Mixoff - pop/rock tune needs some talent!

[targa2]

I couldn't pass up a shot. Nice vocal.

[ByronPinto]

Originally Posted by dkeatscary

B - Sounds great. I wouldn't be upset if you cranked up those electrics even more when the drums come in. :-)

Hi Dave ...

I most definetely see where you are going at ( from a production standpoint ) with trying to get to sound more rocking in the region where the electric comes in ... I also happen to believe that it could use something there..

-------

However i have some input ( please note its only my opinion and freely disregard it if you don't agree ).

Generally when you want the rocker electric sound.. You would want to have an electric piece that ties in / supports / accents, the bass (if required ...with some syncopation ). So the idea would be that it acts like an extension of the bass. From a mixing standpoint it would then act as one unit. to bring some high bass / low mid power.

Oh and it must be really tight with the bass. Preferrably double tracked.
-------

The current piece doesn't fit in well ( IMO ) and makes things a bit blurry ( the reverb is adding to that )

-------

Sorry to trouble you, But If you had another (double tracked )electric guitar track. We could try and see if it made things better.. We can always disregard the track if doesn't fit it.

If possible , no reverb and maybe even a DI signal. The DI Signal will guarantee that i can use the correct saturation. Most people just use too much drive and it sounds like a hundred bees living in the speaker cabinet.


Have a listen to this metal mix that i have done .. Its a different genre but the fundamentals of mixing are the same.
Point being to give you an idea about gain and how the bass and guitar work together

http://soundcloud.com/byron-pinto/passing

-----

[dkeatscary]

Hi Bryan - I did include two new double-tracked electric parts in the updated zip. Did you grab 'em? If you want, I can re-render them dry.

[ByronPinto]

Originally Posted by dkeatscary

Hi Bryan - I did include two new double-tracked electric parts in the updated zip. Did you grab 'em? If you want, I can re-render them dry.

Sure ... If you can get the dry parts then i'll get to them tonight...

[cyjanopan]

[dkeatscary]

Originally Posted by ByronPinto

Sure ... If you can get the dry parts then i'll get to them tonight...

Ta dah:

Lifeline Electrics (dry)

[dkeatscary]

Originally Posted by ByronPinto

If possible , no reverb and maybe even a DI signal. The DI Signal will guarantee that i can use the correct saturation. Most people just use too much drive and it sounds like a hundred bees living in the speaker cabinet.-----

BTW, I use Amplitube, have no amp to speak of. You want a clean track going directly into my interface?

[ByronPinto]

Originally Posted by dkeatscary

BTW, I use Amplitube, have no amp to speak of. You want a clean track going directly into my interface?

yup. directly from the interface .. You should be able to monitor with amplitube. but also have the uneffected track.

But anyways , i just used the dry tracks that you have provided ... Changes are up.

[lcressy]

David,
What a great song! Thanks so much for sharing. I really like your voice as well, you have a great tone! I don't think any of the submitted mixes are bad at all, each is very good in it's own right. Here is my humble take on it. This was a very rewarding song to work with, you are very talented.

[Binski99]

Heres my attempt at it. I think I may have too much reverb on it. The low end also seems a muddy, but my ears are tired and I'm mixing on headphones. By the way this is a great song.

[dkeatscary]

Originally Posted by targa2

I couldn't pass up a shot. Nice vocal.

Hey, very nice! Thanks for the kind words.

[dkeatscary]

Originally Posted by lcressy

David,
What a great song! Thanks so much for sharing. I really like your voice as well, you have a great tone! I don't think any of the submitted mixes are bad at all, each is very good in it's own right. Here is my humble take on it. This was a very rewarding song to work with, you are very talented.

Thank you for very kind words. I am trying to get better at the songwriting thing each day!

Now this is a REALLY interesting interpretation. I like it a lot! You clearly put in a lot of time (I know everyone did and hell, the song took 3 months to write), so thank you so much for all the hard work. I really dig this!!

Dave

[GerardCB]

Wow how did you record the piano?

Did you use a sampler?

This is so Beautiful

This is about improving, so I believe that the vocals would sound better with more reverb. I think that it is a bit dull as the high frequencies don't stand out in accordance with the other instruments.

But man it is really good! Very good job man

[Beyersound]

Got to spend a little more time with the mix.............

[joecandy]

You've definatley got some writing skills there, bravo! I'd love to hear this song really layered out and produced up more. None of the mixes so far are knocking me out.
This song could sound huge, especially the chorus at the end,
but right now its just not jumping out at the end the way it needs to.
I think the main culprits are the drums and bass being so busy and It needs more guitar and key layers towards the end. The vocals are excellent and deserve a bigger more lush bed to lay in.
I'd love to hear this song redone the way it deserves to be.

[lcressy]

Joecandy- the beauty of it is os that David provided the tracks, so can work it out the way you hear it in your head. Work out your version, post it. Come on in, the waters fine! Looking forward to your mix.

Sent from my DROIDX using Gearslutz.com

[joecandy]

Originally Posted by lcressy

Joecandy- the beauty of it is os that David provided the tracks, so can work it out the way you hear it in your head. Work out your version, post it. Come on in, the waters fine! Looking forward to your mix.

Sent from my DROIDX using Gearslutz.com

Hmm, ok i'll bite. I'll give it a go.

