Melodic Metal anyone?
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Posted on Apr 02, 2006 10:08 am
dragonorchid
Sound Gal - Michelle
Member Since: Jul 11, 2005
These are my first (not final) mixdowns of Alpine Fault's new songs. I love these guys, they are REALLY GOod :-), and I'm really proud of them, as good friends of mine...
Half the band were at my house today sitting behind me while I did stuff to the mix. As well as a wall of ENGL guitars, they have not one, but two gorgeous female violin players in the band.
the guitarists Derek and Ant are training me up on the subtlties of the metal mid scooped sound. I'm not really sure if I've got it right yet.
Let me know what you think :-)
www.michelleklaessens.com...p_Mixdown_A.mp3 (disabled, see further down for more up to date mixes)
www.michelleklaessens.com...y_Mixdown_A.mp3 (disabled, see further down for more up to date mixes)
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GregorMember
Since: Jan 08, 2004
Apr 02, 2006 12:30 pm Let me know when this cd comes out I'm very interested in their stuff! Good overall mix by the way. The vox seemed a little low during the begining of the first song you posted. The violins need to a bit louder for sure.
Downloading dying sky mix now. good stuff!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 02, 2006 08:26 pm So Yvette and Ilse are sisters I take it? I'm so jealous, you get to work with all the pretty girls. :-)
Oh, and before I get started, SLEEP is a melodic metal anthom if I have ever heard one. OMG, the violin's are killer Michelle, absolutely killer. I liked their stuff with just Yvette playing but now the dimmension of the 2 violins is incredable. Might be because I'm a sucker for strings, but I doubt it.
I will have to listen again a little better later, but I would say you are getting the metal guitar sound down pretty well these days.
Once again you have a really smacking snare that sounds just great in the intro to Under a Dying Sky. The rest of the kit sounds great as well. When the killer guitars come in though they kind of drown the drums out a bit. Not much but a tiny drop there might bring the drums right up again. That is kind of the price you pay though for the sort of guitar sound. But it can be dealt with with a little TLC. I didnt notice the vocal being low at all here though so your good there I think. Absolutely loved the violins as well, nicely set under the main forray of guitars but still present in the mix. I guess I would say this one at 6 minutes plus is rather an anthom as well. :-) Loved the solo guitar parts as well.
Sleep, again the drum sound is just great. The guitars are at a better level here and dont mess with the drum sound at all. The violins though, more, more, more violins. You really have them set great in this track, there mix with the comteting guitar lick portions are very well done. YOu got a really nice grinding bottom end on the guitars here as well.
I could go on forever, but I must say those are some great A mixes indeed. I have to agree as well Alpine Fault are absolutely killer with those tunes. Definately on my shopping list when its done. That or I'll have to coem down there and get a couple at a show. Better yet, they should come to Minnesotta. There is a big new club with a huge stage 5 minutes from my house. I'm sure they would fill that place up.
Hey and look, only had to type this once. No power outages. Yippee!
Apr 03, 2006 11:32 am Thanks Noize, and Gregor. I've told the band to come here an have a look at what people are saying about them ;-) so they are probably wathcing this thread with interest too!
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 03, 2006 11:07 pm Hey Michelle, they just sent a request at myspace so I have added them in. I've almost got a complete Auckland top row now with you, Arie and AF. I hope Arie doesnt look, but I replaced his tune with AF Under a Dying Sky. Now I just need to find a good editor and fix the page up a bit. What editor are you using on you Myspace? As I like the straight layout you are using.
Later,
Noize
Apr 04, 2006 01:14 am hehe! Us lucky Aucklanders in your top8! cept Arie is in Ozzy now...
I think I used www.pimpwebpage.com/
Apr 04, 2006 02:16 am Quote:
I hope Arie doesnt look, but I replaced his tune with AF Under a Dying Sky.
*le gasp*
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Apr 04, 2006 08:42 pm Nothing personal CS, You'll get back in in the rotation. I promise. Besides, that is one of my favorite mixes of yours.
Michelle, I figured if the myspace page is going to do anything it can at least redirect some interest in bands and such. You guys and gals happen to be some of my favorites.
Thanx for the link as well, I'll have a look and see what they have that might suit the page. Gotta get rid of the paln MS layout.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 02, 2006 10:19 pm On Sleep the only thing that took a hit to me is the violins. I will have to have another listen tommorrow a little louder and let you know for sure but I think the gats will be OK really. The vox stood out nicely still so that is not a worry at all. And the violins arent buried to deeply so I dont think it will take much at all. The drums and bass give it a lot more power, at least at the lower volume I listened at tonight.
Man I love that tune. But then again, I like all their tunes. Must be the violins. :-)
Under a dying Sky is the same as well. I dont think the gats took much of a hit, just the vioins again. But I will have to listen tommorrow as well a bit louder to really tell.
I think they both sound pretty good really, but I'll give ya a shout tommorrow and let ya know what I hear.
