Hard Rock mix

[ChrisM]

Done on some cheep equipment I'm sure you can tell but, its the first time mixing and recording for me and just gettin my feet wet here. There is some noise on the right side, its the second rhythm guitar, bad cable maybe?, gonna have to redo it. Would like to hear what you think about it though.

Thanks

Chris

http://www.fileden.com/files/29331/LMA.mp3

[stagefright13]

Not bad for a first recording. The stereo image is messed up. Guitar too loud on left side. Everything sounds muffled kinda. No real top end. I can hear all the instruments but I would try getting a more even mix of the drums. Start by just working your butt off on the drum sound. And mic placement on them. Do one drum at a time and spend as long as it takes 'till you are impressed with the results. Then go each instrument one at a time. Mixing with your "Killer" drum setup. Adjusting as required. Song is ok and the guitar sound not bad. But you said cheap equipment.
Good first try. And what equipment you using?

[ChrisM]

Thanks for the comments, all I am using is an Aarvark Q10 and an 8pc. Samson drum mic set. Vocals were done with one of the phantom powered C01 overhead condensers. Guitars and bass were straight in, I did replace the kick drum, couldnt get a nice click out of it to cut through. I think thats mostly due to mic placement. Any suggestions on some out board gear, or mics to get it sounding better would be appreciated. I have read quite a bit here about micing the snare on top and bottom, would like to hear technique's on that if anyone has some to share.
Thanks

[Crash]

I am surprised I can't hear the kick even after you replaced it. It is still non-existent to me. How did you mic the kick to begin with and what did you do when you replaced it? I would back the vocal down a couple of db as well as give it a touch of some sort of ambience. The vocal is overly dry to me. I like the snare sound. If you get the kick sorted out and the guitar on the right side up to match the left, it'll be more in the ball park. Not bad stuff.

[ChrisM]

I took the front head off the kick and put the mic in about half way pointing slightly away from center. I had an Evans head on it with the slotted vent holes so couldnt put the mic in. Replace it with drumagog. The snare I just bought, its a pearl Joey Jordison signature 13" it has an awesome crack to it ,I really like it. I'll mess around with the mix some more and repost. The quality of that mp3 sucks i will do a higher bit rate next time.

[ChrisM]

did some tweekin'


http://www.fileden.com/files/29331/LMA29.mp3

[Crash]

This is better to me. Is the guitar on the right side going through some sort of flange? If I might suggest, I would lose the bass guitar note that occurs at 6 seconds in. I would let the bass come in with the rest of the band. That single hit sounds odd to me. The vocal in the first verse sounds slightly quieter than in the rest of the tune...or is that my imagination? Maybe split the difference between this mix and the first mix with vocal level. All in all, this is tighter sounding. I could still use a tad more kick but that is me.

[ChrisM]

yeah the guitar on the right has some effects on it. was already there or i would get rid of some of it. the kick is close to peak but will bump up some more and a little more vocals. the monitors i have behringer ms40's, i know i said the "b" word lol, dont have much low end, was kinda affraid of the kick wasnt sure what i was hearing didnt want to over do it.

[Crash]

What is your recording rig? You might use the guitar track on the left side for both sides, just duplicate it, pan it right and delay it by 20-30 ms to give you a stereo spread. That way you don't have a flanging guitar through the entire tune. Of course that may be what you are after. Please don't take anything I say as gospel, I am just throwing out things that I hear and ideas but nothing is concrete. If you can't make the kick louder, put a bit more point on it via EQ if possible to give it a bit more bite or click to cut through the mix a little. It is sounding good to me.

[stagefright13]

I agree the left side guitar sounds better and louder. The delay and hard pan right suggested by crash will make a huge difference. Or just record that track again same way for the right guitar.
The kick is low because it needs a better sound. Is very muddy. Try giving it some bite to let the high end attack of it punch thru. A danmar kick pad on the batter head works great for hard rock. Or a quarter or half dollar taped on inside of head where beater hits. Then eq that in. I have also heard on the cheap to put a credit card between the beater and head. But haven't tried it...
It does sound better tho
Keep it up!

[ChrisM]

Got some time to work on this again, re-do on the right guitar and some level changes. thanks for the advice on the kick, have been working on some new material and have since worked on the kick sound, is much better.

http://www.fileden.com/files/18952/M...Me%20Alone.mp3