pop rock critique

not like this · 10th November 2004

I am mixing this band full of kids just out of high school. They tracked at home and I'm mixing ITB with DP4.5.

I can't get the distored guitars to sit how I want them to. Any suggestions? Other comments are welcome too. I don't fancy myself much of a mixer, but I'm working hard to improve.

Mystery Girl

(Edit: I updated the link to a new mix.. closer but not quite).

axeman69 · 10th November 2004

High school kids, huh? They're really good. The guy has a great voice.

Drummer is solid, but it seems like he's a bit afraid to smack 'em.

I like the guitars for the most part. But, there's a bit of a strange overtone happening on the lead guitar at around 2:04. The distorted rhythm part is sort of a unnatural tone for the song. I was expecting more of a tripple rec sound. The rhythm and lead separtion at about 4:00 is sort of odd. Sort of throws me around a bit.

Boby Stoica · 15th November 2004

Hi.
Sounds ok.
My 2 cents:
1. You can try it with the lead vox a bit down.
2. is it soundreplacer or copy-paste on parts of the snare ? There is a snare fill wich sounds pretty machine-like- enetring first chorus. Maybe you can tweak it more with timing or pitchshiftiing - I know it's hard to dig this, 'cause I had it with my latest post as well.
3. The singer is a bit false - there are words where U can Autotune it more.
4. Also, I feel the guitars on the choruses are a bit down - I know it's about taste.
5. Did U automate the overheads? On the final choruses I feel them a bit louder. Also in the begining, he's doing the cymbal thing a bit dynamically - maybe you can bring it down-up..down-up.. it can bring more space to the song and U can bring down the lead vox and still hear it clearly.

These are thoughts for further improvement - assuming that the rest is ok - I don't wanna be the hardass who telss only what's wrong.

Good luck.

not like this · 15th November 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Boby Stoica
Hi.
Sounds ok.
My 2 cents:
1. You can try it with the lead vox a bit down.
2. is it soundreplacer or copy-paste on parts of the snare ? There is a snare fill wich sounds pretty machine-like- enetring first chorus. Maybe you can tweak it more with timing or pitchshiftiing - I know it's hard to dig this, 'cause I had it with my latest post as well.
3. The singer is a bit false - there are words where U can Autotune it more.
4. Also, I feel the guitars on the choruses are a bit down - I know it's about taste.
5. Did U automate the overheads? On the final choruses I feel them a bit louder. Also in the begining, he's doing the cymbal thing a bit dynamically - maybe you can bring it down-up..down-up.. it can bring more space to the song and U can bring down the lead vox and still hear it clearly.

These are thoughts for further improvement - assuming that the rest is ok - I don't wanna be the hardass who telss only what's wrong.

Good luck.

Thanks for the feedback!

1. I agree
2. No, that is the original snare drum track. I didn't touch it.
3. I have not autotuned the vocal at all, but I probably will when I have the time.
4. I agree the guitars are down too low.
5. No automation on the OH's. I believe he's just playing louder at the end. I'm not sure I understand your other comment. He is too dynamic at the beginning and you want me to automate that out? Or are you saying he isn't dynamic enough.

Thanks again!

Boby Stoica · 15th November 2004

Automate the OHs to have the same presence over the song. For my ears, in the begining he's doing the cymbals thing and I hear it too upfront - maybe because the arrangement is not yet developed (full). In the end, the same - I hear the cymbals on 1st beat accents a bit too loud.

wallace · 23rd November 2004

Hey,
It sounds pretty good. I like the sounds you are getting for the most part... I noticed a glich (the sound dropped out for a second at one point around the first chorus). The acoustic guitar sounds good, but the snare kind of pops out in a wierd way. I agree with some of the others about the lead guitar being to quiet, but only at the beginning maybe. I like the vocals. What was the vocal chain?

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing..

10th November 2004	#1
not like this Gear maniac Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 162 Thread Starter	pop rock critique I am mixing this band full of kids just out of high school. They tracked at home and I'm mixing ITB with DP4.5. I can't get the distored guitars to sit how I want them to. Any suggestions? Other comments are welcome too. I don't fancy myself much of a mixer, but I'm working hard to improve. Mystery Girl (Edit: I updated the link to a new mix.. closer but not quite).

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10th November 2004	#2
axeman69 Gear nut Joined: Jun 2004 Location: Central Pa. Posts: 78	High school kids, huh? They're really good. The guy has a great voice. Drummer is solid, but it seems like he's a bit afraid to smack 'em. I like the guitars for the most part. But, there's a bit of a strange overtone happening on the lead guitar at around 2:04. The distorted rhythm part is sort of a unnatural tone for the song. I was expecting more of a tripple rec sound. The rhythm and lead separtion at about 4:00 is sort of odd. Sort of throws me around a bit.

15th November 2004	#3
Boby Stoica Gear maniac Joined: Dec 2003 Location: Bucharest, Romania Posts: 281	Hi. Sounds ok. My 2 cents: 1. You can try it with the lead vox a bit down. 2. is it soundreplacer or copy-paste on parts of the snare ? There is a snare fill wich sounds pretty machine-like- enetring first chorus. Maybe you can tweak it more with timing or pitchshiftiing - I know it's hard to dig this, 'cause I had it with my latest post as well. 3. The singer is a bit false - there are words where U can Autotune it more. 4. Also, I feel the guitars on the choruses are a bit down - I know it's about taste. 5. Did U automate the overheads? On the final choruses I feel them a bit louder. Also in the begining, he's doing the cymbal thing a bit dynamically - maybe you can bring it down-up..down-up.. it can bring more space to the song and U can bring down the lead vox and still hear it clearly. These are thoughts for further improvement - assuming that the rest is ok - I don't wanna be the hardass who telss only what's wrong. Good luck.

23rd November 2004	#6
wallace Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,086	Hey, It sounds pretty good. I like the sounds you are getting for the most part... I noticed a glich (the sound dropped out for a second at one point around the first chorus). The acoustic guitar sounds good, but the snare kind of pops out in a wierd way. I agree with some of the others about the lead guitar being to quiet, but only at the beginning maybe. I like the vocals. What was the vocal chain? Good stuff. Thanks for sharing..