Hillary/Ashlee girl POP/ROCK MIX ITB.

[chymer]

Hey Guys,
just finished this mix of a pretty middle of the road girl/pop thing and I was wondering how the mix stands up. I also co-wrote/produced and played everything but not drums, they are real.
If I had the budget, Id get CLA to mix it ya know
But, surprise, I dont.
Just wondering how it stands up in your opinion to other stuff in this genre.
Could I have done more/less, arrangment blah blah blah.

Im happy with it and so is the client.
Shes actually a great pop singer but was soooooo shy, I didnt really hear her sing until we tracked the vox. I think she needs to work on her power, but shes has a good pop technique that, in my opinion, sounds great when smacked with compression, me likes to smack!

Anyway heres the artists myspace link below, I mastered it, but its still open to tweaking and it will probably get mastered by a pro later. The song is called "YOU THOUGHT"
www.myspace.com/lizhodginsofficial

Cheers
Chymer

[Tempest19]

Really nice work buddy.

I have no suggestions because I wouldn't change a thing :)

[Bang]

nor would I! Great mix, and now that I've learned you did it ITB, I'm even more amazed. Please send me a higher kps mp3 so I can host it on our site because you're layering of our hits with your hits sounds great, no CLA needed. Great song and production, great artist, you got something there buddy.

[redtuesday]

Nice work! I really can't punch a hole anywhere. Good song, decent vocal and great production. I really like the separation in the mix-everything sitting nice and pretty. She should be happy it sounds really great! I'd like to hear more from you.
All the best,
Brian Darnell
www.myspace.com/brianddarnellmusic

[Hope209]

Sounds great! Share some mixing info if you don't mind

[drakewire]

Yeah, you mixed it in the box, but I wasnt born yesterday.....
A lot of great mixers mix in the box, but come on these are CLASS A Pre's, sounds a little like an SSL channel, actually its got some Universal Audio feel to those vocals, perhaps Neve...
This however, is not an MBOX.... Everyone an ICON is still in the box :)~....

The only thing Id punch a hole in, would be that its so good of a mix..

Maybe I am wrong but this song was recorded with the following :

Song Rimes Studio
Recording
SONG RIMES uses state of the art digital recording equipment designed by SYDEC DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY in Belgium Sydec Audio Engineering - Soundscape | The home of professional digital audio
Using dual SOUNDSCAPE 32 Digital Audio Work Stations, SONG RIMES is capable of recording up to 128 tracks of 24bit/44.1khz digital audio captured through high-end 24bit/96khz digital converters designed and built by SYDEC.
SONG RIMES houses a collection of microphones including AKG, Shure, AudioTechnica, Elipsoid and Peluso.
Outboard equipment includes Pre-amps, Equalizers and Compressors from Chandler, Empirical Labs, TL Audio and DBX.
SONG RIMES monitor through Genelec 1031, Yamaha NS-10 and Auratone speakers.

[stevie_vp]

very nice mix! cant really comment on anything..
Maybe i would personally pull the guitars back a little to get the michelle branch vibe.. but if your going for a melllow avril lavigne your head on!
all the best!
/
s

[chymer]

Originally Posted by drakewire

Yeah, you mixed it in the box, but I wasnt born yesterday.....
A lot of great mixers mix in the box, but come on these are CLASS A Pre's, sounds a little like an SSL channel, actually its got some Universal Audio feel to those vocals, perhaps Neve...
This however, is not an MBOX.... Everyone an ICON is still in the box :)~....

The only thing Id punch a hole in, would be that its so good of a mix..

