Chinese Ska band- live recording-tips and critiques please

[mingustoo]

Ok, coming out of the closet here. I've been reading lots on this site and trying to improve my skills as well as find the right equipment. I'm looking for some suggestions and critiques. This was recorded live in a club a few weeks ago. The room is just a big cement box (capacity approx. 220) with absolutely no sound teatment, with the band on a hollow stage in one corner. It was recorded through a Mackie Onyx 1640 into Ableton live on a Macbook's internal drive and then mixed in Pro Tools.
Before finishing up on this I'd really love some experienced input. you can d/l it here.. drop.io 89k112809skaraokeintheood624

[Remoteness]

I don't know, perhaps a better balance of the tracks would be my first suggestion...

What do you think about the tracks you cut?

[neurosound]

Hmmm, maybe have a look at your monitor set up.

As Remoteness said, a better balance of the vocals and instruments would be a good start...

[mingustoo]

wow, I thought this had gone to where posts go to die.
Remoteness, thanks for taking the time to listen and comment. I have read about 2000 of your posts, but isn't this like saying my photographs would be much better if only I were a better photographer?
It is quite possible that I am not listening objectively enough as I am pretty stoked to be able to get any kind of (albeit halfway) decent results from the inside of a cement cube.
Listening again, it seems bass heavy now. I just put my Adam A7's up on some 2" foam so maybe that had an effect.
My room is not the greatest, but it has gobs of 100kg/msq rockwool in the corners and along the walls.

[Remoteness]

Believe it or not, I do my best to read each and every post on the forum.

If I feel the thread needs a bump, I make it so...

Yes, sometimes threads do indeed go to where threads go to die, but not in this case.

What, you only read 2000 of my posts?
What gives brother?

I don't think it's like saying "your photographs would be much better if only I were a better photographer," because the tracks you cut sound just fine.

IMO, they need a better balance, so the instruments and vocal can sit better in the mix.
A little EQ and some compression and you got exactly what you were looking for.

I totally understand where you're coming from with regard to not listening objectively enough.
I'm the same way, but I always think I can do better; I mean it never sounds right when I'm working on stuff.
I need to separate myself from the project to actually get a true objective view point.

As you know, getting your mixing environment set up right is extremely important.
I would work on getting your control room totally buttoned up before you make any critical mix decisions.

All the best!

[mingustoo]

Remoteness and Neuro:
here is a different cut from the same night. I finished something else I was working on so had a chance to mix this up today.
Any comments would be appreciated.

[Remoteness]

You didn't include the file with you post...

Where can we find the file you just remixed?

[mingustoo]

haha...oops
drop.io 89k112109skaraokeduimiandenuhai8316

[Remoteness]

That's better to my ears.
Nice work!
Is it me or should the vocals sit in the mix more?
They seem to be a bit louder than necessary.
That being said, your latest mix is an improvement and going in the right direction.


What do you think?

[mingustoo]

I think, this is what my mixes sound like lately. I don't know what I was doing putting that first mix up. Maybe I uploaded the wrong mix. It was a while ago.
I'll do one with the vox pulled back into the mix a little more.
Thanks again for your imput. Being able to have this technology at my fingertips makes me feel like a kid with a free pass to Disneyland.

[mingustoo]

Actually what I really think is that..-the bass has no definition. It is just bouncing around in the background (maybe that's artistic-I dont know)
-I could/should have fixed the drum mess-up right at the end of the intro when it's coming into the first verse.
-the vox may be a little too loud
-perhaps I could hide/cut the end of the trumpet solo as it runs out of gas and falls flat
-its a static mix
-dont even start on the drums
-the horns sound like they are using cheap mics ( which they are)
-I've squashed the hell out of it instead of mixing the tracks
...I'm curious to know if this is a fair assessment, or if it is ok?

[Remoteness]

It makes sense...

I feel you described exactly what should be done to the mix.

Well done, you're on your way to being a mix master.

Keep up the good work!