Couple of new (relatively early) mixes

> > > Couple of new (relatively early) mixes

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Appenine
Member Since: Dec 13, 2004

Alright, got a couple of new mixes to trot out here, neither of which I'm particularly happy with. I am aware that the drums don't change much during the song, but that's sort of by design...I'm trying to get the sound of the rest of the mix operational first.

The first one is something called "Choppy Waters":

www.slashtmp.iu.edu/publi...vio/43330PKSq3a


The second is "Low Flying Birds":

www.slashtmp.iu.edu/publi...vio/35462U5kfDl


Choppy Waters is the more problematic of the two (to my ears, anyway). Low-Flying Birds just sounds like it's missing something...I dunno. Another part? Heck, I dunno. That's why I've got you fine folks, to help me figure this stuff out. :)

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

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Czar of Cheese
Member
Since: Jun 09, 2004

Feb 26, 2007 08:21 pm

I really like these songs! I think I've commented to you before that I think your voice reminds me a lot of John Hiatt.

I can't find a whole lot wrong with either one of these mixes. I guess I would like your "drummer" to play a few more fills, but you probably plan on doing that eventually.

I like "Choppy Waters". I really dig the break in the middle. It's like a solo but you only play chords. Nice touch. Then to solo near the end adds a nice change to everything. Well done.

"Low Flying Birds" is the better of the two, in my opinion. I love the groove. Love the cool-sounding organ in the background, and then it sounds great when you bring it up front for the solo.

They're both going straight to the iPod.

Jim

PS I need to get a copy of your "Cul de Sac" song for my iPod. I know I was going to try to add some harmony vocals and stuff, but I never got around to it. That's a great song too!

The fat one always watches us.
Member
Since: Nov 08, 2002

Feb 27, 2007 10:47 am

im listenin on hed fones at work soo...
choppy sounds dull, something missing at the high end. sorta flat. if the backup singers went really high and crazy maybe dunno
goood song and well done. I do like it, dont get me wrong....


birds- like the guitar sound alot...
really good sound and good song. i like this one better- i dont have much to offer, i was gonna say add some organ, but there it is....
i got no complaints on this one at all like it alot.


Answer:On a good day, lipstick.
Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004

Feb 27, 2007 03:27 pm

I like this stuff. I think the mixes are well done, nothing flies out and annoys...and good guitar tones. As Jim mentioned, the drums are a bit repetitive.

Low flying birds has a little flavour of Lennon's "Instant Karma" (from the production standpoint...not the song). I like the vibe. Very alive. Not sure what's 'missing'.Maybe you could try to add a little harmony vocal...maybe.....

The voice took a while to grow on me, but I'm over that now. Quite quirky, but original. Not that I have any right to critique vocals...

Nice toons.

Appenine
Member
Since: Dec 13, 2004

Mar 01, 2007 12:33 am

Thanks for the comments, guys. I'll respond in order:

guitarjim: Hey man, good to see you're still around here! You'd mentioned the John Hiatt comparison before...I still don't hear it, but I trust your ears! :)

I'll definitely have the "drummer" do more fills. I'm still getting the hang of EZdrummer, although it's a darn sight better than my standalone drum machines.

And I'll do you one better on "Cul De Sac"...I'm actually in the process of re-recording that one, so when it's done I'll get you a copy!


tonyd: I'd really be interested if you can figure out what's "missing" on the high end of Choppy Waters. I'm doing my own backup singing, and I can't get that high...although maybe I can just V-Vocal it.


TallChap: Thanks for the comments. I think maybe what bothers me about Low flying birds is the vocal, now that I've listened to it. But maybe not...ugh. It's hard to put my finger on it, even now.


I was a bit surprised that all of you liked Low Flying Birds...I almost didn't even upload that one because I thought it was too weak. Shows what I know! haha

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002

Mar 01, 2007 02:35 am

On choppy waters: Once the vox kick in the drums get kind of muddy. Kind of lost in the mix... as well as the guitars. And yeah, theres not much going on in the high end. But I think the main problem with it is that it's pretty muddy. Good song though

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Mar 02, 2007 05:11 pm

Thermocaster, good to see some new music from ya. I know I'm about a week late on this but ya know hwo things get sometimes.

Anyway, ya I'm not sure about the high end thing. I think because the midrange tone of the guitars and the combination of your vocal tone it sounds a bit odd, but not bad at all. My first thought though is what the reverb is doing on the drum tracks might be adding some odd overtones. Actually it might be the overall use of reverb is a bit on the heavy side. There is a motor like tone running through there as well that might be the offending bit tossing the high end to the wind.

I as well liked Low Flying Birds. Again I am thinking there is a bit much on the verb thing going on there. I would re-think how much you are using as it is probably the culprit there. I loved the organ bits as well. That is killer. This one really shows the Hiatt comparison for sure. YOu would have to go back and listen to some of his original stuff though to hear his voice in that style.

Appenine
Member
Since: Dec 13, 2004

Mar 22, 2007 02:32 am

Has it really been 20 days since I was on this site? Yikes. I need to get out less often.

Loki - I think part of the problem was that I really didn't sing it well the first time. This is one of the few songs I've written recently where I have to get into the low register, and I was pretty damn rusty as a result. I've re-recorded the lead vox, and I'll try to get that uploaded in the next few days.

Noize - Hey, I'm THREE weeks late, so I understand.

I don't really have any reverb on the drum tracks...I think it's just EZDrummer's "Overhead" mix function. I may have too much of that in there, so I'll see what I can do. And yeah, the motor tone was planned, but not conceived particularly well.

I'm just gonna re-record the vox (and the lyrics) on Low Flying Birds...actually, the vox are fine by me, but the lyrics don't do anything for me at this point. And yes, I'm definitely going to need to find some early Hiatt --- sadly, the local CD store doesn't seem to carry anything along those lines.

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003

Mar 23, 2007 12:07 am

I thought I already commented on these thermo, I know I listened to them already. :)

I like the songs alot, I do think you have to much reverb going on guitars & drums (at least it sounds like reverb). I agree with Noize backing off on the reverb would help the mixes quite a bit IMO. Vox are well done. I think I like Waters best of the 2, but both songs are good.

Dan

Member
Since: Jul 24, 2005

Mar 23, 2007 03:54 pm

I loved both tunes! I think I prefer Choppy Waters. I love the nice warm rhythm guitar thing you've got going there and your vocals. I was listening to this on sennheiser headphones of mine and didn't seem to hear a very distinct bass on that song. On low flying birds the bass came out well. Overall you have nice "swampy" sound going with all the reverb.

> > > Couple of new (relatively early) mixes

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