New mix of Alone. Hopefully the final one.

Hey Stuart, love the bottom end on this version.  It sounds warm and full, I feel as if I am about to go into battle on the celtic highlands of Scotland.

A couple of things, when mastering use this plug set at K-14 which is for mastering http://www.voxengo.com/product/span/ it's free and it will tell you how much actual headroom you have, you don't want the track driffting to far into the red, esp for this sort of music.  Do a little reading up on the meter and what it actually does.  Look up a guy called Bob Katz, he is the one who I think invented this style of metering.  I think his website has some information on K-meters.

Secondly be carful of the mids to high mids, there were a couple of moments, when the vocalists sound was a little brittle, I'd leave the track as it sounds but in the future, if you record this vocalist again be aware of this and if you can use a different microphone on her voice, one that isn't so bright.

Overall though, wow you really have done some excellent work, just love how much beef you have added to the track, you can really hear the bass instruments come through now and this is what I think you wanted to happen.

Ben

OMG I love this. But the bass is way overwhelming. I suspect that the reason I hear so much over-boosted bass here in the song forum is that today's small (8 inch or less) near field monitors may reproduce tone accurately, but they cannot output the low end db needed (its just simple physics). In this case I would use envelopes as the tone is fine.

Thanks guys for your comments.

Ben:
"a couple of moments, when the vocalists sound was a little brittle".

I had noticed a couple of points where it sounded like there was a little top end distortion on the vocal. To me this was most noticeable at 3:36 and 3:34. I didnt know whether this was due to "over processing" (if there is such a thing), clipping (although i have been careful with my levels) or now, following your comment,  limitations of the mic showing through.
We built our studio on a tight budget last year and one of our primary purchase was some "decent" mics. Bear in mind decent meant a step up from the SM58 stage mics we had all ready. We went for some sE mics and use a sE2200 for vocals and have been very happy with the results, but i would still consider these mics as "entry level".
Can you expand on your comment with this in mind.

Foxwolfen:
"But the bass is way overwhelming"

I wanted to get a powerful "stirring" bottom end on this especially with the opening phrase and in the toms sections there are two bass lines playing.  These sound great on their own but have been difficult to bring out in the overall mix. So its been a challenge.
I love bass, I am a bass player (although this is not me) and like to hear the instrument especially where there is a nice melodic bass line like from "High on a mountain....." (2:02). With that said i am aware of my tendency to over do it and need to real it in sometimes. I will have a careful listen with your comments in mind.

Interestingly, i have been battling with my choice of monitors. I mix at home and usually use Alisis M1 Mk2s but was concerned about their quality and though i might be better off with the krk RP5s we use in the studio. My first mix with the krks came out VERY bassy. A good demonstration of the principals you describe. I will be going back to the M1s and my search for the right upgrade will commence.

Thanks again guys

Sounds good to me. Loved the Morocco feel at 1:23.

I love this song more now than the first time I heard it.  I think this is being way over thought concerning the lows and mids.  Let's not get so analytical or surgical that the main feeling is lost.  It's too bad that we can't all listen on the same system, but by checking our mixes on as many systems as possible is the best we can do in most cases.  You can't please all monitors nor ears.  I think it stands on its own as is.  Well done to all involved.

Lynn


......  I think this is being way over thought concerning the lows and mids.  Let's not get so analytical or surgical that the main feeling is lost......

Thanks for you feedback again Lynn. I am happy with the analytical and surgical comments, as because this only the second track i have mixed properly (Must be Nice is the other which i now know needs more work),  I need to learn as much as i can from the process. However, one thing i have learned is that you need to check back once in a while to make sure you are not loosing the magic of earlier, rawer, mixes.
 
We have so much good stuff in the can now ready for mixing i need to learn as much as i can  to do them justice.
 
I really do appreciate every bodies help

Just a personal perspective and feel free to say what do you know, the Bass is there but for my ears it sounds like it could do with some clarity.  Perhaps some selective cuts to certain instruments so that each can take their place in the sound stage creating even more presence.

However it is your song, your sound.

Enough of that, liked the song, she has a very cool voice suited the song well.

Thanks for sharing

hi stewart hey is that e string of guitar tuned down at the start of song? (or is it a bass??)  also is this a cover of an irish folk song or is this original? its really good guiar work (vocals is great too but i also notice guitar stuff ) great song!!

3rd time I've listened to this - heard it on the previous 2 posts too.
It certainly has got the Wow factor - much more in your face than the previous 2 incarnations and I enjoyed those versions too.
Nice one

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, Ben and Stuart. I use KRKs for monitoring here too, so instead I fired this up on my HI-Fi (Reference 3a monitors/PSB sub driven by a pure stereo Rotel amp), turned it up, and you are indeed correct. Assuming this is the same mix as before, it sounds fantastic. Then I turned it down, and thats when the bass began to become muddy again and overly prevalent (I had listened at relatively low volume the first time). I will confess this is an interesting phenomenon to me. Not sure what is going on. It may be the different sound cards (the better Burr Brown DACs are on the hifi HEC) coloring the sounds. I am going to have to be more careful in the future.