Critique my mix (pop/rock)

Ahellam · 11th July 2005, 09:53 PM

Drums come in at the very end, feel free to skip there but I think its a great song.

Lanstar Zero · 12th July 2005, 01:38 AM

Nice work. I like the song, although a darker sounding mix would do it more justice IMHO ...

I'm listening on crappy computer computer speakers right now (ones that I'm not even used to) so I could be way off base...

The low end doesn't have the kind of definition I am wanting to hear: I would like to hear it more saturated, especially the bass. I think the bass needs to growl a little more - use a compressor that will saturate as you drive it, with a medium-to-fast attack and fairly fast release followed by an la2a type limiter.. at least, that's partially how I get the sound I like.

The whole mix sounds pretty compressed too, so that could be it.

Hmm, the kick drum, I honestly think you could lose a "little" of that 3-4k click.

Umm, on the vocals, I think they are little TOO present, or at least some of the frequencies (again, crappy somputer speaker) - I would have to say at 3k and 8-9k. Also, since the production has room for it, I would make the vox slightly less dry - make add a very subtle tempo delay - filtered so that you can basically only hear it when it's not there. Just my $.02. I'll add another post if I listen on better speakers or my monitors - possibly everything I'm saying is biased because of these crappy speakers.

Good job!

What kind of gear were you working with?

Ahellam · 12th July 2005, 02:41 AM

Thanks for listening!
About the low end. I put quite a bit of sub bass in there from a keyboard which is doubling the bass melody. I do think the bass guitar could go up though or at least be more present.

About the drum sounds... he played a really attacky sounding kit. (orange county)
And he was pretty anal about having the drums sound as close to possible as they do live.

I like the idea for delay on vocals it would match up nice with the delayed gtrs.

Recording gear consists of...

Presonus Digimax 8 ch pre
DBX 386 tube pre
Trident S40 channel strip

pretty basic cheap mics...
GT66 being most expensive.

Lanstar Zero · 12th July 2005, 02:47 AM

Definitely impressive given the gear.

I'll let you know what I think of I get a chance to listen on my monitors.

Ahellam · 13th July 2005, 06:56 PM

Anyone else?

neon · 7th March 2007, 03:36 PM

Cool song!
how much did u pay for the Trident S40?

studio freak · 7th March 2007, 04:06 PM

Good work, really!

I noticed some cliping at 1:00 !
think you should lower the vox.
the flanged guitar riff on 2:08 can be a bit louder, because it should be leading that bridge part.

great stuff

StudioRat81 · 7th March 2007, 04:47 PM

In general, the mix is good, especially the guitars. Loved the kick sound too.

A couple of things jump out at me though...

1) The vocal is way too out front, especially at the beginning of the track. It's a good sounding, well performed vocal, so it's probably a little tempting to really put it out there, but it loses its impact very quickly at its current level. It blends better towards the end, but still not great.

2) I really dislike the snare sound. It sounds very distant, round, and lacks definition. It doesn't punch at all. It sounds like that particular drum is already somewhat subdued in tone...not a lot of "crack"...so pushing it so far towards the back with reverb, etc., doesn't help.

3) The bass feels mushy in the lower registers, primarily on the D. I'm assuming the guitars and bass are in dropped D tuning? I don't know what you could do here besides retrack the part. It actually sounds like it is losing the tonal center, but only on that one note. Maybe an intonation issue?

All things considered, it's not bad at all. With a little tweaking, this could be a really, really good mix. Good job!

myownsayingso · 7th March 2007, 09:27 PM

sounds pretty good overall. i just really dont like the part when the snares are turned off. its pretty far back in the mix and sounds really distant. but when snares come in its better. you can hear the snares vibrating on different parts when they are on and he goes to the toms or something. i really liked the toms though.

also the vox are pretty dry. maybe it could come down a db or so, and maybe make it bigger with more reverb/delay.

not a pro, but i'm just speaking my mind!

great direction and awesome sound overall

jeremynothman · 8th March 2007, 09:59 AM

great song! wish i could fin a vocalist that could sing like that!

to me the bass is a little undefined. maybe take a touch of click out of the kick and donate it to the bass?
also from 2:30 there is heaps of distortion on the vox... i assume this is intentional?

agree with bringing the vox down a coupel of DBs and giving it a little more ambience

the hollow/unsnared snare should be brought a little more.

to me the flangey guitar gets a little lost.
also the shaker sorta takes me by surprise. dont know how to fix that really.

overall pretty damn cool sounding!

csiking · 8th March 2007, 11:10 PM

I guess I will chime in:

Ditto on the hollow snare hotter
Ditto on the snare popping more
Ditto on the vocal in the front

I would roll the over heads at about 12k and over to give it that 'record' sound.

The bass and the kick are close in working together but I think there is to much lowend when they are combined. Try rolling off the bass at around 60 or even 70hz allowing the kick to do that work but then the bass to work the top end.

The song is very good and unique - it just doesn't sound like a record, it sounds like a good demo. Try taking it up a few more notches to give it some punch.