Noize
Jun 13, 2006 11:17 am both songs are great...these guys are real good...very much enjoyed this...
the mix overall sounded good...but personally I think some of the vox are lost in the mix...especially the softer stuff...when he really gets belting it out it sounds fine.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 15, 2006 09:12 pm As with your other tune, I am going to have to have another listen on Sunday. But from this listen it sounds like the gats and strings are again sitting well in the mix.
Oh man, the intro to Sleep is now a stunner. I liked the way you changed it in Mix C, but I like this one even better. The jump is much more dramatic. And again the gats and strings are sitting much better in the mix then in C. The drums and bass are still holding a good bit of the mix, but not overpowering the vox and other insturments.
I honestly would say these two mixes have it pretty well wrapped up now. But if they want another mix of it, then that is their choice. But I will definately listen again on Sunday a bit louder.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 15, 2006 09:14 pm You can always put up the tracks zipped for me to download and I can take a crack at em for you.
Jun 17, 2006 07:32 pm all the data files of the two songs together are bigger than the webspace I have available (5 cds worth). I'll ask them about it though.. maybe on song?
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jun 18, 2006 05:41 pm I still say your mixes sound good though now on the F versions. I had another listen today a bit louder.
What exactly are you or they unhappy with?
PS, check your email. :-)
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jul 25, 2006 01:15 pm Check it when I get home. I like your mixes so far and am looking forward to it as I am a metal man at heart.
Jul 25, 2006 06:11 pm listening on a POS dell 4.1 pc setup.
great drum sound!...the toms are a bit undefined, ease off around 50hz and lower and it'll clear them right up, save that area for kick and bass.....also the kick is a bit boomy in that area, if you're usin' additive eq, i'd widen the Q and come down a db or 3.
the vocals are super great, i can understand 'em and they're not all ultra brite...i've really got nothing critiquish to say about 'em. ROCK!
guitars are eatin' into the bass a bit, i'd notch boost something in the bass around 1k and notch the guitars out in the same spot, this will give your bass more presence...also seperate the bass and guitar more distinctly in the 200-400hz range, what i like to do is find the lowest part of the guitar and loop it, and cut the eq just below that area, then boost the bass around there....the idea is to get the bass to blend in with the guitars there....the band is really good, i dont' get much time on computers with speakers, but i woulnd't mind hearin' more of 'em...
cheers
wyd
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jul 26, 2006 04:13 pm Very nice. It's not quite my style of metal but I think your mixes (as always) are very good. I also listened to your solo work and was impressed. If you'd like, I'll volunteer myself to crawl across the piano in a slinky dress while you play/sing.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 26, 2006 10:15 pm Michelle, I had a low level listen tonight. I can honestly say the kick and bass came through very well here. No problem at all. Nice tight kick and the bass really held its own. It only took a very slight backseat when the guitars were really ripping. But never dissappeared at all here. The toms sound fine as well. I like the ring they have in Under a Dying Sky, they sound great.
I still love the intro to Sleep, the gats and strings really sound good together now. The single note gats and rythem gats really have their own distinct tones now as well. Much more seperated from each other. Very good defanition between instruments now.
I will listen louder tommorrow and see if there is anything that sticks out.
Rockin,
Noize
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 27, 2006 02:59 pm Michelle, I had a better listen today. Several time actually. I think you pretty much have it, at least on this system. The gats and bass do mesh a tiny bit on Under a dying Sky, but it isnt something I would worry about. The mp3 I am sure is being a little missleading. I personally liked the drums just fine, they sit in the mix very well. The vox are fine as well. And the gats as I stated above have a nice tone differance between the solo notes and the rythem parts.
Sleep is pretty much perfect from this point. I cant really hear anything that would stick out as being wrong at all.
Noize
Aug 01, 2006 02:22 am Thanks wyd, cpttripps, noize, from first response from the band, they seem much happier with them, which is a releif. :-)
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Aug 01, 2006 01:29 pm Very glad to hear that, and I bet you are relieved. You have a put a l of of work it their tunes.
Aug 26, 2006 04:22 am Great band,great mix,, nice contrasting guitar solo's.Well cool.
DrizztMember
Since: Dec 23, 2005
Aug 28, 2006 04:26 am I remember listening to the songs that were on Alpine Vault's myspace that you posted a while back and liking them a lot. Very cool band. You've done a very good job, Michelle is it? I like these two tracks too :)
My one observation, which is worth next to nothing as I'm still a newbie, is regarding the kick drum. I had a hard time hearing it during certain parts, and I also noticed it seemed to be coming more out of my speakers than my subwoofer (and when listening to other metal songs, or anything with double kick drumming, I usually hear- or feel rather- the kick from the woofer a lot more.) Are you able to turn the kick drum up maybe? Some of the guru's here didn't mention this, so I'm probably wrong, but I just thought I'd describe what I'm hearing on my end ;)
Jul 25, 2006 10:31 am 
