Reggae mix

cjbdrmr · 14th November 2006, 08:51 PM

Here's something I'm working on. Feedback welcome and appreciated.

http://www.savefile.info/download.php?id=1DC3A559

santacore · 14th November 2006, 10:25 PM

I'm a huge reggae fan so I'm biased.

Overall everything sounds pretty good. The drums and bass could be featured more. They both seem a bit distant and don't drive the song enough.

Check out the original wailers mix and try to match that, since that's what the players seem to be going for.

SK1 · 15th November 2006, 12:31 AM

Great job ! What fun.

A few comments.

Where's the kick ?? Could have some more definition and even volume.

at 1:27 there's a weird overload thing in the vocs. Clean it up. Maybe more drastic high pass on that voc part. Taking out some 300-400 might help.

Also the clav/key part is a bit high and overpowering .... I'd take it down. That would give the bass and drums more room as per the last poster. Also a little more high pass on the clav comes to mind. Let the bass live there.

I'm enjoying it.

cjbdrmr · 15th November 2006, 12:43 AM

Excellent. Thanks guys. Great advice...

simonv · 15th November 2006, 01:02 AM

Another big reggae fan... Reggae is about all that I play and record actually...

Here's what I'd do for this mix:

- I'd remove the effects you have on the back-vocals, and I'd pan them all around to give a really englobing effect. (I'd track extra back-vocal tracks if necessary, until you have enough to create a very "airy" wall of back vocals). BTW this would be the way i'd go with this, but it's also good the way you did it, just different. The lead vocal sounds great btw.. he sounds like a mix of Toots and Ken Boothe.

- I'd completely retrack the organ part. It's the weakest link in the song, if you ask me. It sounds like a D.I. track from a toy organ, or an unprocessed B4 track.... If retracking wasn't an option, I'd at least try to pass it through a nice guitar amp, or try to get it some personnality through effects like Scarbee Vintage Keyboard FX...

- The clavinet also sounds a bit fake, but it's satisfactory.. I'd pan it somewhere to the side

- I'd add wah-wah on the guitar track so that it's completely opened on every "cha-ka, cha-ka". And you know what, i'd leave the "cha-ka" for the organ, and I'd retrack a guitar track that only does "Chak - chak - chak" instead of "chaka chaka chaka".. The way it is right now makes it a bit busy and draws attention from the song itself. (the guitar track is also loud a bit)

- The drums sounds good, but I'd add reverb on the side-stick and I'd try to do something to the Toms to make them more present and more "cartboardish" like the toms in old-reggae.

That's about all I can think of. It's pretty good overall, the feel is there. The singer has a great vibe.

Curtis Franklin · 15th November 2006, 01:12 AM

Besides the lack of kick....

this sounds fantastic. i listen to alot of reggae and its nic to hear someone recording some roots.

the only other thing i would do is mix the teeny tiny guitar licks back to where the upstrokes are, i think they are too prominant.

cjbdrmr · 15th November 2006, 01:45 AM

You guys rock!

I'm listening...

lozion · 15th November 2006, 01:59 AM

Hey thats funny, where from the same hood and I'm working on a reggae album right now as well...

Quote:

Originally Posted by simonv

Another big reggae fan... Reggae is about all that I play and record actually...

I agree with most of what you said, too much guitars, not enough kick and you need verb (try a spring for the vintage flavor) on the side stick. The wah is also a good idea and you could lower the bubble (organ) and add a crank (piano skank-M1 rules at this...) and have the skank only on the up, no doubling. You're getting there...

Respect

santacore · 15th November 2006, 07:32 PM

If you re-mix it please post an update so we can hear the change.

cjbdrmr · 15th November 2006, 10:04 PM

here's a remix:

http://www.savefile.info/download.php?id=052D5F27

SK1 · 16th November 2006, 12:33 AM

Sounds great.

I'd say still more kick.

Also there's something in the high mids of the lead voc that's biting a LITTLE to much for me. I'd find it and take it down 1/2 db or so with a fairly wide Q (4-5 at a guess)
just to warm up the lead voc a little.

Makes me want to find another reggae band to work with !!

Good job.

boogiemaster · 24th November 2006, 01:30 PM

Reminds me of the specials from years ago! The tune has all the elements of a good Reggie tune and that includes wanting me to get up and dance.
I do feel the beat and that’s what Reggie is all about to me personally, wicked tune and great vocals etc.
Really nice work

cjbdrmr · 25th November 2006, 02:50 AM

Thanks Boogie for the positive feedback.

All you guys were a big help...

Cheers!