Maybe I am wrong but this song was recorded with the following :

Song Rimes Studio
Recording
SONG RIMES uses state of the art digital recording equipment designed by SYDEC DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY in Belgium Sydec Audio Engineering - Soundscape | The home of professional digital audio
Using dual SOUNDSCAPE 32 Digital Audio Work Stations, SONG RIMES is capable of recording up to 128 tracks of 24bit/44.1khz digital audio captured through high-end 24bit/96khz digital converters designed and built by SYDEC.
SONG RIMES houses a collection of microphones including AKG, Shure, AudioTechnica, Elipsoid and Peluso.
Outboard equipment includes Pre-amps, Equalizers and Compressors from Chandler, Empirical Labs, TL Audio and DBX.
SONG RIMES monitor through Genelec 1031, Yamaha NS-10 and Auratone speakers.

Boy, you did your homework Some really positive feedback here, thanks.
I agree the guitars could come back, but I think its such a boppy song I wanted the choruses to hit.

Well you got me, my weapon is Soundscape and yes its in the box, no outboard.
Since soundscape was bought by SSL they release a SSL EQ G and E (similar to Duende) and 2 EQs developed by Algorithmix based on Neve and API filters. UAD was used too.

im glad that it stands up, but it would still be good to hear where it can be improved, if CLA were listening to this what would he say???
regards
Chymer

[C Heat]

Shit LIndsay, that is totally hot!

Great song. Great arrangement. Great mix.

LOVE her voice too. She has that cute little 'squeaky' Hilary vibe goin' on in parts.

Wow

You should be feeling very

[Tempest19]

Can we get some info on how things were tracked?

I wanna learn man!

[chymer]

Drums were recorded in a great studio through the SSL pres, no compression or EQ.
Pretty standard setup,
d112/M88 on kik
57 top/bottom snare with Josephson e22S on top as well, this is a great mic BTW.
Josephson c42 on Overheads and Hi Hat, another set of great mics, highly reccomended.
Rode NT1000s or something similar from Rode as stereo Room mics, bit bright but nothing Dessing cant fix.
Cheap Nady ribbon as FOK
Realistic PZM as distant mono room mic
Dynamic talkback mic which sounded way cool so I used it.
57 on the Rak tom with D112 on Floor tom

Bass- Fender active precision special, split signal into
TG2 Di>Distressor>Tone control> soundscape
Pod Ampeg bass setting>TL AUdio C1> Dbx compressor> soundscape

Guitars.....heaps of guitars with a fender TELE, Maton Mastersound, Gibson Marauder.
-Rat pedal/tonebone > Hot Rod Deluxe> 57> TG2> Tone Control> Distressor> soundscape
-POD > TL Audio C1 > Ditressor > Tone Control > soundscape
- Rat/Tonebone > TLAudio C1 > Soundscape > Voxengo Boogex
- Various other amp sims for more Hi gain sounds.

Acoustic guitars
-Maton m125 > AKG C451 > TLAudio C1 preamp > Distressor > Tone Control> soundscape

Vox
Akg Solidtube > TG2 > Distressor 10:1 opto > Tone control > soundscape

Synth/Keys
-Rodes 88 key direct into > TG2 di> DIstressor> Tone control
Arturia mini moog plugin

Thats basically it.
Hope this helps someone

Chymer

[Tempest19]

Thanks buddy.

The vocals sound really nice through that mic/pre combo. Is it the distressor thats giving them that aggressive sound that I like?

Guitars are well sound spot on. Everything in the mix is good but more importantly its placed where it should be.

I always struggle with BV's do you have them as far forward as the lead vocal or have you pushed them back some?

[drakewire]

There was no M-Audio Fast Track USB interface here...

I am a hardware geek I actually picked out the gear by ear, then went and looked up the studio info...

Chris Lord Age, would hire you. Of course, he would compress the hell out of everything you tracked so that he could have the loudest record.

But seriously, forget CLA you have your own style, dont compare yourself...
If anything compare this to a Ron Fair mix, because this is more his style...
In that way, your almost as good as him, work on real old analog channels, and you would be...

[chymer]

Originally Posted by Tempest19

Thanks buddy.

The vocals sound really nice through that mic/pre combo. Is it the distressor thats giving them that aggressive sound that I like?

Guitars are well sound spot on. Everything in the mix is good but more importantly its placed where it should be.

