Could use an objective ear for mixing tips on a work in progress

> > > Could use an objective ear for mixing tips on a work in progress

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sloppy dice, drinks twice
Member Since: Aug 05, 2003

Here it is...

(EDIT: Link removed. Thanks for looking. The final version will be posted at the first opportunity, as a new thread.)

I don't have an official name for it yet. Also, no vocals (lyrics are only 2/3 written). However, all instruments are here in (probably) their final versions.

Problem: I am just too "close" to this project to mix it with a fresh ear. (I was playing the intro for my wife, and she's like "wow, that guitar's loud", and I'm like, "it is?" - hahaha) I want to get this thing done, don't want to have to put it away for a week and then go back to it. Have a listen if you get a few minutes, and let me know what instruments you think are too loud/soft/whatever in the mix.

I am aware that the signals are hot in the mix, I do peak 0db a few times here - just ignore that, I'm on it and it'll be gone in the final mp3.

Also comments about the composition are welcome as well, but of course it's in an "almost" finished state, (probably) only lacking vocals (and maybe one more little guitar part in the 2nd part of the intro... not sure yet). Thanks guys for taking the time to listen, I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Also your general opinion on the style of music as well, if you care to give it. If you can "place" the style, I'd love to know how you'd describe it to someone else. Thanks!

(Edit: actually, come to think of it, I'll be adding a percussion track of shakers as well, to give the percussion side some more high end and consistency)

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Ignorance Is Strength
Member
Since: Nov 10, 2002

Jun 14, 2004 03:06 pm

Nice guitars. I dont think the guitars are too dominate, but I like lots of guitars. Excellent playing too, in the groove. Found my foot tapping after only a couple of seconds. Technically you'll have to ask the other guys around here but to me its good stuff. Sort of a jazzy/bluesy feel to it. As I listened I asked myself 'how are the vocals gonna fit in this?' Will be interesting to hear what you have in mind.

sloppy dice, drinks twice
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2003

Jun 14, 2004 03:13 pm

how will they fit? hmmm... Well I have a pretty good idea, but let me just say that it's going to be one of those vocal styles where there are lots of words, and a unique vocal "rythym"... I do get kind of creative in where the rhymes are and where the lines stop after each one... The vocal style - if not the subject or even the melody - will be something like Blues Traveler's "Runaround".

Thank you for listening, Crash! Don't worry about correct lingo with me, man... On music subjects, I usually speak in descriptive rather than definitive language myself, when I talk about all the music hardware stuff... :)

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Jun 14, 2004 08:23 pm

Well the riff from around 4:17 on gave me a very Steely Dan feeling.

Well, there does seem to be an emphasis on heavy distortion on the guitars and bass. On the down beats with the real low drum sound the combination of the drum, the bass note and the guitar hit all at the same time give a real distorted sound to it. I guess I would recomend trying to mellow that part of it out a bit. As it is a bit much when it is real loud.

I like the over all feel of the tune for sure, it doesnt get boring at all and keeps a good pace up. I like the mix of differant guitar tones throughout the piece. And the chording keeps it interesting as well.

I am wondering if maybe some of the distortion is what is making here feel it is too loud. It does get a bit over powering at times. Maybe bring the real distorted guitars down a bit and this might mellow it a bit.

I'll keep listening and messing with the EQ to see if I can find any particular spots to tweak.

sloppy dice, drinks twice
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2003

Jun 14, 2004 08:39 pm

Thanks Noize, I appreciate your attention to detail... The distortion - I completely agree.

"On the down beats with the real low drum sound the combination of the drum, the bass note and the guitar hit all at the same time give a real distorted sound to it"

I think a lot of that, especially in the loud parts that you mention, is "extra" distorted because the levels of my tracks are unnaturally high. I always end up cranking all my tracks over time instead of using the master volume in the taskbar, because if the sound isn't loud enough, I immediately brush over the obvious and try to "fix" my mix... hahahaha... so my overall levels are constantly peaking and creating extra oomph and distortion where there shouldn't be any. Turning every track down by about 10-12 dB (I assume the "track volume" numbers in CEP are a loudness reading in dB) will fix it, then I'll just normalize my master mixdown after it's said and done, and that generally takes care of it. If the distortion continues to be a problem... well... I may have to eq it out or something... but I usually run into this problem and it's just another standard step for me.

