Mixing Songs For A Local Band, Overthrow (Trash Metal) Options

[audiopaal]

I was just in the chat talking to Pedja, and he said he wanted to hear what I've been working on..
So here it is for everyone to laugh at

I started mixing their first song today, and although I'm not finished it's progressing well..
I'll include a clip of one of their songs before I started mixing (they added some effects on some tracks but...),
so you can hear what I have to work with and how I've improved it (hopefully)

Before mix:  demorecording.mp3 ( 1.28MB ) Number of downloads: 228

After mix:  overtest.mp3 ( 9.61MB ) Number of downloads: 253



After mix 2:  overtest_2.mp3 ( 5.76MB ) Number of downloads: 161

After mix 3:  overtest_4.mp3 ( 9.61MB ) Number of downloads: 146

Final mix (at least for now):  Overthrow___Allegiance_To_The_Crown.mp3 ( 9.61MB ) Number of downloads: 258


Hope you like both the song and what I've done so far

Oh, and constructive critisism, suggestions, praise () etc., are welcome!


Edit: Added another mp3, with slightly different mix. Hopefully it sounds even better

Edit: Added even another mp3, with a better snare, better vocals and overall better volume adjustment between tracks. I'm only using the Logic and Cubase built in plug-ins, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to get it any better
Comments and suggestions are welcome though, if you like it or think something should be done differently

Edit: Added the "final mix", and this one sounds pretty good if I may say so myself
The guys in the band loved it, so I must've done something right
I'll start a new song tomorrow, and let this one rest. But by all means, if you have any suggestions to make it better..
Let me know

This post has been edited by audiopaal: Sep 21 2009, 08:20 PM

[Rated Htr]

Sounds very familiar. Maybe Lamb of God oriented...Nicely done, powerful, and it has vocals, although I can't hear them very well, they seem lost in the mixing, like a simple echo. When I started to listen to the solo, yeah, was almost sure it was Lamb of God. The riffs are really powerful, really like hearing powerful melodies also, the drums are also very good. Just take care of the voice
The tremolo solo wasnt very good imo, atleast it seemed tremolo. Also that lead was lay to low IMO, maybe that's also why I don't like it .
Cheers

This post has been edited by Rated Htr: Sep 20 2009, 10:55 PM

[audiopaal]

Sounds very familiar. Maybe Lamb of God oriented...Nicely done, powerful, and it has vocals, although I can't hear them very well, they seem lost in the mixing, like a simple echo. When I started to listen to the solo, yeah, was almost sure it was Lamb of God. The riffs are really powerful, really like hearing powerful melodies also, the drums are also very good. Just take care of the voice

Cheers

Thanks
Yeah, I haven't started on the vocals yet so that might be the reason
I'm glad you like it though!

[MickeM]

I'm only on a laptop but still, what a difference!

...for the better after the mix that is

[audiopaal]

I'm only on a laptop but still, what a difference!

...for the better after the mix that is

Thanks mate

[JVM]

Amazing what a good mix can do!

[audiopaal]

Amazing what a good mix can do!

I take it you liked it?
If so, thanks man

[MickeM]

Thanks mate

Another thing though, that disturbed me a bit. I had to move over to listen to it in my better equpiment and; you can only do so much mixing, but I would like to hear the bass coherent with the kick. Now it's played coherent with a guitar which in my book is all wrong, drums and bass makes the beat together. I must add I don't know much about thrash though
Should it be that way? If not maybe it should be re-recorded before mixing any further?


I humbly bow and expose my neck to the wolves

[audiopaal]

Another thing though, that disturbed me a bit. I had to move over to listen to it in my better equpiment and; you can only do so much mixing, but I would like to hear the bass coherent with the kick. Now it's played coherent with a guitar which in my book is all wrong, drums and bass makes the beat together. I must add I don't know much about thrash though
Should it be that way? If not maybe it should be re-recorded before mixing any further?


I humbly bow and expose my neck to the wolves

You are absolutely right
But the problem is that their bassplayer didn't show up in studio, so one of the guitarists had to play the bass.
I told them that if they want it to be as good as possible, they need to re-record it.

But that's entirely up to them

But you liked the mixing?

[MickeM]

You are absolutely right
But the problem is that their bassplayer didn't show up in studio, so one of the guitarists had to play the bass.
I told them that if they want it to be as good as possible, they need to re-record it.

But that's entirely up to them

But you liked the mixing?

That explains it Yeah, I liked the mixing! I could notice the bass has been hidden a bit in the mix, intentional or not I like it that way as a good solution since it's "off".