P.S. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't mix on headphones!

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14th November 2006, 08:51 PM	#1
cjbdrmr Gear interested Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: East Coast Posts: 27	Reggae mix Here's something I'm working on. Feedback welcome and appreciated. http://www.savefile.info/download.php?id=1DC3A559

14th November 2006, 10:25 PM	#2
santacore Gear addict Join Date: May 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 371	mix I'm a huge reggae fan so I'm biased. Overall everything sounds pretty good. The drums and bass could be featured more. They both seem a bit distant and don't drive the song enough. Check out the original wailers mix and try to match that, since that's what the players seem to be going for.

15th November 2006, 01:12 AM	#6
Curtis Franklin Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 533	Besides the lack of kick.... this sounds fantastic. i listen to alot of reggae and its nic to hear someone recording some roots. the only other thing i would do is mix the teeny tiny guitar licks back to where the upstrokes are, i think they are too prominant. __________________ --------------------------------------------------- Curtis Franklin curtisfranklin@earthsedgestudio.com 714.401.3871

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15th November 2006, 12:31 AM	#3
SK1 Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 877	Great job ! What fun. A few comments. Where's the kick ?? Could have some more definition and even volume. at 1:27 there's a weird overload thing in the vocs. Clean it up. Maybe more drastic high pass on that voc part. Taking out some 300-400 might help. Also the clav/key part is a bit high and overpowering .... I'd take it down. That would give the bass and drums more room as per the last poster. Also a little more high pass on the clav comes to mind. Let the bass live there. I'm enjoying it.

15th November 2006, 12:43 AM	#4
cjbdrmr Gear interested Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: East Coast Posts: 27	Excellent. Thanks guys. Great advice...

15th November 2006, 01:02 AM	#5
simonv Gear addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montreal Posts: 475	Another big reggae fan... Reggae is about all that I play and record actually... Here's what I'd do for this mix: - I'd remove the effects you have on the back-vocals, and I'd pan them all around to give a really englobing effect. (I'd track extra back-vocal tracks if necessary, until you have enough to create a very "airy" wall of back vocals). BTW this would be the way i'd go with this, but it's also good the way you did it, just different. The lead vocal sounds great btw.. he sounds like a mix of Toots and Ken Boothe. - I'd completely retrack the organ part. It's the weakest link in the song, if you ask me. It sounds like a D.I. track from a toy organ, or an unprocessed B4 track.... If retracking wasn't an option, I'd at least try to pass it through a nice guitar amp, or try to get it some personnality through effects like Scarbee Vintage Keyboard FX... - The clavinet also sounds a bit fake, but it's satisfactory.. I'd pan it somewhere to the side - I'd add wah-wah on the guitar track so that it's completely opened on every "cha-ka, cha-ka". And you know what, i'd leave the "cha-ka" for the organ, and I'd retrack a guitar track that only does "Chak - chak - chak" instead of "chaka chaka chaka".. The way it is right now makes it a bit busy and draws attention from the song itself. (the guitar track is also loud a bit) - The drums sounds good, but I'd add reverb on the side-stick and I'd try to do something to the Toms to make them more present and more "cartboardish" like the toms in old-reggae. That's about all I can think of. It's pretty good overall, the feel is there. The singer has a great vibe.

15th November 2006, 01:45 AM	#7
cjbdrmr Gear interested Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: East Coast Posts: 27	You guys rock! I'm listening...

15th November 2006, 07:32 PM	#9
santacore Gear addict Join Date: May 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 371	If you re-mix it please post an update so we can hear the change.

15th November 2006, 10:04 PM	#10
cjbdrmr Gear interested Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: East Coast Posts: 27	here's a remix: http://www.savefile.info/download.php?id=052D5F27

16th November 2006, 12:33 AM	#11
SK1 Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 877	Sounds great. I'd say still more kick. Also there's something in the high mids of the lead voc that's biting a LITTLE to much for me. I'd find it and take it down 1/2 db or so with a fairly wide Q (4-5 at a guess) just to warm up the lead voc a little. Makes me want to find another reggae band to work with !! Good job.

24th November 2006, 01:30 PM	#12
boogiemaster Gear interested Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 7	Reminds me of the specials from years ago! The tune has all the elements of a good Reggie tune and that includes wanting me to get up and dance. I do feel the beat and that’s what Reggie is all about to me personally, wicked tune and great vocals etc. Really nice work

25th November 2006, 02:50 AM	#13
cjbdrmr Gear interested Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: East Coast Posts: 27	Thanks Boogie for the positive feedback. All you guys were a big help... Cheers! P.S. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't mix on headphones!