"Nickelback" sound

ddrumddude · 9th June 2007

What kinds of things are they doing in their mixes to get such a full sound? It's sort of like everything is a wall of sound...to me anyway.

---to the nickelback haters---please respect that this is something I am interested in. If you have a problem with them, just please move on. I'm not looking to start another -insert popular band here- war about how they suck so bad. Thanks!

jbuehler · 9th June 2007

Take Eddie Vedder..........punch him in the throat........and you get Nickleback sound....

Sorry I couldn't resist.

I heard their latest single and it did sound super produced. I would say you would need at least 500K and 3 lifetimes worth of studio engineers to get the Nickleback sound.

HIGHENDONLY · 9th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddrumddude

What kinds of things are they doing in their mixes to get such a full sound? It's sort of like everything is a wall of sound...to me anyway.

---to the nickelback haters---please respect that this is something I am interested in. If you have a problem with them, just please move on. I'm not looking to start another -insert popular band here- war about how they suck so bad. Thanks!

Well they sold over 5million of their cd, last year so they are doing something right.

Jonboy79 · 9th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by HIGHENDONLY

Well they sold over 5million of their cd, last year so they are doing something right.

Doesn't mean some of us don't like them and their generic music. They get their sound from countless hours in the studio using top notch equipment.

AllAboutTone · 9th June 2007

Sorry i could not refuse, you ask for it, the last Nickelback CD has some great tracks on it but the issue lies in the damn right COLD sounding production, sure it had tons on headroom but they did not foucs on tone for that CD.

I give the CD

I give the production fuuck

ps: if they have just released something in the past few months, weeks or so, then i have not heard that

drycounty · 9th June 2007

Not to steer you wrong, but it's doubtful anything "lower end" than pro tools HD was used on that shit. Therefore, ask in "high end"...

ddrumddude · 9th June 2007

Thanks for those who actually had some useful input.

I didn't ask in high end, because I want to see what can be done with minimal equipment. I remember a while back someone doing a mix with only a shure sm-57 that sounded pretty decent. Was it to THAT caliber, no, but I was impressed enough by it.

So, I'm looking to find out what is done to some extent on those recordings, and do what I can. I'll learn no matter what

One thing I was wondering about was on the song "photograph" It sounds to me like they are using a harmonizer. To me it doesn't even sound that "real", but I'm so new to all of this, it's hard for me to tell.

Just looking for ideas to try.

Rogervandeberg · 9th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by drycounty

Not to steer you wrong, but it's doubtful anything "lower end" than pro tools HD was used on that shit. Therefore, ask in "high end"...

Well, according to mix magazine, he used a rode ntk for vocals.....

Nickelback the long road album-recording the new nickelback rock CD

ddrumddude · 9th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogervandeberg

Well, according to mix magazine, he used a rode ntk for vocals.....

Nickelback the long road album-recording the new nickelback rock CD

WOW! Thanks! Not THAT is the kind of thing I was looking for!!!

I love this at the end...

Quote:

Ultimately, Nickelback's philosophy is best summed up by these words from Kroeger: “Every cake we bake has the same ingredients, it's just how much stuff we decide to throw into the icing.”

People talk as if they don't know they are doing that. I look it as, they have a recipe for something people like. They want more, and come back for it, who are we to say "you shouldn't like that".

I bet the people here that bash NB have their favorite foods that they eat over and over again. Interesting.

Anyway, thanks again!

narcoman · 9th June 2007

NB are as welcome to their success as anyone. Just dont ask me anything about them and we'll be fine. Ive met Kronos, i'd rather not say what i thought of him. the rest of the band were nice.

6strings · 9th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogervandeberg

Well, according to mix magazine, he used a rode ntk for vocals.....

I believe they used the Rode NT-5 for the acoustic on "Photograph" in combination with a pickup (from an interview with Chad and Ryan in Guitar World Acoustic magazine)...

ddrumddude · 9th June 2007

I'm not sure who Kronos is.?

I can't comment on how accomplished they are as musicians, aside from the drummer. That boy can Pa-lay!

Rogervandeberg · 9th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddrumddude

WOW! Thanks! Not THAT is the kind of thing I was looking for!!!

I love this at the end...

People talk as if they don't know they are doing that. I look it as, they have a recipe for something people like. They want more, and come back for it, who are we to say "you shouldn't like that".