Thanks a lot for sharing! Mixing and mastering are interesting subjects, discussed way too little around here. I've got lots to learn there.

[audiopaal]

That explains it Yeah, I liked the mixing! I could notice the bass has been hidden a bit in the mix, intentional or not I like it that way as a good solution since it's "off".

Thanks a lot for sharing! Mixing and mastering are interesting subjects, discussed way too little around here. I've got lots to learn there.

Thanks, good to hear
Yeah, I tried to "hide" it at least a little, but I still wanted it to be hearable..

I agree, it is discussed way to little..
When I get around to record my album,
I'm planning on writing a "blog" or something here,
with references to what I do each step of the way when I mix and master it

I hope I'll get the time at least, because many people could learn from it.
And others could give me valuable advice

The tremolo solo wasnt very good imo, atleast it seemed tremolo. Also that lead was lay to low IMO, maybe that's also why I don't like it .
Cheers

I don't care about their playing to be honest
I'm just mixing their songs, not writing them..

[Fingerspasm]

I just finished recording about 2 hours ago the bass and keyboard tracks for my sons band on 5 songs. We just have to do vocals next. I would love to be able to ask you a couple of questions in the future and maybe have you take a listen. You did a great job with the tracks that you are working on. Keep up the good work

[audiopaal]

I just finished recording about 2 hours ago the bass and keyboard tracks for my sons band on 5 songs. We just have to do vocals next. I would love to be able to ask you a couple of questions in the future and maybe have you take a listen. You did a great job with the tracks that you are working on. Keep up the good work

That's cool
Of course, you can ask anything you want!
I'd love to have a listen at your stuff

Thanks a lot man, I appreciate it

[audiopaal]

Added a new clip with a slightly different mix

[Rated Htr]

awesome! the last one sounds wonderful! nice mixing audiopaal You have msn? i want to be your fan . The Voice still has some detail in it. Don't know if it's the singer's voice or some effect you added.

[Staffy]

Great job! You really know what you're doing. I dont know much bout this music, but the snare is a little bit "poppy" or dry, but maybe it shall be this way??? It seems that U put the vocals a little bit more in the foreground in the last mix, which i prefer. Other songs in this genre that i've heard, put more focus on the guitar than the vocals which I believe is wrong. Please put up that blog !!!! I have a pretty decent recording equipment and it will be fun to share some experiences !!!!

//Staffay

[Rated Htr]

Great job! You really know what you're doing. I dont know much bout this music, but the snare is a little bit "poppy" or dry, but maybe it shall be this way??? It seems that U put the vocals a little bit more in the foreground in the last mix, which i prefer. Other songs in this genre that i've heard, put more focus on the guitar than the vocals which I believe is wrong. Please put up that blog !!!! I have a pretty decent recording equipment and it will be fun to share some experiences !!!!

//Staffay

And still, I think voice should be higher

[audiopaal]

awesome! the last one sounds wonderful! nice mixing audiopaal You have msn? i want to be your fan . The Voice still has some detail in it. Don't know if it's the singer's voice or some effect you added.

Thanks a lot man
I haven't used it in ages, but I'll set up a new account soon.
There's a few people that have been "nagging" me about it
I'll let you know though

Yes it does, it's a mix between the singers voice and the type of Reverb used I think..
I'm gonna look more into the vocals today
I'll upload another mix, probably later tonight with some minor updates..

Great job! You really know what you're doing. I dont know much bout this music, but the snare is a little bit "poppy" or dry, but maybe it shall be this way??? It seems that U put the vocals a little bit more in the foreground in the last mix, which i prefer. Other songs in this genre that i've heard, put more focus on the guitar than the vocals which I believe is wrong. Please put up that blog !!!! I have a pretty decent recording equipment and it will be fun to share some experiences !!!!

//Staffay

Thanks a lot mate
The snare is a little "poppy" as you say..
I'm gonna make them another version with a more "sharp" snare, and they can choose what they want.
The guitarist liked it the way it is now, but I don't think the drummer agrees
Yeah, I believe the vocals are better a bit up front too.
Although some bands overdo that, as well as there's bands where you can't almost hear any vocals..
So I like to find that golden middle road where it stands out, but doesn't take away from the rest

I will try to do this as I said, and it could be valuable for both me and the people reading

And still, I think voice should be higher

Even higher..!?
Yeah, I am gonna try that as well but with a different mix on the vocals though..
It might turn out good, and if it does I'll post it here

[Fingerspasm]

Its sounding really good!

This post has been edited by Fingerspasm: Sep 21 2009, 02:59 PM

[Marek Rojewski]

Great mixing work Audiopaal!