Tips, tactics & techniques for mixing a 24trk live recording

[bckid]

Well, i am facing the following situation:

I work as a PostProducer for a web broadcast company.
Usually i just finalize the sound for clips, interviews, features...
Occasionally we are doing live recordings. Recently we recorded
a quite famous rockband. Or better: we got 24 tracks from their live engineer, recorded on a hd recorder via direct out (pre-fader). These will be used for their DVD end of the year.

I am in charge to mix the concert for the actual online presentation.
Well, i am not too experienced in mixing this kind of stuff, so i hired
an external mixengineer to do the mix for me. I know him beeing an excellent live rock engineer and he creates quite cool mixes for his clients.
But this time it just didnt work. In the first mix he delivered the vocals
were mixed way too low. We asked him to do another one with more
focus on the vocals. This also did not come out very well. The band hated the mix.

The production has to be delivered next week. As i already paid the mixguy and the deadline is near i will have to do it.

Ok. I am not bad in mixing. Mostly i produce my own stuff and also mix it with assistance. But this is more on the electronic pop side.

(we had a nice discussion about the question of mixing your own stuff in this thread: I am about to mix my debut album and need some tips btw the album in question is in stores sice monday i will elaborate on my experiences later..)


I am looking for some advice on more rock orientated stuff.
(here is a song of the band: YouTube - Slut - Easy To Love)

I think i´ll get the overall balance right. But as i am not too experienced with guitars and live drums (with obvious minor micing faults) i´d like to request some advice or tips on how to make the mix better.
I talked to the singer and he told me, they found the first mix to be too
heavy and compact and would like to sound more open and "fly".

So what do you think? Where should i start?

p.s. i am working on a protools ata system w/ mptk and a bunch of
waves, sonalksis and stillwell stuff.

[chrishansson]

Woops, misread the thread, ... in the head.. while in bed .. when can I get fed?