I bet the people here that bash NB have their favorite foods that they eat over and over again. Interesting.

Anyway, thanks again!

Anytime

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6strings

I believe they used the Rode NT-5 for the acoustic on "Photograph" in combination with a pickup (from an interview with Chad and Ryan in Guitar World Acoustic magazine)...

That could be possible yes! nice! Not really on topic, but Bruce Swedien swears by the rode nt-4 on acoustic guitars, he posted pictures of his sessions somewhere on this forum.

ddrumddude · 10th June 2007

What kind of price are we talking about for these mics?

Jonboy79 · 10th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddrumddude

What kind of price are we talking about for these mics?

Google is your friend.

lowfreq33 · 10th June 2007

The biggest element in their sound is LOTS and LOTS of layering. Tons of guitars and bgv's kind of low in the mix, it makes sort of a bed for the stuff you hear conciously. Also lots of compression, single and parallel (especially on the vocals).

AMIEL · 10th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddrumddude

kh

One thing I was wondering about was on the song "photograph" It sounds to me like they are using a harmonizer. To me it doesn't even sound that "real", but I'm so new to all of this, it's hard for me to tell.

Just looking for ideas to try.

Well in Photograph the vocals sound like have a specail EFFX...sounds a bit artificial but sounds cool and i think is part of the success of that song and mix.

I wonder if they used any of antares vocal plug ins EFFX....

mjlaudio · 10th June 2007

I started a thread on those vocal efx in high end though nobody has replied yet......but if you listen to the def leppard classic albums you can hear joe elliot solo the track with what sounds like the exact same effect during Love Bites. wonder what it is ill bet its some kind of patch on an eventide or a vocoder or ring modulator. Id love to find out cause it is really remarkable......much like the whole album.....whether you like it or not it gets an instant reaction.

superburtm · 10th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6strings

I believe they used the Rode NT-5 for the acoustic on "Photograph" in combination with a pickup (from an interview with Chad and Ryan in Guitar World Acoustic magazine)...

it's a very unique acoustic sound on that song. I like it. It just always makes me scratch my head though. Is it me or is it crushed to hell with a very fast attack?

HIGHENDONLY · 10th June 2007

I think they have great songwriting.

s.d.finley · 10th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddrumddude

I'm not sure who Kronos is.?

Didnt Kronos play in another great canuk band.....Venom!!!!

AMIEL · 10th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by s.d.finley

Didnt Kronos play in another great canuk band.....Venom!!!!

I was thining the same!
but what have to do Venom with Nickelback!!!!

The Spark · 11th June 2007

Venom are English, not Canadian.

narcoman · 11th June 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddrumddude

I'm not sure who Kronos is.?

I can't comment on how accomplished they are as musicians, aside from the drummer. That boy can Pa-lay!

Kronos : Chad Kroeger.

Kronos : Vampire killer, no soul.

Call it anyway you like.

Yes, technically very proficient players. Top notch. Great recordings, perhaps a bit sterile though.

But again, no soul. As I said before, theyve done very well, deserve it and work hard. All dead to me though.....

macleodgrant · 11th June 2007

he definitley has a harmoniser on his voice and you can bet that it's an eventide one which would cost a fortune. waves ultrapitch could do something similar or melodyne

snüzz · 4th August 2007

nickel back has crappy unoriginal uncreative songs that pander to 14 year olds- reminds me of a rock rascal flatts. what is more important than how they get there sound might be how to avoid it. why not ask how leslie feist or ben folds get their sound? with feist it starts with not squashing everything to death like nickelback and with ben it starts with quality songwriting and lyrics unlike rascal flatts. please, no more nickelback sound-a-likes!

gm5k · 4th August 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rogervandeberg

Well, according to mix magazine, he used a rode ntk for vocals.....

Nickelback the long road album-recording the new nickelback rock CD

hes also used a rode k2 for lead vocals.

HIGHENDONLY · 4th August 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by snüzz

nickel back has crappy unoriginal uncreative songs that pander to 14 year olds- reminds me of a rock rascal flatts. what is more important than how they get there sound might be how to avoid it. why not ask how leslie feist or ben folds get their sound? with feist it starts with not squashing everything to death like nickelback and with ben it starts with quality songwriting and lyrics unlike rascal flatts. please, no more nickelback sound-a-likes!

