Mix critique needed! ( Hip Hop )

[DjRio]

Hey all...

Here's a snippet of a first mix i just did in the studio for one of the groups im producing.....

Just wanted to hear some critiques on what can be fixed, etc...

Thanks in advance..

Roswell

[Gregg Sartiano]

Sounds good from what I can hear on CPU-system speakers -- I was surprised not to hear an 8-bar hook after the first sixteen, but it doesn't sound like the "formula single" anyway.

Mix sounds fine as far as I can tell on these speakers. There's a lot of bottom coming through on the CPU system, but I think that's just the Logitech sub talkin...

I like the sustain sound that comes in at the top of the second verse -- nice build there.

[DjRio]

Thanks! I noticed afterwards on other speakers that the bass is pretty loud haha..
I think i'll be turning that down for sure.
And yea its not in full song mode yet... there's actually going to be a singer on the hook. Should be quite nice...

[djui5]

The ad-lib thing in the middle of the first verse is a tad too loud I think.....

I like the balance of everything.......

Not diggin the snare though.....I think for a "Darker" song like this it should have a little more meat....

Also....the "chimes" should have some really bright verb on them.......to make them stand out a little more...and the piano too...

Maybe put some delay on the "shaker" thing on the left......1/4 notes.....or 1/2 notes.....whatever floats your boat.


Just my thoughts.....

Tight song though.

[DjRio]

Thanks Randy for the suggestions...

How do i make a bright sounding verb?

EQ the Reverb channel?

[thethrillfactor]

Nice balance.

Mix is a little 2D sounding though.

Some fine tuning in the panning could help.

Also some EQ ing through out can help give it more dimension and size.

The snare needs to be tweaked.

Sounds like there is a slight space right before the attack.

Fix that and maybe layer it with it a sidestick pitched to push the"thack" in the sound.

Also i like the vocals up and adlibs up so i guess its a matter of opinion.

In the first verse the adlibs could be automated a touch.

As well as the lead which i would reEQ and compress and automate to really pull people into the words.

Just an opinion.

[DjRio]

Thanks for all the suggestions.... Now for some questions!!

Question about samples.... if you have a main sample ( ex. the one in this song ),
is it a good idea to have it as a Stereo track? Or is it better to keep it mono...

I have this one strapped across as a Stereo and im wondering if that takes up too much "space", especially in songs that i might have alot of percussion, and maybe more samples on top.



And also, Thrillfactor, u say you'd recompress, would u add more?

I typically record with a 2:1 ratio going into Pro Tools, and then when mixing, i add another 3:1 ratio afterwards... is this too little? Or just about right.

As well as EQ, i usually subtract rather than add. I might add a little around the 6k area to give it some presence... is this the right way to go about it, or is it better to add more rather than take away.


Thanks for your time...