Having trouble with a mix

ChaNce144 · 31st August 2006, 08:07 PM

HI everyone, I hesitate to post my songs, becuase of the expertise here, but I really need some help.

My friend and I have been recording a number of demo songs to play live and gig around Houston. Both of us have been in bands for ever, but never really recorded. Because we both have jobs (we are both academics) and one of us has kids, we write/record in a spare bedroom in my house. Here is a quick rundown of the gear:
nstruments:

76 Gibson Les Paul
99 Ibanez Universe UV777BK
Ibanez Roadstar II 5 String Bass
Yamaha S80 Keyboard
Taylor 12 String
Laravee 6 string
Fender USA strat

Gear:

Pod xt Pro (all guitars)
Maudio Omni with a Delta 66 and 44
Cubase SX3
Drumkit from hell 2
Tons of free plugins
Maudio Ozone Midi Controller
MXR 990 Microphone
Event Bas 20/20 monitors

So, very much a home studio system. The vocals go into the pres on the Omni, and directly into Cubase. All compressors and other effects are software and free, mostly the "classic" series from Kjaerhus. The reverb is the free Desample Glaceverb. The songs are lightly limited on the output with the Kjaerhus limiter, but never to the point that it clips. I tried very hard to not record too hot, to leave plenty of headroom on the tracks, and to not slam everything too hard. I have read and internalized the "loudness war" discussions here (and other places) and am firmly in the "no squishing" camp.

All of the drums are created by me, using either Groovemonkee midi files or a Roland drumkit. All of the sounds are from DFH2. I know the drums are simple, but we are expecting to find a drummer, and while we probably won't redo anything on these songs, in the future I hope to use a live drummer.

If you go to our SoundClick page you can hear a few songs, but Im going to ask specifically about one of them here, called contrails. Im having a really tough time mixing this song.

The main guitar part (on the right) is an ebow, echo-y thing. My problem is that I can't get it to sit in the song properly. When I listen in headphones, its too quiet and seems disconnected from the rest of the song. If I turn it up too much, it takes over everything and really sticks out.

These Mp3s are 192kbs converted from the cubase generated 16bit 44.1 khz .wav files. They DO have the limiter on them.

Overall, how do all the songs sound to your ears? I have been listening too long to be objective, and everyone that we play them for say they "sound" good, but are friends and wives who don't necessarily listen in the same way that you all tend to. Where are the improvements to be made? Am I totally deluded and they sound like shit? Ive tried to be critical and get the best sounds I could within our limitations (no amps, for example).

Thanks for the input. Ive got thick skin, so constructive crit would be great.

Crash · 1st September 2006, 09:22 PM

Hmmmm ....This song sounds disjointed to me. There are mix things here and there that could use some touching up but to me, the drum parts are what is wrong with this tune. They are just too busy, I guess is the word I am looking for. I like the syncopated busy bits for parts of the tune, like the intro, but I would change it to something more straight forward during the verses and choruses. I think this song would be easier to deal with a more focused simple drum part. I bet it would come together as mix for you easier as well. That is where I would start. Anyway, that is my opinion.

ChaNce144 · 2nd September 2006, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crash

Hmmmm ....This song sounds disjointed to me. There are mix things here and there that could use some touching up but to me, the drum parts are what is wrong with this tune. They are just too busy, I guess is the word I am looking for. I like the syncopated busy bits for parts of the tune, like the intro, but I would change it to something more straight forward during the verses and choruses. I think this song would be easier to deal with a more focused simple drum part. I bet it would come together as mix for you easier as well. That is where I would start. Anyway, that is my opinion.

Yea, I think that is probably true. Ill work on the drums this weekend. I have actually been thinking about changing that drum section out for the last few week.s

guerillamixer · 2nd September 2006, 03:17 AM

OK, I reckon you need a driving rhythm guitar part. The ebow is great as texture, but it doesn't drive at all, which leaves the drum all out on there own as the sole driving force in the song. Drop the ebow in the verse, try a rhythm part on the guitar.

