Acoustic Duo Sisters

[bradyvickers]

I posted this a while back, but didn't get any feedback. Thought I might try again. Just looking for comments on the overall mix, and if it sounds like it's at a professional level. I'm trying to tweak in my method of working, and my studio setup. I don't want to release work that doesn't stand up. Please let me know what you think.

http://www.bradyvickers.net/chubby/bigchubby.mp3

[rsl studios]

Catchy tune. I liked the mix. I would of liked the acoustic guitars stereo image spread out a little more in the choruses, but that's just my preference. Very well done. I think it stands up....





regards,
Garrett

[roxxon]

It's a similar melody to Green Day's "Basket case."

LOL!

Very, good singers.
The backing vocal mix is too high, in my opinion.
The musical arrangment is very sparse, maybe too sparse.
Some keys and electric guitars would help, a lot.
The drums, bass and acoustic guitars sound good.
I have issues regarding with how up front the vocals are and how they are mixed.
The tune is peppy and catchy.

[bradyvickers]

Thanks for the responses guys. I agree with you on the backing vox, it is too high. I would like to change it but the mastering was done by a seperate engineer, and the compression used brought the backing vox up (along with other things). Oh well I guess.

[roxxon]

You mean it's too late to tweak?
Never say, never.

So is what you are saying...is...
That is the finished product?

Have you got the master tapes or the original recordings on HD?

Let me see if I get this...???
You are the original engineer?
The recording was sent out for mastering?
You had no hand in the process.
Now this is the "finished" product?

Seriously...
I would not want that recoding released as a CD or record...
If I were in the band, the engineer or producer.
It doesn't sound like a very good recording.
The master-mix, that is.
The song's overall production values are also lacking.


It's too bad, those ladies have talent as singers.
If I were them, and money was no object...
I would seriously consider re-doing that song.
At least the vocals.
You can keep the bed tracks and add more instruments.
The song sounds pretty bare-bones.
I can understand someone wanting to showcase good voices like that...
But this is not a good example of how to do so.
There has to be more balance between the instrument mix and the vocals.
The song sounds like it has too much empty space in it...
If not for the over-powering vocal mix.

To put it mildly, it isn't a pretty picture.

[bradyvickers]

Well, thanks for the comments. I have the original masters still, but the version you are hearing is the version that will be released. It's designed to be a demo for the song, not the finished idea. I agree that the song needs to be tweaked, arrangement, maybe some string pads, etc. I am the original engineer, I did the demo recordings in my home studio, and I did the mixing. I mixed the lead vocal very hot, going for the style of country mixes. But the background vocal, was not as hot in my original (ie unmastered) mix. To be honest the two sisters are very talented songwriters, but they need help with the instrumentation. If it was gonna be released as a commercial product I would suggest they use studio musicians for the intrument bed. I had to do alot of tweaking to get things to work, and that just never sounds as good. As far as the sparseness, do you mean the mix, or the arrangement or both? Personally I like open mixes, where everything has space to breath, but I agree that this song needs some more elements to give it some size.

Listening back now I agree with you on the vox. I should have wrote some more automation to tuck the lead vox in better, and the backing vox should definitely be down at least a couple db. The girls are very happy with their demo, so at least the customer is happy, but I never seem to feel satisfied with a mix. Hopefully I can rework this song with them in the future.

Thanks alot for the comments!

[roxxon]

At least it's only a demo.
If the customer's are happy...
It doesn't flatter them as having good musical ears, where production values and sonic quality are concerned.

Obviously, such talented singers must have a decent-very good musical ear, to pull of those vocal tracks.
However, I fear that these ladies are in dire need of a good producer with lots of savy and experience.

I fully agree, they should hire professional studio players and a pro-producer.
That is if they want a pro-quality, finished product.

You take constructive critique very well.
You are obviously an intelligent person.
That will likely serve you very well as a high-end engineer-producer.

Kudos,for your ability to listen to well-meant advice.

[bradyvickers]

Yeah hopefully in the future they can work with someone who can take their ideas to a new level. I'm definitely no producer, and I don't pretend to be. Thanks for your honest critique. I just want to keep getting better so I appreciate the input. Thanks again and have a great holiday season!

Brady Vickers

[roxxon]

You too, bro.