How Do You Know - WIP

 
Hi All,
This WIP is pre-master. In fact, I'm not sure how close the mix is to being finished.
 
Since 1981, I've done a total of seven mixes, most of those in 2008 when I was totally green to all this digital stuff. I was totally baffled until I realized (very recently) that 0db means something completely different now compared to my days mixing live sound. Since then, I've lost a significant part of the upper range of the hearing in my left ear (from standing too close to on-stage monitors, so I'm told) so I might be way off.
 
I've spent the last few months hitting the books trying to regain ground long lost knowledge-wise, figuring out how to compensate for my hearing loss and understand the new environment of audio engineering. This song, How Do You Know, is a work in progress and I really need to know:
- Is the mix balanced or close to balanced (and how far away is it from being balanced)?
- Are the FX overstated, especially on the lead vocal and finger-picked guitar?
- Does the arrangement build the way it should for a more-or-less commercial song?
 
Any feedback will be very much appreciated, even if you completely ignore my questions.
 
-Ron T.

theguitarplayer
Sounds balanced to me, fx seems to be in the right places and the vox is right up front in the mix being just in the right place and the build is gentle and not to extreme. Sounds good to me. Nice song.
 
Peace and Blessings, John

Thanks, John. Further along than I'd expected.

Sounds good Ron. Nice song, gave me a Gordon Lightfoot vibe. Nothing much in the mix stood out to me as being awry, it all seems to serve the song. I liked the little acoustic guitar solo very much. If I had one crit it would be that the song seems to run out of steam by about 3:15 I would perhaps take out a chorus to shorten it, but that's just a personal preference.

Works here for me liked what my furry ears were telling me.
 
Thanks for sharing

jamesg1213
Sounds good Ron. Nice song, gave me a Gordon Lightfoot vibe. Nothing much in the mix stood out to me as being awry, it all seems to serve the song. I liked the little acoustic guitar solo very much. If I had one crit it would be that the song seems to run out of steam by about 3:15 I would perhaps take out a chorus to shorten it, but that's just a personal preference.

Okay, thanks, James. That was a concern, that it was a bit long and perhaps a bit repetitive, too.

Wookiee
Works here for me liked what my furry ears were telling me.

Thanks, Mr. Wookiee.

rontarrant

speedtom
nice one! it sounded a bit to me like as if the Dandy Warhols are releasing an acoustic album. I particularily like your voice when you are hitting the lower notes. For I only listened now on PC speakers, I will re-listen later with headphones and might have more to say about the mix...

Thanks, speedtom. I'll have to look up Dandy Warhols; never heard of him.

seriously? thry this:
 
http://vimeo.com/3288127
 
they have some excellent songs - saw them opening for Bowie in 2003. great combination!

I just want to thank everyone who took the time to listen. Remix in progress.

rebel007
It's obvious you have spent a great deal of time on this song, I think it's well mixed and the balance of everything sounds right to my ears.
I'm not sure I can add anything further, I relate too closely to the song.

Thanks, rebel007.
Yes, I started recording this song in September and, other than boning up on audio engineering and the other, usual, distractions, I've been working on it pretty much non-stop since then... with several rewind-to-the-beginning moments thrown in to keep from straying too far down the wrong path.
 
In fact, I've just initiated another rewind after realizing that I'd stomped a bit too hard on the lead vocal (which may not be so noticeable in the pre-mix version I posted on SoundCloud) and completely lost track of the fader levels for a couple of the guitars.
 
I'm also working on a second version that's more electric.
 
I also found a willing collaborator (long distance, unfortunately, but still...) to do a proper lead break, but that might take a while since he's still got to get his home studio set up.
 
Anyway, I'll be back.

I wouldn't change anything! This is a great tune ! !  ! 

GuitarhackerMy suggestion would be to shorten it up. You did mention "commercial" usage, so it needs to be around 3:00 to 3:30 in length (ideally) for that purpose.

My wife agrees and after reexamining my original feelings about length, I realize that I do, too and have done all along. It always felt a bit too long, especially the intro. I'm always afraid of losing the listener before I get them properly hooked.
I found a couple of other places to cut as well. The second verse and the repeat of the 1st verse each tack the first line on again at the end of the verse and that could easily be cut in both. It'll throw off the symmetry, but what the heck, right?
 
I do think both bridges need to stay in, though, just to keep the feeling of building toward what comes next. Does that make sense to you?
 

GuitarhackerAs far as the "unmastered" aspect.... it was a bit low in volume. Don't hesitate to put the polish on your tunes that you post. Put them out there in their best light as far as you are able.

This may sound like an excuse and for that, I apologize, but at this stage of learning, I wanted to make sure I was on the right track (forgive the pun) before going on to the mastering stage. I haven't even read up on mastering yet. Up 'til now, all I've ever done for 'mastering' was run it through HarBal.
 
Also, I find that my projects are all coming out low volume. Is that normal for this stage and then it's dealt with in mastering? Or am I doing something wrong?
 
I used to use a Soundcraft Compact 10, but after it (literally) fried itself to sleep, I got a Mackie 402-VLZ3 and the gain levels always seem really, really low to me. I've never been able to come anywhere near throughput unity on that board without taking chances with either my ears or my headphones.
 

Sorry, Lynn, I took it down. I was just looking for intermediate feedback and I'm now working on a remix. But I'll have a new version up in the next few days, hopefully.

pauloLinky no worky.

Yup, I took it down. I'll be uploading a new version soon.

PauloSoundcloud asks if I need help ? I do, but how does soundcloud know ?? ;)

You'd be surprised what a good AI algorithm can do these days.