Quick mix on a budget…your input please

MisterZ · 19th September 2006

Consider tracking and all production was completed in just a few days. This was a private project for an Asian guy wanting to do POP style Christian music. Perhaps I should submit these mixes minus vocals.

What would you do to make these better mixes?

http://jwebserver.com/lordalmighty.mp3

http://jwebserver.com/IBelongToYou.mp3

http://jwebserver.com/simplesongofpraise.mp3

Thanks for your time and your input!

Ranen Beaver · 22nd September 2006

Honestly I don't know much about mixing and such but these mixes sound really good. Everything sounds full and I can easily discern what each instrument is doing. So if that is the sign of a good a good mix then I think you're good to go. Just my opinion.

Ranen

Einstein · 23rd September 2006

I personally think they sound incredible! If I had to nit pick, I'd like to hear the kick have a little more puch, and I feel like maybe, just maybe, see if you can sqeeze just a little more sustain out of the highest tom?

No room to talk here though, my mixes have never sounded this good.

Out of curiosity, was this done ITB?

MisterZ · 23rd September 2006

I tend to agree a little on the kick... I will do a lil tweaking and re-post the mixes minus the lead vocal track. These mixes are all ITB on a protools system (not HD yet). Most of my verbs and such are outboard; I tend to favor the Eventide DSP4000 and the crusty old Lexicon 224xl. Most of the dynamics were outboard as well. Heavy use of Autotune on the lead vocal! I also use a Manley Variable Mu on the entire mix.

AvS · 26th September 2006

I think you used to much reverb on all three tracks. Makes the tracks more cheasy than they already are.

I also think you should have chosen another reverb for the vocals. Its sounds like its from a live concert ( me don't like) rather than a studio poduction.
I also think the kick is to soft.

hrn · 26th September 2006

This sounds awesome. And I think the kick is just perfect. Maybe the vocals and the choirs could be just a bit higher...just that little touch.

Hans

abit · 7th October 2006

I would need more drums.
But for this Christian type it might be not appropriate.

What I really like is a sound.
A little PTish but not a lot. Not.

Did U "master" it with L2 in the end beside Vari-Mu?
I mean can U share the front end gear used here and more on the mix too.
U got a very good sound, man. Very good.
Thanx.
abit

ps Just a little notice:
harmonica overlaps in the end of the leak
and create some unwanted harmony with the rest of stuff.
But sound...wow!

Theo Desktop · 7th October 2006

I think the mixes sound really good. Maybe just a tad too much reverb on the vox and the bass drum sounds a bit disproportionate to the rest of the drum mix. Otherwise, sounds really nice.

I'm curious what the mic's and signal chain were used for the acoustic guitar and vox on 'I Belong To You'.

Theo

MisterZ · 12th October 2006

abit - The mastering chain on this was the following - Protools analog out to a TC Finalizer 96K to a Meyer CP10eq and lastly the Vari-Mu. The TC unit was clipping off most of the higher peaks with some last min eq from the CP10 and the Vari-Mu would average around 3db of gain reduction and you hear the end result. Its a modded Mu and is amazingly invisible even with much higher gain reduction!

Most of the tracking was done with a variety of high end pre-amps and all mixing was ITB with some outboard verbs (a few plugs used too). Nearly all dynamics processing was done outboard in the tracking process.

I agree on the drums... but time and budget are the limiting factors - plus the client is happy!

Theo - I agree the verb is a bit heavy but it was a tough choice and only done to mask some of the lack of vocal ability of the singer.

As for the mics - all vocals were via a good ol AT-4033 and a Millennia preamp - the combination seemed to work well for this project.

Acoustic GTR was tracked with vintage KM-84's and electric GTR's with a combination of Shure SM57 and Sennheiser MD421

abit · 13th October 2006

For PT?
I think it is a great sound.
"Z", thanx for the inside info.

Gradation · 14th October 2006

Sounds REALLY good! Everything's so nicely spaced and given room to breath.

bcgood · 14th October 2006

The mix sounds good but man those vocals : ) You can still hear the flat notes coming through when he changes notes. The autotune seems to mostly work well on the sustained notes. The drums and other instruments sound good for this type of production though.

bcgood

rxfit06 · 15th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterZ

abit - The mastering chain on this was the following - Protools analog out to a TC Finalizer 96K to a Meyer CP10eq and lastly the Vari-Mu. The TC unit was clipping off most of the higher peaks with some last min eq from the CP10 and the Vari-Mu would average around 3db of gain reduction and you hear the end result. Its a modded Mu and is amazingly invisible even with much higher gain reduction!

Most of the tracking was done with a variety of high end pre-amps and all mixing was ITB with some outboard verbs (a few plugs used too). Nearly all dynamics processing was done outboard in the tracking process.

I agree on the drums... but time and budget are the limiting factors - plus the client is happy!

Theo - I agree the verb is a bit heavy but it was a tough choice and only done to mask some of the lack of vocal ability of the singer.

As for the mics - all vocals were via a good ol AT-4033 and a Millennia preamp - the combination seemed to work well for this project.

Acoustic GTR was tracked with vintage KM-84's and electric GTR's with a combination of Shure SM57 and Sennheiser MD421

Agreed, this was a very good mix. It has always been my contention that most of that "commercial" sound is/was accomplished on the front end, BEFORE the mastering process. To that end, I was wondering if you could post a clip WITHOUT the Vari-Mu in line.

