Mixing advice on new tunes.

Listened to the first tune.

For what I hear (on good headphones) I don't hear anything wrong mix wise. Some proper mastering might add some high end shimmer.

Just remember perceptions/opinions are like .... well you know.

If you like what you've got that's really all that matters. I'll listen to more later.

Sounds really good to me.  I don't think this guy knows what he is talking about, or, maybe he does, but he just has a strange way of giving advice.  If you want some good professional advice try Danny's song analyzation services.  He'll give you great advice.

Cheers guys for the messages. I emailed the guy to ask for a detailed explanation to see what he thinks it is lacking. After all the money i spent on vsts and IMO the greatest sequencer ever, i would just like to have a better idea of what he thinks is "Shoe String". It would be an expensive pair of shoes for sure :-)
 
Thanks again
Si

Sounds good here.  I like this song, and I listened twice.  The voice reminds me of Trent Reznor a bit, but different.  Nice job.

This stuff is all good: songwriting, playing, recording sound just fine. Where your "friend" might be getting at is that the guitars sound a little thin, and the vocal really needed a better compressor on it, as I had to concentrate to hear it. And it does sound a bit clean, and could use some saturation to get a more "authentic" rock amp sound.

If you want, you can send me a PM and I will do a quickie mastering job on one of these tunes and see if that adds the necessary shine to it.

Cheers for all your kind words and suggestions. You all managed to put a smile back on my face haha
 
I will have a look at what you have all suggested over the weekend. The guitar should sound ace cause i got one of those axe fx ultras. Might be my bad editing skills haha. I think once i had recorded all the parts and then started mixing i might have got a bit lazy on eqing and stuff. I really dont know but at least i feel i can have another go now. Im amazed how one persons thoughts really put me on a downer. Im off for a real ale !!!
 
 
Again thanks guys
 
Si

You poor guy....rule number 1, if you like the sound of something and feel you have done your best, it matters not what anyone says unless they are a label you're shopping to, or a person with credibility comments to you and offers suggestions to the comments they make. Never EVER listen to a person that just throws "voice for the sake of a voice" comments at you that doesn't explain what they are talking about. That's not only pompous, it shows lack of humility and someone you don't want to listen to no matter who they are.

That said, I clicked up on one of your songs and just let the entire lot play one after the other while I was doing my paper work here in the studio. I found myself many times stopping what I was doing and rewinding your stuff because you gave me plenty of "what the heck was that!?" moments...and I mean that in a good way. I enjoyed your tones, your guitar playing, your writing and the entire vibe of your songs.

If I had to give you constructive crits, the only thing I can say is sometimes the drums sounded a bit fake and synthetic but your programming was really well done. Guitar tones were really good considering I'm not much of an Axe Fx man. (I just can't embrace transistor tone no matter how good is sounds...I need a 12ax7 front end)

That said, the guy that commented on your stuff may have meant a shoe string budget? Meaning...he knew you didn't have 50k in gear? The stuff is really well done, but still has that "better than demo" sound yet isn't quite pro sounding...but your performances all ARE pro. :) Personally, I think you should just keep doing what your doing, update your drum sounds and let it rip man. You're a great musician/writer and have some cool ideas that span within many genres and eras. You have a little something for everyone in your material and are versatile...which is a plus. I also didn't hear any areas in your mixing that stuck out to me as "wrong" or "with errors". Meaning, no sub low rumbles, no harsh highs and no congestive mids. Mastering will definitely make the tunes a bit better, but honest, they are pretty good just the way they are. Update some of the drum sounds, thicken up the guitar a bit (maybe don't pan them so wide) and let it rip. Best of luck. :)

-Danny 

I've listened in to a few of the songs and I think they sound great. In comparison to some reference tracks I use, they are maybe a little light on bass, but that's easily fixed. There's really good distinction between all the instruments, each has its own space and you can hear what's going on. And I love the vocals, especially on Serial Cinderella. 

Bill

SiTheMon


Right guys you have picked me up brilliantly. Lets all go have a real ale on me :-) !!!
 
Si :-)
 

Great! Can you email me a pint of Theakston's Old Peculiar? Cheers! 

Listening to 'Serial Cinderella'..wow, this is excellent stuff. Some really creative arrangement and production ideas in here, keeps you gripped. That Floyd-ish intro was great, and what came next took me completely by surprise. Darn fine vocals too, powerful and committed. Superb guitar break going on now..yep, loving all this.

In short, the 'shoe-string' guy needs to clean his ear out.

I listen to the first one, the last one and love like blood 'cos I always loved that tune.

I thought that overall the production was very good and just thought that maybe the guitars could maybe do with a bit of beefing up. That industrial "clang" sort of sound that you used on LLB jars a little to my ears, I would either dial it back some or remove it altogether, but that's maybe 'cos I'm just so used to the original and that can sometimes make things sound "wrong" if you know what I mean.