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GMC Forum _ Recording & Mixing Classes _ Mixing Songs For A Local Band

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 20 2009, 10:49 PM

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 laugh.gif

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) tongue.gif

Before mix:  demorecording.mp3 ( 1.28MB ) : 352

After mix:  overtest.mp3 ( 9.61MB ) : 396



After mix 2:  overtest_2.mp3 ( 5.76MB ) : 294

After mix 3:  overtest_4.mp3 ( 9.61MB ) : 334

Final mix (at least for now):  Overthrow___Allegiance_To_The_Crown.mp3 ( 9.61MB ) : 440


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

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


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

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 biggrin.gif
Comments and suggestions are welcome though, if you like it or think something should be done differently smile.gif

Edit: Added the "final mix", and this one sounds pretty good if I may say so myself tongue.gif
The guys in the band loved it, so I must've done something right smile.gif
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 wink.gif

Posted by: Rated Htr Sep 20 2009, 10:52 PM

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 smile.gif
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

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 20 2009, 10:53 PM

QUOTE (Rated Htr @ Sep 20 2009, 11:52 PM) *
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 smile.gif

Cheers

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

Posted by: MickeM Sep 20 2009, 10:59 PM

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

...for the better after the mix that is laugh.gif

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 20 2009, 11:02 PM

QUOTE (MickeM @ Sep 20 2009, 11:59 PM) *
I'm only on a laptop but still, what a difference!

...for the better after the mix that is laugh.gif

Thanks mate biggrin.gif

Posted by: JVM Sep 20 2009, 11:05 PM

Amazing what a good mix can do!

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 20 2009, 11:09 PM

QUOTE (JVM @ Sep 21 2009, 12:05 AM) *
Amazing what a good mix can do!

I take it you liked it? smile.gif
If so, thanks man biggrin.gif

Posted by: MickeM Sep 20 2009, 11:23 PM

QUOTE (audiopaal @ Sep 21 2009, 12:02 AM) *
Thanks mate biggrin.gif

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 biggrin.gif
Should it be that way? If not maybe it should be re-recorded before mixing any further? unsure.gif


I humbly bow and expose my neck to the wolves laugh.gif

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 20 2009, 11:28 PM

QUOTE (MickeM @ Sep 21 2009, 12:23 AM) *
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 biggrin.gif
Should it be that way? If not maybe it should be re-recorded before mixing any further? unsure.gif


I humbly bow and expose my neck to the wolves laugh.gif

You are absolutely right smile.gif
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 smile.gif

But you liked the mixing?

Posted by: MickeM Sep 20 2009, 11:36 PM

QUOTE (audiopaal @ Sep 21 2009, 12:28 AM) *
You are absolutely right smile.gif
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 smile.gif

But you liked the mixing?

That explains it smile.gif 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.

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 20 2009, 11:56 PM

QUOTE (MickeM @ Sep 21 2009, 12:36 AM) *
That explains it smile.gif 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 smile.gif
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 smile.gif

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

QUOTE (Rated Htr @ Sep 20 2009, 11:52 PM) *
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 smile.gif
I'm just mixing their songs, not writing them..

Posted by: Fingerspasm Sep 21 2009, 12:42 AM

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 smile.gif

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 21 2009, 07:58 AM

QUOTE (Fingerspasm @ Sep 21 2009, 01:42 AM) *
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 smile.gif

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

Thanks a lot man, I appreciate it smile.gif

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 21 2009, 11:17 AM

Added a new clip with a slightly different mix smile.gif

Posted by: Rated Htr Sep 21 2009, 11:33 AM

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

Posted by: Staffy Sep 21 2009, 11:44 AM

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 !!!! smile.gif

//Staffay

Posted by: Rated Htr Sep 21 2009, 11:54 AM

QUOTE (Staffy @ Sep 21 2009, 11:44 AM) *
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 !!!! smile.gif

//Staffay


And still, I think voice should be higher laugh.gif

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 21 2009, 02:30 PM

QUOTE (Rated Htr @ Sep 21 2009, 12:33 PM) *
awesome! the last one sounds wonderful! nice mixing audiopaal biggrin.gif You have msn? i want to be your fan biggrin.gif. 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 smile.gif
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 biggrin.gif
I'll let you know though smile.gif

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 smile.gif
I'll upload another mix, probably later tonight with some minor updates..

QUOTE (Staffy @ Sep 21 2009, 12:44 PM) *
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 !!!! smile.gif

//Staffay

Thanks a lot mate smile.gif
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 laugh.gif
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 smile.gif

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


QUOTE (Rated Htr @ Sep 21 2009, 12:54 PM) *
And still, I think voice should be higher laugh.gif

Even higher..!? biggrin.gif
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 smile.gif

Posted by: Fingerspasm Sep 21 2009, 02:54 PM

Its sounding really good!

Posted by: Marek Rojewski Sep 21 2009, 03:56 PM

Great mixing work Audiopaal!

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 21 2009, 04:06 PM

QUOTE (Fingerspasm @ Sep 21 2009, 03:54 PM) *
Its sounding really good!


Thanks mate smile.gif


QUOTE (Marek Rojewski @ Sep 21 2009, 04:56 PM) *
Great mixing work Audiopaal!

Thanks a lot smile.gif


I've added one more mix now!
Check it out smile.gif

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 21 2009, 08:22 PM

...and another one biggrin.gif

The latest upload is the "final mix", at least until I've mixed their other songs.
After that, I'll have a look at all of them again and tweak them to "reasonable perfection" smile.gif

Thanks for listening and commenting smile.gif

Posted by: Rated Htr Sep 21 2009, 10:31 PM

About the final mix...I only have one thing to say...







...Wanna mix my stuff? laugh.gif

Posted by: Fingerspasm Sep 21 2009, 11:25 PM

I really like the sound you have going with the Kick drum. I have lots of really fast double kick in the songs I am working on. They sounded really loose and muddy. As I quick fix I added a bass guitar VST and it made it sound much better. Was wondering what you did to yours.

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 22 2009, 12:04 AM

QUOTE (Rated Htr @ Sep 21 2009, 11:31 PM) *
About the final mix...I only have one thing to say...







...Wanna mix my stuff? laugh.gif

Thanks biggrin.gif
Haha, I must've done something right to get you all geared up laugh.gif

Sure, as soon as I got some time and you got some songs, I'll see what I can do biggrin.gif


QUOTE (Fingerspasm @ Sep 22 2009, 12:25 AM) *
I really like the sound you have going with the Kick drum. I have lots of really fast double kick in the songs I am working on. They sounded really loose and muddy. As I quick fix I added a bass guitar VST and it made it sound much better. Was wondering what you did to yours.

Thanks man!
I used some EQ, Compressor and Reverb..
It usually works miracles after some tweaking smile.gif

You used a guitar VST? I never tried that, good thinking smile.gif

Posted by: Rated Htr Sep 22 2009, 09:22 AM

QUOTE (audiopaal @ Sep 22 2009, 12:04 AM) *
Thanks biggrin.gif
Haha, I must've done something right to get you all geared up laugh.gif

Sure, as soon as I got some time and you got some songs, I'll see what I can do biggrin.gif


??? I was just joking, don't wanna give you any work, besides, don't know how it works that way laugh.gif

But excelent job smile.gif

Posted by: audiopaal Sep 22 2009, 10:05 AM

QUOTE (Rated Htr @ Sep 22 2009, 10:22 AM) *
??? I was just joking, don't wanna give you any work, besides, don't know how it works that way laugh.gif

But excelent job smile.gif

I know biggrin.gif
But I'm always open for business laugh.gif

Thanks again smile.gif

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