I was considering purchasing one, then wound up going with a Portico 5043 instead, mainly due to some of the reviews on here, an of course the value for the money. I have never heard a before and after, A/B comparison of the Vari Mu, ... so if it's not too much trouble, I would really appreciate it.

bdevoid · 15th October 2006

These sound super clean. (and awesome) I think the mixes might sound more modern and commercial if the bass had more distortion. The vocal could be crushed and it might sound less, um, jim dandy (so more commercial?)

19th September 2006	#1
MisterZ Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3 Thread Starter	Quick mix on a budget…your input please Consider tracking and all production was completed in just a few days. This was a private project for an Asian guy wanting to do POP style Christian music. Perhaps I should submit these mixes minus vocals. What would you do to make these better mixes? http://jwebserver.com/lordalmighty.mp3 http://jwebserver.com/IBelongToYou.mp3 http://jwebserver.com/simplesongofpraise.mp3 Thanks for your time and your input!

23rd September 2006	#4
MisterZ Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3 Thread Starter	Details... I tend to agree a little on the kick... I will do a lil tweaking and re-post the mixes minus the lead vocal track. These mixes are all ITB on a protools system (not HD yet). Most of my verbs and such are outboard; I tend to favor the Eventide DSP4000 and the crusty old Lexicon 224xl. Most of the dynamics were outboard as well. Heavy use of Autotune on the lead vocal! I also use a Manley Variable Mu on the entire mix.

12th October 2006	#9
MisterZ Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3 Thread Starter	more info abit - The mastering chain on this was the following - Protools analog out to a TC Finalizer 96K to a Meyer CP10eq and lastly the Vari-Mu. The TC unit was clipping off most of the higher peaks with some last min eq from the CP10 and the Vari-Mu would average around 3db of gain reduction and you hear the end result. Its a modded Mu and is amazingly invisible even with much higher gain reduction! Most of the tracking was done with a variety of high end pre-amps and all mixing was ITB with some outboard verbs (a few plugs used too). Nearly all dynamics processing was done outboard in the tracking process. I agree on the drums... but time and budget are the limiting factors - plus the client is happy! Theo - I agree the verb is a bit heavy but it was a tough choice and only done to mask some of the lack of vocal ability of the singer. As for the mics - all vocals were via a good ol AT-4033 and a Millennia preamp - the combination seemed to work well for this project. Acoustic GTR was tracked with vintage KM-84's and electric GTR's with a combination of Shure SM57 and Sennheiser MD421

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22nd September 2006	#2
Ranen Beaver Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lancaster PA Posts: 25	Honestly I don't know much about mixing and such but these mixes sound really good. Everything sounds full and I can easily discern what each instrument is doing. So if that is the sign of a good a good mix then I think you're good to go. Just my opinion. Ranen

23rd September 2006	#3
Einstein Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 776	I personally think they sound incredible! If I had to nit pick, I'd like to hear the kick have a little more puch, and I feel like maybe, just maybe, see if you can sqeeze just a little more sustain out of the highest tom? No room to talk here though, my mixes have never sounded this good. Out of curiosity, was this done ITB?

26th September 2006	#5
AvS Gear addict Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denmark Posts: 488	I think you used to much reverb on all three tracks. Makes the tracks more cheasy than they already are. I also think you should have chosen another reverb for the vocals. Its sounds like its from a live concert ( me don't like) rather than a studio poduction. I also think the kick is to soft.

26th September 2006	#6
hrn Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gävle, Sweden Posts: 586	This sounds awesome. And I think the kick is just perfect. Maybe the vocals and the choirs could be just a bit higher...just that little touch. Hans

7th October 2006	#7
abit Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NY Posts: 825	I would need more drums. But for this Christian type it might be not appropriate. What I really like is a sound. A little PTish but not a lot. Not. Did U "master" it with L2 in the end beside Vari-Mu? I mean can U share the front end gear used here and more on the mix too. U got a very good sound, man. Very good. Thanx. abit ps Just a little notice: harmonica overlaps in the end of the leak and create some unwanted harmony with the rest of stuff. But sound...wow!

7th October 2006	#8
Theo Desktop Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 167	I think the mixes sound really good. Maybe just a tad too much reverb on the vox and the bass drum sounds a bit disproportionate to the rest of the drum mix. Otherwise, sounds really nice. I'm curious what the mic's and signal chain were used for the acoustic guitar and vox on 'I Belong To You'. Theo

13th October 2006	#10
abit Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NY Posts: 825	For PT? I think it is a great sound. "Z", thanx for the inside info.

14th October 2006	#11
Gradation Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 109	Sounds REALLY good! Everything's so nicely spaced and given room to breath.

14th October 2006	#12
bcgood Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 5,904	The mix sounds good but man those vocals : ) You can still hear the flat notes coming through when he changes notes. The autotune seems to mostly work well on the sustained notes. The drums and other instruments sound good for this type of production though. bcgood

15th October 2006	#14
bdevoid Gear interested Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 7	These sound super clean. (and awesome) I think the mixes might sound more modern and commercial if the bass had more distortion. The vocal could be crushed and it might sound less, um, jim dandy (so more commercial?)