[tablo]

Interesting song, nice vocals; even though they could've been better recorded.
Mix: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31411469/lifeline%20mix.mp3
Mastered version: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31411469/lifeline%20master.mp3
"Loud" mastered version: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31411469/lif...d%20master.mp3

[etrella]

This is really the BEST example on this site that you really really dont need expensive gear to get high end results. The guy is using a Rode nt1000 and a sapphire interface and a lot of the mixes you guys did with this gear just sounds STUPIDLY AMAZING!!!.

[krheatman]

Originally Posted by etrella

This is really the BEST example on this site that you really really dont need expensive gear to get high end results. The guy is using a Rode nt1000 and a sapphire interface and a lot of the mixes you guys did with this gear just sounds STUPIDLY AMAZING!!!.

My kid uses my Rode NT 1000 and makes great sounding stuff thru a Presonus Digimax and garageband.

Would I use that in my studio though,no.

[Ghosty Dog]

http://soundcloud.com/ghosty-dog/lifeline-dave-keats-remixed

Thanks for posting Lifeline, Dave. I do like your writing. As someone else commented, very reminiscent of a Jackson Browne number. Your style reminds me a bit of Savage Garden too.

I treated the mix as a piano ballad performance, which I think is the strength of your original recording. Mixed through headphones, so I'm not sure how it goes on monitors. Ran everything through Satson plugin in Reaper, added a small amount of dynamic eq and reverb to the vocal to help it sit with the piano. Used the intro phrase between verses, and extended the intro and outro because it resonates well for the piece.

Keep up that great writing. Ghosty Dog/Jeff

[joecandy]

Originally Posted by Ghosty Dog

[SOUNDCLOUD]

I treated the mix as a piano ballad performance, which I think is the strength of your original recording.

Yeah, i think thats exactly right. Once i put the tracks up, i really enjoyed
most of this song with just the piano and voice faders up.

I think your mix sounds a bit distant, but i like that you went in a different
direction, and really thought about what worked for the song, instead of
just trying to flex your mixing muscle at the expense of the writer's original intention.

J

[Ghosty Dog]

Originally Posted by joecandy

Yeah, i think thats exactly right. Once i put the tracks up, i really enjoyed
most of this song with just the piano and voice faders up.

Hi joecandy. Yeah, me too. The pianos can be used for this version and the ballad is strong and true. I can see what Dave Keats was going for in getting an emotional build up, but with the arrangement the choice of other instrument sounds didn't sit comfortably for my ear. I actually imagined Dave sitting at a nice grand, with only an upright bass for support, when I was mixing.

Originally Posted by joecandy

I think your mix sounds a bit distant, but i like that you went in a different direction, and really thought about what worked for the song, instead of just trying to flex your mixing muscle at the expense of the writer's original intention.J

That's the problem with only being able to mix with headphones. The presence sounds fine in my pair. It was a really nice piece to work on.

[dkeatscary]

Originally Posted by tablo

Interesting song, nice vocals; even though they could've been better recorded.
Mix: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31411469/lifeline%20mix.mp3
Mastered version: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31411469/lifeline%20master.mp3
"Loud" mastered version: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31411469/lif...d%20master.mp3

Sweet - I like it. Thanks for making all three of those available!

[dkeatscary]

Originally Posted by etrella

This is really the BEST example on this site that you really really dont need expensive gear to get high end results. The guy is using a Rode nt1000 and a sapphire interface and a lot of the mixes you guys did with this gear just sounds STUPIDLY AMAZING!!!.

BUT...the guy wishes he could afford better gear!!

[dkeatscary]

Originally Posted by Ghosty Dog

http://soundcloud.com/ghosty-dog/lifeline-dave-keats

Thanks for posting Lifeline, Dave. I do like your writing. As someone else commented, very reminiscent of a Jackson Browne number. Your style reminds me a bit of Savage Garden too.

I treated the mix as a piano ballad performance, which I think is the strength of your original recording. Mixed through headphones, so I'm not sure how it goes on monitors. Ran everything through Satson plugin in Reaper, added a small amount of dynamic eq and reverb to the vocal to help it sit with the piano. Used the intro phrase between verses, and extended the intro and outro because it resonates well for the piece.

Keep up that great writing. Ghosty Dog/Jeff

Very interesting, Jeff. It has a spooky, sad feel to it. I enjoyed it, and thank you for the mix and version!

[Ghosty Dog]

Originally Posted by dkeatscary

Very interesting, Jeff. It has a spooky, sad feel to it. I enjoyed it, and thank you for the mix and version!

Really was my pleasure, Dave. Your profile page doesn't give links to your other stuff, but judging by your keyboard approach to Lifeline you might find Wim Mertens approach of interest in helping develop ideas, if you haven't come across him already.

Struggle for Pleasure
Wim Mertens Live - Struggle For Pleasure - YouTube

Close Cover
Wim Mertens - Close Cover - YouTube

Lifeline has hit written all over it. Get your demo out and about, and best of luck.

Ghosty/Jeff

[joecandy]

Mix moved to page 6 of this thread.

[Ghosty Dog]

Originally Posted by joecandy

Here's my take on it.

That's a pretty hot mix. Nice work, JoeC. I like your thinking on the piano.

[arth]

Originally Posted by joecandy

Here's my take on it.

Nice approach production wise! Well done!