mixing advice

[emreyazgin]

This is another song im supposed to mix as an assignment @ SAE, if anyone can comment I would be more than happy!.. I find it extremely useful to get comments from pro's all around the world, last time i posted a jazz track for mixing advice and i managed to fix the problems with vocals (and i still beleive i have problems with vocals in general!..)

The song is mixed with a very basic setup (its a part of the assignment not to use protools, ssl, neve & outboard..) Just a behringer 20 ch mixer + onboard fx + fx unit

I have trouble putting tambourine into a place on stereo field i guess :(

http://www.audio-electro.co.uk/emre/ROSA(WET).mp3


Thanks a lot!

[RainbowStorm]

Originally Posted by emreyazgin

This is another song im supposed to mix as an assignment @ SAE, if anyone can comment I would be more than happy!.. I find it extremely useful to get comments from pro's all around the world, last time i posted a jazz track for mixing advice and i managed to fix the problems with vocals (and i still beleive i have problems with vocals in general!..)

The song is mixed with a very basic setup (its a part of the assignment not to use protools, ssl, neve & outboard..) Just a behringer 20 ch mixer + onboard fx + fx unit

I have trouble putting tambourine into a place on stereo field i guess :(

http://www.audio-electro.co.uk/emre/ROSA(WET).mp3

Thanks a lot!

It's nice, it's a matter of taste as well. So this is only MY view...

This is simple and I think it works for what it is... What I would focus on here would be to add some attention points. You know after a few minutes you need some attention points in order to attach the listener's focus all the way to the end of the mix. Simplicity works, but when simple becomes boring it doesn't work anymore, so focus on that. "New", keep that word in mind. You could for instance do some automation for this or add pauses in the rhythm guitar and drums...

In terms of the vocals I've throught about that for a while. I think it becomes "blablabla" after a while. You could try to add some more intimacy on the vocals (M/S miking+EQ) as well as compress a little less. I think the singer could sing with some more expression, not necessarily leaned forward in the mix, but be more "determined" and "delicious" on the words, a little more like Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty)... Some vocal overdubs would be nice too... In terms of the producing I would of course add more different chord progressions and fine tune the phrasing. (I would modify note lenghts as well)

In terms of the elements I would mute the accordion and replace it with vocal overdubs. I don't think it's consuming the sound field that well... When the bass element is not there you need more punch on the drums to form a low end rather than remove mids and highs from the vocals. Add some low frequencies around 100 - 300 Hz. In terms of the stereo element it is a little unbalanced. The tambourine is clear (but it needs some more reverb) and the egg sound on the other speaker is a little too low in volume (and lacks some reverb). The acoustic guitar lacks some reverb (cut some reverb lows to not make it muddy) and chorus as well. The drums are too low in volume (and lacks reverb) and the rhythm guitar lacks low frequencies. Add some low and high frequencies on the vocals as well, there's plenty of unused room here, add more high frequencies than low frequencies though. You can spread the hand clapping a little and move it a little to the left, right now the hand clapping sounds like it is coming from the drummer.

Take the best and leave the rest!

[APOHStudios]

emreyazgin,

In asking for an opinion, you get what you ask for, that is "opinions". And everyone will have one. Here is mine:

1. Vocals = nice and smooth, maybe a little hot around 5k-ish
2. Guitar = loved it, placed good
3. Maracas = nice accent
4. Tambourine = too dry/hard to the right. Too present in the mix. Use the subtlety of the maracas to base the placement and level for the tambourine. I think they will offset the maracas nice.
5. Bongos(?) Conga(?) = not bad. I don't think the mike placement was doing the best for the instrument. I heard some of what I like about hand drums, but not the full range of them. As a school assignment = B/B+

But again, this is just my opinion.

Doc

[emreyazgin]

wow both very detailed and helpful opinions! Thank you so much for your time and energy! (and thanks for the B+ as well :) i know industry professionals are harsher so maybe its an A- really haha :) )


I don't think i can re-record it but i will try to implement the ideas you offered thanks a lot again...see you next assignment :)

[csilt]

Sounds pretty good for jiberish! The vocals stand out as sounding good to me, again except for the jiberish.

[Copeland]

super chill/pleasant sound. that tamborine is distracting being that loud... someone else already touched that, i know...

if you could add anything to this mix... like halfway through the song have a cool upright-bass slide in and add some more feeling... just an idea...