I would love to take a crack at mixing this song would be great fun. Let me know if you'd like to take me up on that.

clking@creativesoundimages.com

To hear some songs that I have done a 'reMIX' on go to my site and listen:
http://creativesoundimages.com/%28re%29MIX.html

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12th July 2005, 02:41 AM	#3
Ahellam Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 419	Thanks for listening! About the low end. I put quite a bit of sub bass in there from a keyboard which is doubling the bass melody. I do think the bass guitar could go up though or at least be more present. About the drum sounds... he played a really attacky sounding kit. (orange county) And he was pretty anal about having the drums sound as close to possible as they do live. I like the idea for delay on vocals it would match up nice with the delayed gtrs. Recording gear consists of... Presonus Digimax 8 ch pre DBX 386 tube pre Trident S40 channel strip pretty basic cheap mics... GT66 being most expensive. __________________ One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.

13th July 2005, 06:56 PM	#5
Ahellam Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 419	Anyone else? __________________ One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.

7th March 2007, 09:27 PM	#9
myownsayingso Gear Head Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 44	sounds pretty good overall. i just really dont like the part when the snares are turned off. its pretty far back in the mix and sounds really distant. but when snares come in its better. you can hear the snares vibrating on different parts when they are on and he goes to the toms or something. i really liked the toms though. also the vox are pretty dry. maybe it could come down a db or so, and maybe make it bigger with more reverb/delay. not a pro, but i'm just speaking my mind! great direction and awesome sound overall __________________ At home with a digi002 bankin' www.myspace.com/alcoastudio

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12th July 2005, 01:38 AM	#2
Lanstar Zero Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 122	Nice work. I like the song, although a darker sounding mix would do it more justice IMHO ... I'm listening on crappy computer computer speakers right now (ones that I'm not even used to) so I could be way off base... The low end doesn't have the kind of definition I am wanting to hear: I would like to hear it more saturated, especially the bass. I think the bass needs to growl a little more - use a compressor that will saturate as you drive it, with a medium-to-fast attack and fairly fast release followed by an la2a type limiter.. at least, that's partially how I get the sound I like. The whole mix sounds pretty compressed too, so that could be it. Hmm, the kick drum, I honestly think you could lose a "little" of that 3-4k click. Umm, on the vocals, I think they are little TOO present, or at least some of the frequencies (again, crappy somputer speaker) - I would have to say at 3k and 8-9k. Also, since the production has room for it, I would make the vox slightly less dry - make add a very subtle tempo delay - filtered so that you can basically only hear it when it's not there. Just my $.02. I'll add another post if I listen on better speakers or my monitors - possibly everything I'm saying is biased because of these crappy speakers. Good job! What kind of gear were you working with?

12th July 2005, 02:47 AM	#4
Lanstar Zero Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 122	Definitely impressive given the gear. I'll let you know what I think of I get a chance to listen on my monitors.

7th March 2007, 03:36 PM	#6
neon Gear maniac Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 163	Cool song! how much did u pay for the Trident S40?

7th March 2007, 04:06 PM	#7
studio freak Gear nut Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 118	Good work, really! I noticed some cliping at 1:00 ! think you should lower the vox. the flanged guitar riff on 2:08 can be a bit louder, because it should be leading that bridge part. great stuff

7th March 2007, 04:47 PM	#8
StudioRat81 Gear Head Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 70	In general, the mix is good, especially the guitars. Loved the kick sound too. A couple of things jump out at me though... 1) The vocal is way too out front, especially at the beginning of the track. It's a good sounding, well performed vocal, so it's probably a little tempting to really put it out there, but it loses its impact very quickly at its current level. It blends better towards the end, but still not great. 2) I really dislike the snare sound. It sounds very distant, round, and lacks definition. It doesn't punch at all. It sounds like that particular drum is already somewhat subdued in tone...not a lot of "crack"...so pushing it so far towards the back with reverb, etc., doesn't help. 3) The bass feels mushy in the lower registers, primarily on the D. I'm assuming the guitars and bass are in dropped D tuning? I don't know what you could do here besides retrack the part. It actually sounds like it is losing the tonal center, but only on that one note. Maybe an intonation issue? All things considered, it's not bad at all. With a little tweaking, this could be a really, really good mix. Good job!

8th March 2007, 09:59 AM	#10
jeremynothman Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 139	great song! wish i could fin a vocalist that could sing like that! to me the bass is a little undefined. maybe take a touch of click out of the kick and donate it to the bass? also from 2:30 there is heaps of distortion on the vox... i assume this is intentional? agree with bringing the vox down a coupel of DBs and giving it a little more ambience the hollow/unsnared snare should be brought a little more. to me the flangey guitar gets a little lost. also the shaker sorta takes me by surprise. dont know how to fix that really. overall pretty damn cool sounding!

8th March 2007, 11:10 PM	#11
csiking Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 182	I guess I will chime in: Ditto on the hollow snare hotter Ditto on the snare popping more Ditto on the vocal in the front I would roll the over heads at about 12k and over to give it that 'record' sound. The bass and the kick are close in working together but I think there is to much lowend when they are combined. Try rolling off the bass at around 60 or even 70hz allowing the kick to do that work but then the bass to work the top end. The song is very good and unique - it just doesn't sound like a record, it sounds like a good demo. Try taking it up a few more notches to give it some punch. I would love to take a crack at mixing this song would be great fun. Let me know if you'd like to take me up on that. clking@creativesoundimages.com To hear some songs that I have done a 'reMIX' on go to my site and listen: http://creativesoundimages.com/%28re%29MIX.html