Please Critique These Mixes?

Joel DuBay · 12th October 2005

Hello,

So many of your are so far beyond my capabilities in terms of recording and mixing, that I hoped I might post a couple of examples of work I have collaborated on and open them up to public critique. I am not certain where on this forum to post them, so if this is not the best place here at GearSlutz, please tell me.

Now, these songs are the product of a two man project between me, Joel DuBay (Minneapolis) and Jacques Soubra (Perpignan, France). My part is vocals and some guitars. Jacques does everything else.

I thought it might be interesting to make this sort of a challenge to see if anyone can guess the gear used for these songs as well as hear what you might do differently at any point in the process.

There is a cover of Led Zep's "Kashmir" in here, so I am ready for a lambasting!

So, before I post them, please let me know if you'd be interested in this little excersize?

I look forward to your replies and proper placement of these songs/mixes for your consideration.

Song 1. Drums of War

Song 2. Kashmir

Cheers,

Joel DuBay

AlexLakis · 12th October 2005

Fair enough...where are the songs?

Joel DuBay · 12th October 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexLakis

Fair enough...where are the songs?

Hey, I just added them to the post at the top of this page.

~ J

djui5 · 13th October 2005

Very interesting cover of Kashmir...

The mix is pretty good. I'd add some pre-delay to the vocals. Seems like the verb is clouding them a bit. Also might not hurt to turn them up a touch..

The kick needs to be a lot more punchy and needs a bit more low end.

The top end of the mix seems a little thin too...not sure what your working on. It's not bad really, just a touch brittle for my tastes, especially on a song like this.

The vox also has this "breaking glass" sound to it on the top. It's quite disturbing.

Performances are good. Nice cover...interesting perspective. It's almost middle eastern'ish and lends itself quite nicely to the song. It feels sorta like the song should have been played, if you know what I mean.

djui5 · 13th October 2005

Drums of War,

same top end comments, and the punchyness on the kick.

I think the guitars could have a bit more power. They're trying to say something and your holding them back a little...

I'm hearing a few bad notes in the bass.

AlexLakis · 13th October 2005

Pretty cool stuff! Sounds good. The drum parts are reeeally busy, they pretty much dominate everything. Interesting use of funk guitar in both songs...It sounds to me like there should be something in the silence at around 3:00 in the first track...just too quiet, maybe just a little dark quiet ambience to tie it together, since there are no room mics to define a space for the song. Sounds like a good production team to me! Keep up the good work! thumbsup

Jason Poulin · 13th October 2005

Cool song man! (drums of war) Drum Kit from Hell or real drummer? Sounds real but the kit sounds like a sampled kit from that CD.

Anyhow, I'm a big fan of progressive material and I think it's very original.

Vocals sound too old school

Good balance throughout the mix.

guitars lack power and kick can hit a little more low end.

Over all I like it.

Jason

Jason Poulin · 13th October 2005

Kashmir is a cool cover but that peaking freq. on the snare is killing me.

Sorry.

Good mix though... minus the snare haha

All I hear is the ping and it's distracting

Great muscianship

Jason

bukarin · 13th October 2005

Drumkits From Hell!

The kit sounds like the demo song, overplayed and far too clean. Overall is interesting
but a little too musical theatre for my tastes. The tracks really lack any grit or edge, the guitars for example sound like Amplitube or similar. I'm hazarding a guess it was all done in ITB using exstensive samples and virtual amps. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't all entirely programmed, well programmed of course!

The drums really need some interesting and phat compression mix wise, a decent room sound would also help (artifical or not). The vocal sits in an odd space too, loud but not upfront or aggressive, I think half of this is the delivery and half the mixing. The pre delay mentioned in an earlier post would be useful and maybe just a little less verb with more aggressive compression.

Well there you go, not trying to be clever or rude, just what I really think, honestly!

ps. If you tracked this in Oceanway I want photographic evidence.

Joel DuBay · 13th October 2005

Cheers All!

Thank you so much for your feedback and critique. This is useful information and ideas that will lend well to additional mixes and enhanced perfromances.

