alternative rock mix critique

cable · 17th November 2005

hey all,

same story has probably been heard 1000 times before here, but my band is currently self producing our own stuff, have been tracking for about a year now on and off (we have day jobs.) we just got a mix together a couple of weeks ago and i'm curious (and a bit afraid

to hear what you guys think. any criticism will be much appreciated. we're sort of going for an a perfect circle / tool / machines of loving grace (gilt) sort of sound...

tnelson494 · 17th November 2005

Cool song. I'm still trying to do the same thing as you so take all my shit with a grain of salt (or whatever). Doubled vocal seems a little pitchy during the chorus and when the chorus comes in it seems like the bass drowns out the guitar and almost sucks the excitment out of the buildup. I'd like a brighter snare but that could just be me. Extra silence at the end could be cut but thats not a big just was waiting for something when I saw there was like 15 sec. after the song was done. A heavier guitar during the chorus would be cool but maybe just bass thing. Just little things I'm tossing out cause I love the power you convey with that tune. Love Tool and Circle you guys realy nail that vibe.

heyman · 17th November 2005

Sound wise.. good job, but you need to have some transition between verse and chorus. There is no buildup, it almost goes down a step dynamically.. maybe bigger guitars during the chorus.. It just seems like it should be bigger ..

Great job and the singer is spot on for Maynard..

tvanveen · 18th November 2005

I agree with the other guys.

I would just add it seems to have a bit of an overall harsh quality to it. Probably an easy mastering fix, I would think.

Cool song, good job.

cable · 18th November 2005

thanks for the feedback! its definately appreciated. regarding mastering, we intend to get everything professionally mastered (recommendations of a relatively cheap place in brooklyn/nyc would be welcome.) regarding the harshness, we had to give the song to a label person a few weeks ago, so we had a friend run the mix through waves L2 to get the volume up a bit. (the version above is through waves L2.) the limiting was slight, and the harshness was there before the pseudo-mastering we did. we did, however, use guitar rig for the guitars. this thing sounds great for clean/effecty sort of stuff...but totally breaks up for distortions/heavy effects. our guitarist's pickups are a little bit noisy, so im not sure if that was a factor. we're talking about biting the bullet and buying a reamp box and a mesa just to get around using GR for the heavier stuff.

heyman · 19th November 2005

Cable, check out www.westwestsidemusic.com They are a very good mastering place, over the line in Jersey... Prices are very reasonable and Alan - who does the mastering has worked with some great bands who's albums I think sound really good..

17th November 2005	#2
tnelson494 Gear Head Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Black river falls, WI Posts: 58	Cool song. I'm still trying to do the same thing as you so take all my shit with a grain of salt (or whatever). Doubled vocal seems a little pitchy during the chorus and when the chorus comes in it seems like the bass drowns out the guitar and almost sucks the excitment out of the buildup. I'd like a brighter snare but that could just be me. Extra silence at the end could be cut but thats not a big just was waiting for something when I saw there was like 15 sec. after the song was done. A heavier guitar during the chorus would be cool but maybe just bass thing. Just little things I'm tossing out cause I love the power you convey with that tune. Love Tool and Circle you guys realy nail that vibe. __________________ That is not dead which can not die and with strange eons even death may die....H.P. Lovecraft

17th November 2005	#3
heyman Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 2,660	Sound wise.. good job, but you need to have some transition between verse and chorus. There is no buildup, it almost goes down a step dynamically.. maybe bigger guitars during the chorus.. It just seems like it should be bigger .. Great job and the singer is spot on for Maynard.. __________________ Best quote ever....! Posted by Infernal Device.. "Guitar Center.... Even the good news is in the moan zone."

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18th November 2005	#4
tvanveen Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: DC Posts: 313	I agree with the other guys. I would just add it seems to have a bit of an overall harsh quality to it. Probably an easy mastering fix, I would think. Cool song, good job.

18th November 2005	#5
cable Gear Head Join Date: May 2005 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 57 Thread Starter	thanks for the feedback! its definately appreciated. regarding mastering, we intend to get everything professionally mastered (recommendations of a relatively cheap place in brooklyn/nyc would be welcome.) regarding the harshness, we had to give the song to a label person a few weeks ago, so we had a friend run the mix through waves L2 to get the volume up a bit. (the version above is through waves L2.) the limiting was slight, and the harshness was there before the pseudo-mastering we did. we did, however, use guitar rig for the guitars. this thing sounds great for clean/effecty sort of stuff...but totally breaks up for distortions/heavy effects. our guitarist's pickups are a little bit noisy, so im not sure if that was a factor. we're talking about biting the bullet and buying a reamp box and a mesa just to get around using GR for the heavier stuff.

19th November 2005	#6
heyman Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 2,660	Cable, check out www.westwestsidemusic.com They are a very good mastering place, over the line in Jersey... Prices are very reasonable and Alan - who does the mastering has worked with some great bands who's albums I think sound really good..