The drums just feel wooden to me, but for this kind of music I couldn't do any better, not being a drummer an all. Being a guitarist, I'd try a rhythm part to hide 'em! Or maybe some live percussion for a human feel..

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31st August 2006, 08:07 PM	#1
ChaNce144 Gear Head Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 67	Having trouble with a mix HI everyone, I hesitate to post my songs, becuase of the expertise here, but I really need some help. My friend and I have been recording a number of demo songs to play live and gig around Houston. Both of us have been in bands for ever, but never really recorded. Because we both have jobs (we are both academics) and one of us has kids, we write/record in a spare bedroom in my house. Here is a quick rundown of the gear: nstruments: 76 Gibson Les Paul 99 Ibanez Universe UV777BK Ibanez Roadstar II 5 String Bass Yamaha S80 Keyboard Taylor 12 String Laravee 6 string Fender USA strat Gear: Pod xt Pro (all guitars) Maudio Omni with a Delta 66 and 44 Cubase SX3 Drumkit from hell 2 Tons of free plugins Maudio Ozone Midi Controller MXR 990 Microphone Event Bas 20/20 monitors So, very much a home studio system. The vocals go into the pres on the Omni, and directly into Cubase. All compressors and other effects are software and free, mostly the "classic" series from Kjaerhus. The reverb is the free Desample Glaceverb. The songs are lightly limited on the output with the Kjaerhus limiter, but never to the point that it clips. I tried very hard to not record too hot, to leave plenty of headroom on the tracks, and to not slam everything too hard. I have read and internalized the "loudness war" discussions here (and other places) and am firmly in the "no squishing" camp. All of the drums are created by me, using either Groovemonkee midi files or a Roland drumkit. All of the sounds are from DFH2. I know the drums are simple, but we are expecting to find a drummer, and while we probably won't redo anything on these songs, in the future I hope to use a live drummer. If you go to our SoundClick page you can hear a few songs, but Im going to ask specifically about one of them here, called contrails. Im having a really tough time mixing this song. The main guitar part (on the right) is an ebow, echo-y thing. My problem is that I can't get it to sit in the song properly. When I listen in headphones, its too quiet and seems disconnected from the rest of the song. If I turn it up too much, it takes over everything and really sticks out. These Mp3s are 192kbs converted from the cubase generated 16bit 44.1 khz .wav files. They DO have the limiter on them. Overall, how do all the songs sound to your ears? I have been listening too long to be objective, and everyone that we play them for say they "sound" good, but are friends and wives who don't necessarily listen in the same way that you all tend to. Where are the improvements to be made? Am I totally deluded and they sound like shit? Ive tried to be critical and get the best sounds I could within our limitations (no amps, for example). Thanks for the input. Ive got thick skin, so constructive crit would be great. __________________ "[E]veryday life has a signal-to-noise ratio that demands the use of compression at some stage in the process." -Adam Miller

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1st September 2006, 09:22 PM	#2
Crash Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Antonio Texas Posts: 983	Hmmmm ....This song sounds disjointed to me. There are mix things here and there that could use some touching up but to me, the drum parts are what is wrong with this tune. They are just too busy, I guess is the word I am looking for. I like the syncopated busy bits for parts of the tune, like the intro, but I would change it to something more straight forward during the verses and choruses. I think this song would be easier to deal with a more focused simple drum part. I bet it would come together as mix for you easier as well. That is where I would start. Anyway, that is my opinion.

2nd September 2006, 03:17 AM	#4
guerillamixer Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 139	OK, I reckon you need a driving rhythm guitar part. The ebow is great as texture, but it doesn't drive at all, which leaves the drum all out on there own as the sole driving force in the song. Drop the ebow in the verse, try a rhythm part on the guitar. The drums just feel wooden to me, but for this kind of music I couldn't do any better, not being a drummer an all. Being a guitarist, I'd try a rhythm part to hide 'em! Or maybe some live percussion for a human feel..