Thanks for the compliment re: riff at 4:17... :) That was one of those riffs that floats around your head for a while... it took some coaxing to get it to come out, but I'm pretty happy with it too.

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004

Jun 14, 2004 09:48 pm

Yeah, I agree about the drum/bass/guit freq thang, but I just think it's cool you used the d'jembe like a kit... did my last band's demo that way... and gon'na do it with the new stuff too. Better than dealing with a 'drummer'. lol Sorry, just the few I know . Tops !

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003

Jun 14, 2004 11:08 pm

I was gonna dl this and give a listen, but 10mb or something like that was gonna take me over an hour. Don't have that much time. Sorry.

sloppy dice, drinks twice
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2003

Jun 15, 2004 05:57 am

Yeah, I hear you coolo... I don't know how it crept up to 10 MB as an mp3, it's only like 5:30 long. No prob. :)

Thanks, Hue! Yeah, I don't have the option of getting a drummer, since I do all this just for me in my spare time and I don't have a band or anything. If you check out my other stuff, it's all done in a similar fashion. I find that the only thing bad about it is that real cymbals (that I don't have) add nice shimmery high end sounds and cut through a mix like lemon in a cream sauce, and without that, my stuff is a little flat.

Adding a shaker track can help, but the effect isn't always the same. I always have my drum machine if I want to sequence something with cymbals though, but I hate "wasting" time I could be playing by programming a little box to do it for me.

Anyhow, thanks everybody for checking this out! I'll finish up the song - probably take me a week - and then I'll post the finished version.

...bringing sexy back
Member
Since: Jul 01, 2002

Jun 15, 2004 06:26 am

you musta ripped it at quite a high quality...try 128k for a smaller file...

a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002

Jun 15, 2004 10:14 am

Hey Tincan,
I gave it a quick listen.
I like the distortion tones, and love the sound of the hand percussion. Very clear and realistic.
I found the distorted guitar in the right speaker a bit overpowering, so I would bring down the level a little there, and I might also recommend cutting the low-mids on the guitar a bit, around 250hz because it sounded a bit on top of the mix. Sounds nice overall.

sloppy dice, drinks twice
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2003

Jun 15, 2004 10:38 am

flame, yeah, I must have, but I thought it just defaulted to 128kbs, 44.1... oh well, I'll be sure to double-check that before I post the final file.

Thanks for listening, guys! Yeah, PM, I think your comments are right on the money. Thanks.

sloppy dice, drinks twice
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2003

Jun 15, 2004 11:32 am

ok, I've been doing a bunch of mixing here... I'm pretty happy with how it's sounding right now. I turned every track down by 5dB, then compressed a few of the guitar tracks, the twangy ones, especially. Reduced the mids/lows on a couple guitar tracks... Yeah, this is pretty good. I'll be attempting a vocal track this afternoon, and will put a shaker track on as well - this thing may be 100% done by tonight sometime! I'll post it as soon as it's all wrapped up.

Thank you all for your insightful comments. They were very helpful.

sloppy dice, drinks twice
Member
Since: Aug 05, 2003

Jun 16, 2004 09:33 am

Ok, it's not done. The vocal track is done, but I'm not posting it yet, however. It still needs the shaker track to really round it out. We're having some medical and childcare issues at our house, my wife is passing a kidney stone and our little guy is running headlong from room to room hollering and clearly acting out from toothing pain and mom's inability to physically intervene. So... this song could be done anytime I get the 20 minutes I need to go into the studio and lay down a single shaker track. That might be tonight, that might not be. So that's where I am with this one. Moral of the story: If you enjoy having free time, and being able to devote a good portion of it to music, don't have kids... c'est la vie.

The offical title is now "Nocturne for Insomniacs" if anyone was wondering.

> > > Could use an objective ear for mixing tips on a work in progress

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