ROCK MIX ITB (Nickelback / Theory of a deadman / Burn Halo)

[luctellier]

Hey folks,

Just finished a mix totally in the box. This is the first song out of 3. This band has only 3 members and they wanted to keep their live sound as much as possible and I tried to respect that. So, no lead guitars, no overdubs, not a ton of back vocals, etc.

I use Cubase 5 and it's internal plugins (reverbs, delays, compressor), Waves SSL and UAD plugins (1176, Pultec-Pro).

Any comments on the mix more than welcome!

PLAYER HERE

Geeky infos for ya:

Drums:
Pearl Master Series
Midas Venice 240
Kick In: Shure Beta52A
Kick Out: Custom Yahama Subkick
Sn Top: Audix i5
Sn Bot: Shure SM57
Tom: Sennheiser MD421
Tom Floor: AKG D112
Overheads: Rode NT1000
Rooms: Rode NT1000
Hi-Hat: AKG414

Bass:
Ernie Ball Stingray 5
Ampeg SVT Classic
Ampeg 8x10 (Shure Beta 52)
SansAmp RBI
DBX160

Guitar:
Gibson Lespaul Studio
Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier
Randall 4x12
Shure 57
Sennheiser MD421

Vocal:
Neuman TLM103
SPL TrackOne

[imloggedin]

Sounds great man. All of your stuff on your myspace does. Good job.

[luctellier]

Originally Posted by imloggedin

Sounds great man. All of your stuff on your myspace does. Good job.

Thanks! I've just updated my MySpace today. Most of the stuff was dated from last year. I'll add some more recent projects next week!

[CosmeLiccardo]

That's a great mix, and I can see the gear that you used is great also! I'd really like to know what you used for mastering, it sounds powerful and clean! And when you mean mixed in the box, do you mean pro tools or what other DAW?

[andersmv]

I've been playing around with a foo fighters session the past few days and it reminds me a lot of it. Good stuff, personally I would take a little bit of the snare sample out of the blend (Not much though).

[luctellier]

Originally Posted by CosmeLiccardo

That's a great mix, and I can see the gear that you used is great also! I'd really like to know what you used for mastering, it sounds powerful and clean! And when you mean mixed in the box, do you mean pro tools or what other DAW?

Thanks! Mixed totally in the box using Cubase 5.

[luctellier]

Originally Posted by andersmv

I've been playing around with a foo fighters session the past few days and it reminds me a lot of it. Good stuff, personally I would take a little bit of the snare sample out of the blend (Not much though).

Yeah, I forgot to mention that! Foo Fighters is also one of their big influences and I personally really like this band. The fader of the snare sample is around -35db. If I reduce it, it would be almost inaudible. The drummer was a constant hard hitter and tight as hell. One of the best I've recorded so far!

Thanks for your input!

[Mesa4x12er]

I'm getting really sick of your clips...


























....all kicking ass!!!

You're ears are golden man. Everything you do sounds tasteful and beyond pro. Hopefully I get to that point someday... won't hold my breath though!

[JB872]

Sounds great man. Care to share what plugin you used on what?

[MarkRB]

Man, I don't know how you consistently post stuff that sounds so damn good!
I think we have to rule "luck" out

I really love the buzzy bass sound in the intro and verses, and the vocals sound great.

There were maybe a couple of points where the energy dropped a bit that could be fixed by a fader ride or two. Like the bridge @ 0:40 and again at 1:40.

The guitar drop at the end of the M8 sounds fkn ace!

My only other crit would be that the drums do sound a bit disjointed at times. I'd be interested to hear what a bit more OH/room/trash sounds like in the bridges.

[luctellier]

Originally Posted by JB872

Sounds great man. Care to share what plugin you used on what?

Thanks!

Drums Channels: Waves SSL E-Channel Strip, Cubase's Reverb
Drum Buss: Waves API 2500
Bass: Waves SSL E-Channel Strip, 1176
Guitars: Waves SSL E-Channel Strip
Leadvox: 1176, Cubase's Reverb and Delay, UAD Plate-140
Backvox: Waves Renaissance Comp, ubase's Reverb and Delay, UAD Plate-140
Master Buss: Pultec-Pro, Waves API 2500

[shakespearesmans]

Mix sounds FANTASTIC!!


Vocalist... not so much.

[luctellier]

Originally Posted by shakespearesmans

Mix sounds FANTASTIC!!


Vocalist... not so much.

Haha thanks!

Some will like him, some other don't.. matter of taste!

[G-Spot]

Congrats!
Which sample did you use for the snare? Did you use other drum samples?

[luctellier]

Originally Posted by G-Spot

Congrats!
Which sample did you use for the snare? Did you use other drum samples?

Thanks! Nice nick name btw!

It's just a single snare hit taken from the actual kit at the beginning of the session. It's very very low in the mix. In fact, I could mute the sample track and the drum would sound exactly the same. It's only there for consistency.

[G-Spot]

I'm impressed, I thought it would be one from Steven Slate.
Do you also master your stuff? What do you use?

