Mixing & Mastering Assessment

Hi Everyone,
I'm looking for mixing and mastering and arrangement feedback and any comments you may have. Thanks everyone! 
https://soundcloud.com/jonesresidence/dont-say-no
 

Overall, the mix is missing brightness and definition. Vocals are missing air and sibilance. Buildup in bass and lower midrange (160-500 Hz). Rhythm guitars need mid cut, hi and bass boost, you hear the fundamentals but no harmonics so no depth. Production wise, you might consider adding bass and drum parts. Needs spatial depth, a mix is front to back as well as right to left, maybe add reverb or delay.
If you're going for early 70's AM (Eric Carmen), it's ok, but you can do better. :)
Good first start.
 
 

Two great reviews there, and they show how much I have still yet to learn 
 
This is why I always keep an eye on all the songs I listen to here, instead of just posting a comment and never coming back... I learn something new every time 
 
I also listen to the songs again, with each comment that gives clear opinion and advice, and try to hear what the reviewer is referring to. I struggle with that sometimes, but at others I think, "yeah, of course..."
 
@ Tom,
 
Please forgive me... I'm not having a go here, I'm just trying, as always, to expand my knowledge and understanding 
 

TomHelvey
Overall, the mix is missing brightness and definition.

I honestly didn't pick up on this, and on my fifth or so listen later, I still don't. This could be for a number of reasons, besides lacking experience. I listen on my headphones, so I usually struggle picking up bass. And I can no longer hear anything above 14kHz. But I still feel that at certain parts in this song I can hear a reasonable amount of brightness.
 

TomHelvey
Vocals are missing air and sibilance.

I'm still not sure what "air" means, even though I have heard the expression before.
 
On my first listen, I was going to comment on the amount of sibilance "almost" needing slight attention but decided that it was okay.
 

TomHelvey
Buildup in bass and lower midrange (160-500 Hz).

I am still working to understand this area, having see a few videos and tutorials on it in the past month or so. I personally wish that peeps using SoundCloud would make tracks available for download because I could then drag them into Sonar and use SPAN. I'm afraid, again, because I use headphones, I have to trust to SPAN a lot of the time.
 

TomHelvey
Production wise, you might consider adding bass and drum parts.

I actually prefer this song with no drums.
 
There is a bass part in there, but it is quite understated and only pops through the mix at certain points.
 

Amine Belkhouche
I think some elements could use some high-passing.

Yeah, I agree and I've started sticking EQ on pretty much all of my tracks in order to remove both low and high frequencies from elements that do not benefit from them. This is one area that I "think" I do understand 
 

Amine Belkhouche
The fricatives are popping out a bit too much at times

I had to google "fricatives," so thanks for that haha! I am a man with quite a small vocabulary I'm afraid 
 
 
Apologies again, for commenting on the comments... I hope you all don't mind
 
cheers
 
andy

Hi Tom,
 
I'm on a budget that doesn't include a new pair of nearfield monitors I'm afraid... I've already got some Tannoy Reveal and I made a big mistake getting them to be honest... Plus, I don't have a dedicated "studio" any more so headphones are the only real option right now.
 
I am currently looking at some open back headphones though, so I'll have a look at those AKG 'phones.
 
cheers
 
andy

Thanks for posting Aaron!  I felt you captured a fitting tone with the acoustic rhythm.  It complimented the song well.  The advice given above is sound so I don't have much to add.  But, I did hear a "bong?" at about 2:49 that seemed out of place and maybe even a mistake?

TomHelvey
When I post a mix here, I don't want to get smoke blown up my a** about how great the song is, I want to know what I can do to improve the sound.

I agree... And I, for one, was not offended. If anything, I was disappointed in myself and the fact that it shown up my lack of skills...

The vocal, although a good performance, seems a little to high (level) in respect to the rest of the track. JMO.

TomHelvey
My apologies if I've offended anyone with my analysis of the OP's mix. When I post a mix here, I don't want to get smoke blown up my a** about how great the song is, I want to know what I can do to improve the sound. I took that approach in my comments. I hope it was useful for the OP.
Best,
--Tom

Not at all offended by your review, I'm looking for honesty and constructive feedback, and that's what you did, so I thank you!

Very pretty song. The vocal is muddy. I would try to brighten that up a bit.
 
As far as arrangement, and I mean this in the nicest way, it's too long. I get INTRO VERSE VERSE CHORUS VERSE VERSE BRIDGE CHORUS INSTRUMENTAL CHORUS. Don't know if these are the names you gives the sections, but I would get rid of a verse after the first chorus, and the instrumental. Make the chorus after the bridge the last part of the song. That should get it down to 3:40 or so. If you're in love with the instrumental (which is lovely, by the way), put it after the first chorus and then go straight into the bridge, chorus and out.
 
Good job!

synkrotron
Hi Aaron, that's a nice song. Was it written by you?
 
Well, I'm still learning myself really, but this sounds okay to me.
 
Everything is in the right place and has its own space. Levels good. Nice backing vocals.
 
If I had to be critical... Are the rhythm guitars panned hard L/R? I can never tell. Personally I go for around 80% rather than full L/R. That's just me though.
 
cheers
 
andy
 
 

I do tend to like the guitars panned hard left and hard right, really gives it a much wider sound. I did not write that song, I recorded it for a friend. I wrote the strings and lead guitar parts but thats it. My friend did rhythm guitars and vocals. Thanks for your feedback and kind words!

The vocal is muddy and sibilant at the same time. Sounds like a better microphone should have been used. The instrumentation and BGV are really well done. I'd say you're off to a really good start.
 
Regards,
Dan