I am hoping for some more comments from others as well!
Please, I am not offended by constructive, or instructive critique, so fire away!

Thank you again for your time and interest!

~ J

12th October 2005	#1
Joel DuBay Gear maniac Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 235 Thread Starter	Please Critique These Mixes? Hello, So many of your are so far beyond my capabilities in terms of recording and mixing, that I hoped I might post a couple of examples of work I have collaborated on and open them up to public critique. I am not certain where on this forum to post them, so if this is not the best place here at GearSlutz, please tell me. Now, these songs are the product of a two man project between me, Joel DuBay (Minneapolis) and Jacques Soubra (Perpignan, France). My part is vocals and some guitars. Jacques does everything else. I thought it might be interesting to make this sort of a challenge to see if anyone can guess the gear used for these songs as well as hear what you might do differently at any point in the process. There is a cover of Led Zep's "Kashmir" in here, so I am ready for a lambasting! So, before I post them, please let me know if you'd be interested in this little excersize? I look forward to your replies and proper placement of these songs/mixes for your consideration. Song 1. Drums of War Song 2. Kashmir Cheers, Joel DuBay __________________ Joel DuBay Ready Acoustic Panels and DIY www.readyacoustics.com

13th October 2005	#4
djui5 Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Phoenix Posts: 6,664	Very interesting cover of Kashmir... The mix is pretty good. I'd add some pre-delay to the vocals. Seems like the verb is clouding them a bit. Also might not hurt to turn them up a touch.. The kick needs to be a lot more punchy and needs a bit more low end. The top end of the mix seems a little thin too...not sure what your working on. It's not bad really, just a touch brittle for my tastes, especially on a song like this. The vox also has this "breaking glass" sound to it on the top. It's quite disturbing. Performances are good. Nice cover...interesting perspective. It's almost middle eastern'ish and lends itself quite nicely to the song. It feels sorta like the song should have been played, if you know what I mean. __________________ _________________ "What is a crossfire hurricane & why wasn't I born in one?" Randy Wright

13th October 2005	#7
Jason Poulin Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2003 Location: Sudbury, On. Canada Posts: 1,780	Cool song man! (drums of war) Drum Kit from Hell or real drummer? Sounds real but the kit sounds like a sampled kit from that CD. Anyhow, I'm a big fan of progressive material and I think it's very original. Vocals sound too old school Good balance throughout the mix. guitars lack power and kick can hit a little more low end. Over all I like it. Jason __________________ If it don't sound like a record... don't press record

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Loud mixes or Dynamic mixes - that's the question	shack	High end	12	2nd April 2008 09:26 AM
Please Critique	Jonboy79	Work In Progress / Advice Requested / Show & Tell / Artist Showcase / Mix-Offs	3	1st May 2006 08:15 PM
Critique my mixes!	Gregg	So much gear, so little time!	6	23rd November 2005 09:08 PM
PLEASE CRITIQUE THESE MIXES	Joel DuBay	So much gear, so little time!	4	12th October 2005 05:28 PM
Old School Standards, Please Critique Mixes	quartermoonpro	Work In Progress / Advice Requested / Show & Tell / Artist Showcase / Mix-Offs	0	9th September 2004 01:59 AM

12th October 2005	#2
AlexLakis Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD/Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,631	Fair enough...where are the songs?

13th October 2005	#9
bukarin Gear nut Joined: Apr 2005 Location: London Posts: 93	Drumkits From Hell! The kit sounds like the demo song, overplayed and far too clean. Overall is interesting but a little too musical theatre for my tastes. The tracks really lack any grit or edge, the guitars for example sound like Amplitube or similar. I'm hazarding a guess it was all done in ITB using exstensive samples and virtual amps. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't all entirely programmed, well programmed of course! The drums really need some interesting and phat compression mix wise, a decent room sound would also help (artifical or not). The vocal sits in an odd space too, loud but not upfront or aggressive, I think half of this is the delivery and half the mixing. The pre delay mentioned in an earlier post would be useful and maybe just a little less verb with more aggressive compression. Well there you go, not trying to be clever or rude, just what I really think, honestly! ps. If you tracked this in Oceanway I want photographic evidence.