I always struggle with BV's do you have them as far forward as the lead vocal or have you pushed them back some?

Thanks man.
The vocal were tracked pretty conservatively with the distressor going into the orange on the loud notes, I think the verses were only a couple of green lights.
The tone control was cutting 40HZ and boosting 6khs @ 1 and shelving from 10khz @ 1.
I think the the plugins I used added to the sound.
I had the plugs in this order
1. R-Desser
2. 1176 black hitting quite hard
3. LA2A in limit catching the peaks
4. PSP Vintage warmer driven with the blend only @ about 20%
5. Neve Plugin boosting the highs a touch and mids @ 7khz a touch and boosting 30hzs quite a bit and the hi pass at 50.
6. Then the waves L1 was limiting to catch the peaks again.

I also sent the vocals out to my POD and I cant remember what setting, and recorded this back in and rode it throgh out the song, it was loudest in the chorus to add agression and colour.

The BVs were grouped and bussed through the fairchild compressor with the waves doubler and a touch of SSL EQ to add clarity and cut 300HZ to get rid of mud, they were all paaned hard left/right and definately not as loud as the lead, I was listening to how they worked more with the guitars actually not the lead.

To Drakewire, Ron Fair hey, Ill have to familairise myself with his work, I didnt actually know he was a mixer, more a producer.

CHymer

[Hope209]

Awesome! Thanks for giving such in-depth details man, I think its always interesting to see this kinda stuff

[drakewire]

To Drakewire, Ron Fair hey, Ill have to familairise myself with his work, I didnt actually know he was a mixer, more a producer.

Ron is mentor, he taught Production, slash Recording, at the Hollywood University of Sound Arts in the 1980's. now being the president of Geffen Records, he rarely pushes knobs, but he has, he cut the record for Ashlee Simpson,Christina Aguilera, Vanessa Carlton, Mya, The Black Eyed Peas, and so many more Pop singers than I care to mention. The style of the girl you are recording, is nothing like Chris Lord Age usually would record except (Avril lavigne) who he mixes but does not track (Decoy Studios does for the most part).

A record producer does mix, Rick Rubin is a Record Producer but dont ever touch his boards...

Typically a Producer and or better known as a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. Most of the time they know a great deal more about a mix than a standard recording engineer.

I hope that explains somethings...
Best Wishes,
Devon Drake

[Lackatee]

Alright, you got me.. Im a sucker for this kind of production. I love all the layers and the vocal stuff especially. And the sound on the voice is nice... And oddly enough, i just tracked some vocals for a pop song myself and used the EXACT same setting on the distressor. It really does a number on vocals at that setting. Holds down the loud notes and brings up the softies without noticing. Love that thing.

The only thing i heard that sounded like something that could be tweaked a bit, was the mid range on the guitars when they come storming in on the chorus.. Although, that was probably the myspace conversion. Dont they convert it down to 96k or something? Whatever.. Other then that its got some real nice stuff goin on, and perfect layout. *jelous* :D

Im curious to know what was on your master buss to get it all to stick like that? And what you did to "master it". Curious to know.. Nice work.

[Dave Derr]

Chymer

Thats a great production. I couldnt listen to it on big speakers but on my little puter speakers it was so exciting, loud and well balanced. Course I couldnt feel the bass on these 3/4" speakers, but I could pick it out. Wonderful modern vocal take and sound. Excellant drum loop as well. Very distinctive snare with all that compression and ring. I like the hard panning too. On my speakers, the chorus sounded fine with the crunchy guitars. I didnt hear a problem with midrange pile up. If there is a pile up, thats where mixing to analog tape can really help.

Now Im curious to hear some more of her tunes.

GOOD WORK, MAN!

[chymer]

Dave...thanks for the compliment, Im sure your a busy guy (designing more exceptional modern classics) and you didnt need to post anything so thank you, it means a heap coming from the distressors daddy!!!!!
Oh and I Looooooove my distressor BTW, saving up for a fatso/lil freq next:-)
Im really looking to step up and head to the states next year and Im working really hard at my whole style and techniques and writing and so fourth and its really great to know Im improving and perhapse getting a little closer to being the world class producer like the guys I admire......even though I know I still have a fair way to go. I was close to packing it in end of last year.

