New hard rock tunage (6/15 update!)

I recently set out to record an album for my band and plunged into mic'ed up drums and vocals. I've been making demos for a few years using DFHS and Toneport, but I've never mic'ed a real kit and recorded vocals over the whole mix. So I'm looking for any suggestions on how to improve. Something's missing but I can't seem to pinpoint the solution. All comments and criticisms appeciated.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=488306&content=songinfo&songID=6593021

It's only a 2 minute demo so please give it a listen. Thanks in advance.

Note: Vocals were recorded in one take, and the singer wasn't happy with the result. But this is just a demo so please refrain from commenting how he sounds weak or off-key... I'm looking more for mixing advice.

***6/15-- big "feel" update! check out again and test my mix against your ears.***

Wow! Some serious guitar work goin' on here. In the beginning I think the vox could come up a bit.

Yep, have to agree ... the vocals need to be up. Especially during the first part of the verse. Once the voice gets louder, it sounds better but it's still buried in the mix, IMHO.

Smashing rocker, tho!

Mike

Hi Brandon:

I would agree with what's already been said here. I think the guitar sound is excellent. You did good on the Drums especially having never recorded a kit before. I might use a bit more Compression on the kit as a whole. Vocs could come up a touch. I think they sound good. I think maybe better than you think. If it were me I would roll off effect levels a little. This will make them sit a little better in the mix and more defined. Overall sounds really good. Last 2 cents is, lol. This genre final mix needs to be IMHO punchy. Not sure if you used any mastering Comp, but I would export Mix to a wave file and import into a Master Proj and add about 3 to 1 Comp & see how that effects the puch.

Anyway, Check out my recent post of A song I wrote and recorded solo called I Won't Wait Here For You". Lemme know what you think.

Take Care

Lawrence Ellington,

Thanks for all the advice! I won't be home for a few more days but I'm itching to get back to work on the mix with these suggestions. I'm a little clueless when it comes to applying compression on a mix; I realize how it works but I usually just end up min/maxing every parameter before I end up settling for something in the middle. I would say my mixing technique is no base knowledge and all trial-and-error.

This mix still isn't up to snuff with my previous DFHS recordings, so I probably won't be happy until I reach that threshold. I copied a lot of the settings from my previous mixes, but for some reason, they just don't work.

Don't be surprised if I send you a PM! Thanks again!

Yeah, the tune is great, and all it sounds well recorded.

The drummer drops one at about 0:35 and it sounds like he's not quite nailed it a little around 1:40 perhaps, I'm nit picking though, but you've done a great job on the kit perhaps a tad more compression to tighten it up around the kicks a bit more but not much.

The rest is just getting that vocal to sit right and there are plenty of suggestions for that here already.

I like the vocal job he's done here and its a good song.

are we allowed to bump?

Bump away.

Listening at low volume, but this sounds very good.