My first real mix - need a critique / advice

[smashbrand]

Alright, things never sound quite like they do on the monitors.

First Caveat, I am not a vocalist but don't have one right now. So I made an attempt and used Melodyne on a copied track to place a copy of my vocals and octave up.

Everything was recorded on BAE 1073's then for the drums I ran out of BAE's and used Great River MP2NV and Germanium pre. (5 mics total). 2 Oveerhead (P12's), 1 Snare (SM57), 1 Kick (Sure) and 1 Subkick. Then added a little sample layering where it needed it.

I play everything, normally however I don't mix. I would let someone else do that. This time I gave it a try with my UAD-2 Neve plugins. Any advice from you guys would be greatly appreciated if you are hearing something that could make this first mixing attempt sound better. Compession is just something I feel like I cannot get right. I invested and finally setup this home studio to really start learning how to learn mixing by trial, error, and advice. Before this it was all on a digi 002r. Big difference.

Link to song: http://anabolicx.com/ad/Quite_Hope.mp3

[LSeater]

First, I like the song and I think you're a better vocalist than you give yourself credit for. Now for the not so good (IMO) I have to say the snare doesn't sit well in the mix. The vocals should come up more. They're sitting way to far back in the mix.

I hope this helps. I really do like the song! Good luck...

[smashbrand]

Originally Posted by LSeater

First, I like the song and I think you're a better vocalist than you give yourself credit for. Now for the not so good (IMO) I have to say the snare doesn't sit well in the mix. The vocals should come up more. They're sitting way to far back in the mix.

I hope this helps. I really do like the song! Good luck...

Good advice, gives me something to work on tomorrow. Thanks

On the monitors the snare and acc guitar sounded good IMO, then bounced the guitar sounded very bright and the snare loud and kind of poppy. So thanks.

Also a very noob question. When you say vocals are far back, we are talking volume wise correct? I tried panning everything out a little on the track besides the drums to make some room in the middle for vocals.

[LSeater]

Correct on the vocals. I think that the lead vocal on most pop songs are the focus and as such they should be loud enough to achieve that focus as you are listening to the song. A good exercise to try is to take a track that you think is a similar type of mix and throw it into your project and then use the levels as a guide for the song you are mixing. Just sort of A - B between your mix and the guide song to set the volume levels and how different elements of your mix is panned. Just an idea...

Please remember that this is just my opinion and I'm more a fan of music than an expert.

Good luck!

[LSeater]

BTW... really nice looking home studio setup!!

[smashbrand]

Thanks.

[BadJones]

Snare sounds like it has a gate that's closing too soon. It almost sounds like you miced the bottom of the snare and not the top. There's no omphh just wire sound. Vocals need to be more upfront also. The song is very nice and I like. Love your little studio. Some wall treatment may help make mixing easier.

[smashbrand]

Originally Posted by BadJones

Snare sounds like it has a gate that's closing too soon. It almost sounds like you miced the bottom of the snare and not the top. There's no omphh just wire sound. Vocals need to be more upfront also. The song is very nice and I like. Love your little studio. Some wall treatment may help make mixing easier.

Thanks for the advice...I will work on that.

And yes, treatments are next. Need to save up the fun money a bit, but that will be the next step for the little home studio. I probably should have budgeted that in the first place.

[rhythminmind]

Not a bad track.
Yes let the gate have a longer release on the snare & have it be 1st in your chain, Try a slower attack on the snare compressor. I would also ad some 2-5k on the kick. I think you should cut out the hat counting parts. If it where me i would kill most of the verb on the mix..

[smashbrand]

Originally Posted by rhythminmind

Not a bad track.
Yes let the gate have a longer release on the snare & have it be 1st in your chain, Try a slower attack on the snare compressor. I would also ad some 2-5k on the kick. I think you should cut out the hat counting parts. If it where me i would kill most of the verb on the mix..

Thanks Mate, good advice. Working on it now.

[MMski]

I actually like that sound of gate on the snare, just not on the ghost notes. Turn it down in the mix, and bring them vocals forward!