Lackatee,
Hey, thanks for your feedback on the guitars. I think they are mixed on the louder side and do have a bite to them, but I did this to give the song an edge and aggressivness, its taste I think and I may pop them back half a db to take the edge off a little perhapse, and the mastering/limiting does bring the guitar edge out more. The mastering I did myself in 5 minutes just to give to the client for approval:-) I did it instinctively and very quickly with some plugins, If I can remember correctly....
-pultech pro cutting 300hz
-neve shelving 50,boosting 90, boosting 12khz
-stereo expander
-precision limiter

I really dont know what im doing when mastering and the song will get the real deal if we get around to recording a whole EP/Record........writing,writing,writing!
Oh, i did have the SSL comp on the master with only 2-3db reduction followed by the pultech doing nothing but a tiny tiny bit at 60hz. I may have also had the t-racks clipper which I like sometimes and voxengo tapebus in the default setting then precision limiter doing pretty much nothing. It all just raises the volume and really glues things, I find if you use a few good plugs that are working less in sequence then it goes a long way.

Thats all really, jes, I still cant believe Dave bothered to post, thats one to tell my geeky producer friends:-)
Chymer

[drakewire]

LOL
Even got Empirical Endorsing it... :)

This is an excellent mix, but come on, I have never seen a bigger Hillary Duff sounding track in my life...

Not that your girl doesnt have talent, she does, but this track sounds exactly like Hillary Duff's track, I cant remember off the top of my head which song, but Ill edit this later.. Vocals, music, and production.... This is an Aussie Act, I know the Veronicas are doing really well down there, but in the states not so much...

Over all, this is perhaps one of the best ITB mixes I have ever heard. So literally A plus plus on that...

[Andrew07]

Cool mix dude! What kind of stereo expander did you use on the 2-buss if you don't mind me asking?

[C Heat]

Originally Posted by drakewire

LOL
This is an excellent mix, but come on, I have never seen a bigger Hillary Duff sounding track in my life...

Not that your girl doesnt have talent, she does, but this track sounds exactly like Hillary Duff's track, I cant remember off the top of my head which song, but Ill edit this later..

Pieces of Me, Ashlee.

[chymer]

Originally Posted by Andrew07

Cool mix dude! What kind of stereo expander did you use on the 2-buss if you don't mind me asking?

I used the standard one in Wavelab, it was mastered in wavelab.

Its funny, I have never really listened to any Hillary Duff productions closely, but I did really dig the production on the first Ashlee Simpson album. John Shanks is great.
I agree she sounds very much like Hillary vocally and I really want to work on her power, which I dont think Hillary has, maybe take the sweetness off a bit, anyway.

I appreciate all the feedback, the next batch of songs I write Ill explore some more original ideas musically while still having a strong pop flavour vocally.

Chymer

[chymer]

Originally Posted by drakewire

LOL
This is an Aussie Act, I know the Veronicas are doing really well down there, but in the states not so much...

Over all, this is perhaps one of the best ITB mixes I have ever heard. So literally A plus plus on that...

I think the Voronicas arent doing so well anywhere to be honest, love the stuff though, great production/songs.

[Baz]

Great job

[drakewire]

I got this sample from Ashlee Simpson's site....

You've got some A plus mixing skills.... The girl, needs to find her own style... Way way too close....

I guess that explains only 1300 plays on myspace

[lordnielson]

Originally Posted by drakewire

I got this sample from Ashlee Simpson's site....

You've got some A plus mixing skills.... The girl, needs to find her own style... Way way too close....

I guess that explains only 1300 plays on myspace

I think there's been other pop songs that matched one another closer than these.
I don't really see the problem. It's not my bag, but it's a good solid job and I could see this sell rather fine.