Well they sold 6 million albums on their last album...They must be doing something right!! I don't get how that band gets so much hate,yet sells alot!!! I think they have great songwriting and sound. Ya they may sound alike on alot of tracks, but who cares. You can't hate on a band that's selling like that..

jimijay · 5th August 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by gm5k

hes also used a rode k2 for lead vocals.

Furthermore, if you don't have the Neve 1084 preamp, UREI 1176 compressor and Avalon 737 SP to go with the Rode mic, you're not going to get "that" sound... and don't forget the SSL for the mixdown.

FNM · 5th August 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddrumddude

I'm not sure who Kronos is.?

I can't comment on how accomplished they are as musicians, aside from the drummer. That boy can Pa-lay!

Doesn't Josh Freeze play drums on their recordings. I know he did on one of the albums at least, and 90% of the other shit from L.A.

9th June 2007	#1
ddrumddude Gear interested Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 29 Thread Starter	"Nickelback" sound What kinds of things are they doing in their mixes to get such a full sound? It's sort of like everything is a wall of sound...to me anyway. ---to the nickelback haters---please respect that this is something I am interested in. If you have a problem with them, just please move on. I'm not looking to start another -insert popular band here- war about how they suck so bad. Thanks!

9th June 2007	#5
AllAboutTone Gear Guru Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: S.Carolina Posts: 11,062	Sorry i could not refuse, you ask for it, the last Nickelback CD has some great tracks on it but the issue lies in the damn right COLD sounding production, sure it had tons on headroom but they did not foucs on tone for that CD. I give the CD I give the production fuuck ps: if they have just released something in the past few months, weeks or so, then i have not heard that __________________ *Don't Fuk with my Tone !!!. I need a spell check app API~ Dan Alexander~ Fuchs~ John Hardy ~JLM ~Studer 089 Fuchs Amps = Amazing Tone !!**

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9th June 2007	#2
jbuehler 3 + infractions, forum membership suspended. Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 893	Take Eddie Vedder..........punch him in the throat........and you get Nickleback sound.... Sorry I couldn't resist. I heard their latest single and it did sound super produced. I would say you would need at least 500K and 3 lifetimes worth of studio engineers to get the Nickleback sound.

9th June 2007	#6
drycounty Gear addict Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richmond VA USA Posts: 343	Not to steer you wrong, but it's doubtful anything "lower end" than pro tools HD was used on that shit. Therefore, ask in "high end"...

9th June 2007	#10
narcoman Lives for gear Join Date: May 2007 Location: UK Posts: 9,386	NB are as welcome to their success as anyone. Just dont ask me anything about them and we'll be fine. Ive met Kronos, i'd rather not say what i thought of him. the rest of the band were nice.

10th June 2007	#14
ddrumddude Gear interested Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 29 Thread Starter	What kind of price are we talking about for these mics?

10th June 2007	#16
lowfreq33 Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 2,186	The biggest element in their sound is LOTS and LOTS of layering. Tons of guitars and bgv's kind of low in the mix, it makes sort of a bed for the stuff you hear conciously. Also lots of compression, single and parallel (especially on the vocals).

10th June 2007	#18
mjlaudio Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 208	I started a thread on those vocal efx in high end though nobody has replied yet......but if you listen to the def leppard classic albums you can hear joe elliot solo the track with what sounds like the exact same effect during Love Bites. wonder what it is ill bet its some kind of patch on an eventide or a vocoder or ring modulator. Id love to find out cause it is really remarkable......much like the whole album.....whether you like it or not it gets an instant reaction.

10th June 2007	#20
HIGHENDONLY Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Middlebury CT Posts: 824	I think they have great songwriting.

11th June 2007	#23
The Spark Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 576	Venom are English, not Canadian.

11th June 2007	#25
macleodgrant Lives for gear Join Date: May 2007 Location: London Posts: 2,417	he definitley has a harmoniser on his voice and you can bet that it's an eventide one which would cost a fortune. waves ultrapitch could do something similar or melodyne

4th August 2007	#26
snüzz Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: n.c. Posts: 285	nickel back has crappy unoriginal uncreative songs that pander to 14 year olds- reminds me of a rock rascal flatts. what is more important than how they get there sound might be how to avoid it. why not ask how leslie feist or ben folds get their sound? with feist it starts with not squashing everything to death like nickelback and with ben it starts with quality songwriting and lyrics unlike rascal flatts. please, no more nickelback sound-a-likes!