I've got a very slow moving side project to self record an EP of tracks I wrote in the mid-late 90s. My 'listening environment' is far from ideal so mixing is a challenge, and I'm continuing to learn as I go in terms of mixing experience.
I've got my first track to a point I think I'm happy with the mix, but would appreciate any feedback from anyone with good ears / mixing experience on anything I might want to think about before moving onto the other tracks. I'm thinking if I can learn to make this one sound decent then I can use that as the mixing basis for the others.
Lyrics / vocals aren't a strong point but I'm working with what I've got! Any feedback / pointers would be much appreciated thanks.
Comments
There's just broad brush automation on the vocals so I'll listen back and try to adjust with a bit more detail.
Thanks again - much appreciated
Are you using different reverbs on different things, or is it all one reverb? It might just be that some of the elements would benefit from a slightly different reverb.
I know you haven't asked re styling but you've sung the vocal quietly and then added reverb - the problem being a quiet vocal implies intimacy - but the reverb adds distance, I think if you sang a tad louder it might fit better. Now't wrong with your voice!
I'm no pro - just a serious amateur!
I had wondered about the bass being too loud in the earlier sections, but is it too loud when the guitars are there too?
You'll laugh at my point of reference - in terms of trying to get the eq and general levels reasonable I was listening to The Bends!
Would help if you post you recording setup, DAW etc...
Or if your really brave....dropbox the stems so we can all have a go ;-)
This is how I think the vocal should come through....
https://www.studiowear.co.uk/ -
https://twitter.com/spark240
Facebook - m.me/studiowear.co.uk
Reddit r/newmusicreview
I'm working on reaper with a reasonable set of plugins available. Mixing on headphones then checking on a couple of hifis / iterative adjustments.
The vocals on your example have a lot more body / presence than I'd want I think on this, but maybe you mean how they sit more centrally in the mix?
I'd be up for sharing stems if it resulted in me learning how to mix better.
Thanks again for listening / responding.
Or can be worth trying a delay instead. maybe with a tiny bit of reverb - to give a tighter sound.
Part of the reverb issue might actually be too busy an arrangement?
I think there's also the issue of it falling between 2 stools as I go - I start off envisaging a gentle melancholy track but then can't help but make it go big as I work on it. Part of the problem is restraint, but also that I like the bigger sounding parts. Maybe I should make the intro and first verse bigger to match the rest, I don't know...
Anyhow, here's the revised mix if you good folk would be kind enough to give it another listen:
Also some of the guitar parts are not sitting properly, they get caught up with other stuff and get lost, I think the problem here is that you are too familiar with the song, you can hear these bits because you wrote and recorded them, its a classic error.
You need someone else to have ago at mixing this, and maybe even a new vocal take, all that said....I still think its a great song !.....Happy to give it a go ....
https://www.studiowear.co.uk/ -
https://twitter.com/spark240
Facebook - m.me/studiowear.co.uk
Reddit r/newmusicreview
I think I'll come back to this one with fresh ears after I've done more on the other tracks, and maybe redo the vocal too. Part of the issue is me attempting to mask issues in the original takes!
I work with stuff our undisciplined four piece does - and my own crap - and one has to be ruthless. It's always hard to bin an element you like - or risk offending another band member - but if you can get a mood, or if you like, a vision for a piece - ya gotta stick to it and bin the rest!
Seriously though, I do know what you mean. I do have a tendency to throw the kitchen sink in every time even though I know it makes things less effective...