Please review this mix

[Way Of The Heart]

Originally Posted by Roman Rowlands

Hi all,

Would like to hear opinions on this mix (not arrangement/composition/performance), just the mix itself. It's a non-mastered version. Do you see issues in compression or equalisation, mono compatibility, etc.

Thanks guys

I think you have a done a great job. Everything has it's place and is sitting well. Smooth mix, good vocal tone, good performances also. Critique stylistically: There is a great deal of shimmer and presence on the track that tends to eat away some of the body. (sounds like self-mastering?) this is also evident by the volume of the track. It is at mastered level right now. Not much room for an ME to work and it is always easier to add shimmer than take it off. Something to consider.

Great work Roman!

[Roman Rowlands]

Originally Posted by Rodney Gene

I think you have a done a great job. Everything has it's place and is sitting well. Smooth mix, good vocal tone, good performances also. Critique stylistically: There is a great deal of shimmer and presence on the track that tends to eat away some of the body. (sounds like self-mastering?) this is also evident by the volume of the track. It is at mastered level right now. Not much room for an ME to work and it is always easier to add shimmer than take it off. Something to consider.

Great work Roman!

Hi Rodney,

Thanks for the thumbs up, but it's not my mix, it's been done by a friend of mine, I just wanted to get feedback from people, like yourself, of what they thought the mix was lacking or had too much of. BTW it hasn't been mastered, peaks are high yes, yet RMS is -16 and dynamic range is a healthy 13. High peaks is part of the problem that I personally see with this mix. I sense he wants a ME to do 2 buss compression, instead of compressing more individual tracks. I agree with the "shimmer" comment. IMHO vocal should shine and not be fighting with other parts of the arrangement for its place in the shimmerness. Thanks!

Any more?

[Way Of The Heart]

Originally Posted by Roman Rowlands

Hi Rodney,

Thanks for the thumbs up, but it's not my mix, it's been done by a friend of mine, I just wanted to get feedback from people, like yourself, of what they thought the mix was lacking or had too much of. BTW it hasn't been mastered, peaks are high yes, yet RMS is -16 and dynamic range is a healthy 13. High peaks is part of the problem that I personally see with this mix. I sense he wants a ME to do 2 buss compression, instead of compressing more individual tracks. I agree with the "shimmer" comment. IMHO vocal should shine and not be fighting with other parts of the arrangement for its place in the shimmerness. Thanks!

Any more?

Hi Roman. Yes I believe it is stylistic. I am not familiar with this type/style of music so perhaps the 'high-end shimmer/polish is appropriate? I have reference tracks from a different era myself where there is a bit more natural body (mids) available to breathe. As for the loudness, I found I had my monitor up a bit higher that usual as I was tracking today. On a scope however (WaveLab 7) this has an average rms of 12.5 and a maximum peak in the red often. I can post a screen shot though I suspect it is because it is MP3. The original .wav surely has more headroom.

Still an interesting song production. Dramatic sounding and contemporary... Since I don't understand the language I can only surmise on the lyrical content. I hope it is deep~

Cheers!

[Roman Rowlands]

Originally Posted by Rodney Gene

Hi Roman. Yes I believe it is stylistic. I am not familiar with this type/style of music so perhaps the 'high-end shimmer/polish is appropriate? I have reference tracks from a different era myself where there is a bit more natural body (mids) available to breathe. As for the loudness, I found I had my monitor up a bit higher that usual as I was tracking today. On a scope however (WaveLab 7) this has an average rms of 12.5 and a maximum peak in the red often. I can post a screen shot though I suspect it is because it is MP3. The original .wav surely has more headroom.

Still an interesting song production. Dramatic sounding and contemporary... Since I don't understand the language I can only surmise on the lyrical content. I hope it is deep~

Cheers!

I compared to current Grammy winning albums and this one is definitely a lot brighter, so when this gets mastered it will be even brighter I assume, unless ME sorts it out. Thanks for the comments.