell ya that i noticed it sounded "far" away right before the bridge...where i slide down on an elongated note, before the chugging section. so yeah, i know what you guys are talking about. i'm not sure what caused that, and i should have fixed it when i first noticed it. ah well. thanks dude

 

[easlern]

Solid man, I don't think I noticed a synth at all though. I'd like to hear more low end but it's not hurting for it or anything. I like the quick crescendo after the break near the end.

 

[andrushkiwt]

I like the quick crescendo after the break near the end.

thanks. i couldn't make it loud enough...i had those sections turned waaaay up and it was still quiet. pretty cool trick - i use the decay from a strummed chord that fades out and then copy, paste it, and reverse it. so it goes form decay to fade-in. then i throw that across the 4 guitar tracks. glad ya liked it.