Thanks, I came up with that nick name because i have a couple of friends which have nick names made with a color followed by "spot"... like red-spot or black-spot... but I thought it was kind of boring so first I thought of B-Spot (as for bass) but then B kind reminded me of B-stock... so I came up with G (guitar or gear)... and then I thought... hey... it also means... . I'm glad no one had that one here in Gearslutz

[luctellier]

Originally Posted by G-Spot

I'm impressed, I thought it would be one from Steven Slate.
Do you also master your stuff? What do you use?

Thanks, I came up with that nick name because i have a couple of friends which have nick names made with a color followed by "spot"... like red-spot or black-spot... but I thought it was kind of boring so first I thought of B-Spot (as for bass) but then B kind reminded me of B-stock... so I came up with G (guitar or gear)... and then I thought... hey... it also means... . I'm glad no one had that one here in Gearslutz

I only use my own samples (from the drummer's kit). I do master my own stuff using Pultecs, Waves SSL Comp, Waves API 2500.. it really depends. But since I master my own stuff, most of the time I fix it directly in the mix.

[JB872]

Originally Posted by luctellier

Thanks!

Drums Channels: Waves SSL E-Channel Strip, Cubase's Reverb
Drum Buss: Waves API 2500
Bass: Waves SSL E-Channel Strip, 1176
Guitars: Waves SSL E-Channel Strip
Leadvox: 1176, Cubase's Reverb and Delay, UAD Plate-140
Backvox: Waves Renaissance Comp, ubase's Reverb and Delay, UAD Plate-140
Master Buss: Pultec-Pro, Waves API 2500

Thank you. Are you mixing into the Waves API 2500 and Pultec-Pro on the Master Buss from the beginning or are you putting them on at the end of the mix?

[luctellier]

Originally Posted by JB872

Thank you. Are you mixing into the Waves API 2500 and Pultec-Pro on the Master Buss from the beginning or are you putting them on at the end of the mix?

No problem man! I don't put anything on the master until the mix is in good shape. Peaks not exceeding -5 to -3dbfs. Then I add a master buss compressor (SSL or API 2500) and see if it brings anything good to the mix. If it does, I tweak a bit and make adjustements to any elements that needs it. Most of the time it's doing barely nothing (about 1 to 2db of GR).

I added the Pultec Pro at the end of the mix because I compared with commercial release and the mix needed 1.5dB at 8khz overall and a little low-mid scooping around 300-500hz.

[dysenterygary]

That mix sounds really incredible! nice job. your work on that song is really inspiring. What sorts of pres did you use on the drums and guitars? You NAILED those guitars too! wow. anyway, nice job!!

[luctellier]

Originally Posted by dysentarygary

That mix sounds really incredible! nice job. your work on that song is really inspiring. What sorts of pres did you use on the drums and guitars? You NAILED those guitars too! wow. anyway, nice job!!

Thank you very much! Midas Venice 240 console preamps for everything except vocals.

[G-Spot]

Originally Posted by luctellier

I only use my own samples (from the drummer's kit). I do master my own stuff using Pultecs, Waves SSL Comp, Waves API 2500.. it really depends. But since I master my own stuff, most of the time I fix it directly in the mix.

No limiters in the Mastering chain? How do you get such "commercial" levels?
Thanks for sharing

[dysenterygary]

what types of converters do you use?

[luctellier]

Originally Posted by G-Spot

No limiters in the Mastering chain? How do you get such "commercial" levels?
Thanks for sharing

I could tell you but then I would have to kill you.

[luctellier]

Originally Posted by dysentarygary

what types of converters do you use?

MOTU 896 and MOTU 828. I guess they suck but I never recorded with anything else. I'm sure good converters does make a difference but I try to do the best I can with what I have for the moment... Just like the Rode NT1000 as overhead and room mics. I wish I had something better for those application!

[xgabrielx]

dude I´m a hugh fan of your work!!!!

I hear very little distortion in your master.
I think it comes from the waves api 2500.
But it sounds great, and LIVE

[ssl_ambition]

very good job

maybe i would use other reverbs and create just a little bit more space, but that's just me. the mix is great.
no other fx on the vox/instruments than reverb and delay?

btw. i dig the DelsonDrive tracks

[G-Spot]

Originally Posted by luctellier

I could tell you but then I would have to kill you.

Sorry but you can't kill me... I already sold my soul for an SSL console!!!

[ssl_ambition]

Originally Posted by G-Spot

Sorry but you can't kill me... I already sold my soul for an SSL console!!!

Now he gotta come up with how to get such "commercial" levels without a limiter. God thank SSL hahaha

[G-Spot]

Originally Posted by ssl_ambition

Now he gotta come up with how to get such "commercial" levels without a limiter. God thank SSL hahaha

In this case should not be "Devil thank SSL"? ...
anyway, If luctellier says "Behringer" I'll kill him!!! Unless he already sold his soul to get those levels without limiters, and he doesn't need hardware