Mix Feedback Greatly Appreciated - Alternative Soft Rock

[ovdojoey]

Just did this little number last night and looking for some feedback to make sure the mix sits well. Also any advice on the arrangement is great as well.

Its all done in my little home studio and I play all the instruments and vocals.

Thanks for taking a listen, I think you will enjoy it


EDIT: Final6 is the most recent

[Michael Grafl]

Link?

[ovdojoey]

ah I guess my attachment didn't save the first time... sorry about that.

let me know what you think

[Beyersound]

Really like the song, sounds kinda like Wheat. As far mix opinions on first listen, I would: Blatantly sequence kick drum on the intro or trigger a very electronic sounding sample with it, I don't really hear what the bass is doing, it needs work, the mix seems to really lack low end, snare is not punchy, and kind of lost. This mix needs an anchor first (solid sounding rhythm section), then you can properly evaluate the rest.

[ovdojoey]

Thank you very much!
Do you think I should buss the snare and kick together and put some compressor on the bus?

Also nothing is real, its all sampled but I can def kick up the kick and maybe give some more punch in the low end...

[Beyersound]

Originally Posted by ovdojoey

Thank you very much!
Do you think I should buss the snare and kick together and put some compressor on the bus?

Also nothing is real, its all sampled but I can def kick up the kick and maybe give some more punch in the low end...

Different kick and snare sample would be great. I don't recommend bussing the kick in with the snare. With straight samples I usually have better luck processing kick and snare each separately from the other drums. If you use those same samples, they will need some serious EQ and compression to sit where you want them to, and some fader automation will really help them out. If you get a chance, read anything in the GS archives from Mike Shipley, he is a master of drum samples and automation. OK, he is a master of just about all mixing disciplines!

[ovdojoey]

I changed out the samples for the kick and did a little more compression on the drum and some guitars. I hope this mix sounds a little more "pro" I dont want to slam the whole mix and squash the dynamics but I know it needs to be pretty loud.

[Beyersound]

Originally Posted by ovdojoey

I changed out the samples for the kick and did a little more compression on the drum and some guitars. I hope this mix sounds a little more "pro" I dont want to slam the whole mix and squash the dynamics but I know it needs to be pretty loud.

No, you definitely don't want to slam the mix. Far too many people these days overdo 2 buss compression. Properly applied brickwall limiting can do good things for you, make the mix louder without being too noticeable, but that is a mastering thing. You don't so much need to make things "sound" compressed, but use compression to help bring some of the quieter parts up, so they stay in perspective with your mix. An alternative is a lot of fader automation (thank god for DAWs!), I tend to do a blend of both. With the right compressor (1176, etc) applied to the individual track, you can also get the effect of snare and/or kick jumping out at you more (but still in a controlled way), and the leading edge of the transient sounding more controlled, and sitting better in the mix. The kick in this mix is better, I will listen to it some more, have been really busy this week!

[chrislongwood]

on a side note. i think the panning you have going on is really cool.

[Beyersound]

Originally Posted by chrislongwood

on a side note. i think the panning you have going on is really cool.

+1, I agree! I know it may not be a popular opinion at GS, but I like panning that is more than just straight LCR. The mixers that influenced me used the whole panorama in a mix, you can really hear the difference. Nice job on that Joey!

[rodreb]

I think it's great. Love it. Very nice song. Vocal has a really nice quality to it. Good job.