Some seattle hardcore.

[Chris]

This was my friend's band. I recorded them a while ago and since I haven't had time to record anybody else I just keep on messing with stuff on a few songs I did of theirs. I think this one is sounding pretty damn good.

Anyway, I just wanted to post this up. I'll post it as both an mp3 or a wav for people that have better connections.

This was done ITB of course, on sonar 3.0 producer's edition. All the effects and compression were pretty much my UAD-1 (except for my waves c1 on the bass guitar). Everything was recorded in a practice room which probably shows.

Just curious about general mixing and just general advice. I'm mixing in a bedroom, so the bass area of my mix probably suffers because of that. I tried to make it as good as possible by switching between loud and soft levels on my yorkvilles, then switching to a small pair of crappy computer speakers, then using headphones, all back and forth to try and get everything balanced. I also switched between mono and stereo to make sure everything sounds good in both.

I wouldn't comment on the singer. Haha. He is a little skinny guy that was trying to sound tough, so yeah. His voice cracks a few times. I wish I could get him back in here to redo all of the vocals, but alas, nothing can be done.


Anyway, listen, let me know what you think, and what you think could be done better.


(UPDATED VERSION FURTHER DOWN)
unspoken5.wav (20 mb)
unspoken5.mp3 (2.73 mb)

[ExistanceMusic]

Sounds pretty good, it's a good balance for that style of music. Your right about the vocals, but its HC, what do you want, tom jones??

[peter893]

Nice hardcore tune !

I would work on that kick. I imagine the guitars are taking up way to much of the lowed.
Also the overheads are to dull.

The snare is a little dull, don't be afraid to give it some hi end boosts. 5k 7k maybe.

I would think about cutting the lowed out on the gtrs and also give them a little 2 -3.5k boost.
Really dont be afraid to cut that low end out, let the bass give them power.

Vocals, add a little hi end or self some low end out bring up the hi end.

Its a hardcore tune, make it hurt us !

Pete

[rockcamaro97]

Originally Posted by peter893

Nice hardcore tune !

I would work on that kick. I imagine the guitars are taking up way to much of the lowed.
Also the overheads are to dull.

The snare is a little dull, don't be afraid to give it some hi end boosts. 5k 7k maybe.

I would think about cutting the lowed out on the gtrs and also give them a little 2 -3.5k boost.
Really dont be afraid to cut that low end out, let the bass give them power.

Vocals, add a little hi end or self some low end out bring up the hi end.

Its a hardcore tune, make it hurt us !

Pete

He hit most of the point i was going to hit on. But ill add a few...

as said above, kick needs some help. Bring it up in the mix and let it come through. id try a little boost around 2.5K to see if that can help it out a little. That will bring out the "click" that hardcore is famous for and help it stand its own in the mix.

What is your method on the guitars? Almost sounds like theres two guitars playing the same part the whole song untill the break down where one guitar does the breakdowna and one does the oct strumming part. This may be whats making the guitars way too tick and muddy. Also, very good avdice above was given on mixing the guitar. This is especially important in the breakdown. ALso in the breakdown, Ithink u need to have the main gtr part in both sides at this point along with the strumming in the right.


The twang on the higher notes of the bass guitar makes that much more prevalent than when he drops down to the low note on the 1st chord of the main progression it almost dissapears. Same in the breakdown. If this twangy bass is part of there core style, leave it, but might take some eq work and some compression to smooth out.

To add to the above on vocals, might wanna try doubling some of his screams for some more power.

Overall, purty good hardcore mix. Wish you and the band well!

matt

[Chris]

The guitars were recorded with a combination, sm57 and d112 on one, and senn e609 silver and d112on the other. I was trying to capture the thick bottom since the heavy breakdowns use it a lot. I have the guitars rolled off quite steeply at about 141 cycles to let the bass guitar and drum through, but I guess that's not enough? Should I try cutting the d112 mics off of both? I think that would make a much weaker guitar sound.

[Einstein]

Good stuff, I can't think of anything else to say other than what everyone else has already hit on. Brighten up that drumset and let it come through a little more. I'd really like to hear both sides playing the breakdown with the octave thing more toward the center, especially since there's no vocals during that part.

One thing you might try on the vocals is to duplicate the track to a second track, squash it and delay the signal on it just a little to fatten him up. Then tuck it under the main vocal til it just sounds right. It can give that effect of the clasping the mic at a show those singers always want if you EQ it right.

Other than that, it's sounding great bro. These are just my opinions mind you. I am but a small fish in a huge ocean.

Great job!

[Chris]

New mix. Brought up the kick drum a bit. Added a compressed to shit vocal behind the original. There were two tracks I was using with the guitars that were recorded at the same time as the other ones through a d112 to give the fattness to the guitars, but I muted those to see how it sounded and the bass covers it well. Ummm. Added a bit of high end to the vox. I think tha tmight be about it. Let me know if it's better or worse. Haha.

unspoken mix 5c.wav
unspoken mix 5c.mp3

[rockcamaro97]

mix sounds a lot better man. Guitars are a lot more clear. I can still tell that you used 2 different mics on the guitar. Sounds like the guitar on the 57 is in the right? If thats what your shooting for good deal.

Vox are stilla bit weak, but at this point you are DEF on the right track man. What does the band think?

Matt

[Chris]

Originally Posted by rockcamaro97

mix sounds a lot better man. Guitars are a lot more clear. I can still tell that you used 2 different mics on the guitar. Sounds like the guitar on the 57 is in the right? If thats what your shooting for good deal.

Vox are stilla bit weak, but at this point you are DEF on the right track man. What does the band think?

Matt

Matt, you're right on. The guitar with the 57 was on the right (until the breakdown when it's almost dead center) and the e609 is on the left. Haha.

What do you mean by a bit weak? I tried compressing a second copy of them and then bringing them up, but it didn't seem to change it at all.

[Chris]

Anybody else have anything to add?

[Chris]

Here's a more updated mix without the vox. I'm pretty sure the snare sounds much heavier (found out I was cutting something I shouldn't have been cutting) and everything sounds a bit more fitting.

So let me know what you think.

.wav

[Chris]

Last bump.