No Reasons Why - Re-mixed

Hi Everybody,

This is my latest, and I could use some fresh ears for comments and critiques on the mix.

For drums, I used a Matt Cameron kit from KitCore, and all the synths are from DimPro.

Rhythm guitars are PodFarm.

On the master, I used the VC-64 and the Voxengo Saturator.

Thanks for listening, and the song is located here:

No Reasons Why

The drums sound absolutely fantastic. I wish I could get my drums to sound like that.

The production is very good. Definitely one of the best I have heard in this forum.

Its a nice mellow rock song with a kind of seventies vibe.

If I had to be ultra critical the guitars could be sharper. They sound just a shade too bassy. The bass and guitars seem to be occupying the same frequencies. A litte eq would sort that out. I would seperate them out in the mix. The bass could be a fraction more clearer. Its a little muddy and its not pinging out as much as it should.

However thats just being very picky.Overall its very well mixed and a nice relaxing rock song.

Very catchy tune,well written.I enjoyed this,love the guitar tones,the drums sound great,coming from a drummer i wouldnt change a thing.Mix sounded good, nothing comes out except maybe bringing the vocals around a bit,maybe this is how you intended it to sound,in that case keep up the great work.Definite pleasure to listen to!!!

Drums intro -- astonishing and crisp. Beyond perfect, to my ears.

1st LT guitar (after drum intro) may need some crispness to match, I dunno! I can't detect transients (not enough attack and/or release time in the compression?).

Sweet Vox may need slightly more presence at 2 kHz q 1-ish and or compression with gain ... for clarity. I'd increase his level a dcbl in sections (chorus).

To be more 'bad and dirty' (if desireable), add high shelf air at 5kHz+ to the vox and/or other instruments, or increase/compress the highs on vox and/or instruments (other than those great drums!) ... just a tad.

The sine synth may deserve yet some more richness/saturation in sections, verb/or and thickening (wide-panned clone delays) ... I may be wrong.


On 2nd listen (later today):

This seriously Rocks! Did you do something, today? (Maybe I should listen twice more often before critting.) I don't think more presence is needed in the vox after-all. Maybe some tube-saturation to enrich its dominance (ever so slightly)! I love the verb-changes in the vox.

Maybe a abit HPF here and/or there would clear out some of the clouds in synths and guitar.

My only possible gripe:
My ears still long to hear more guitar transients at the beginning.

WOW!...Long time no hear. This is a great song very well written and performed. This didn't have the classic Doug feel to it like your other songs. But to me that is what makes a great song writer. The mix really sounds full and uses the full stereo spectrum. I do agree with the other on the guitars. Just give them a bit more high end. On my rig they are sharing the same low end as the bass making the bass guitar get lost at times. GREAT job on the vox and harmonies, I like the less verb feel. I also agree this has to be one of your best sounding mixes. This is just a FANTASTIC song and another example why you are on my favorite artist list.

LATER
Kev

I like this... The performances are excellent, and the vocals really shine...
Great mix too... Good work...

Doug,

Very cool rock tune with a cool Cars sounding keyboard part. I think the drums sound great and realistic as other have comment. I tend to agree with the others when it comes to the rhythm guitars. They seem a bit to dark. I'd remove a bit of the low-mid to mid eq. If you had to add apply a bit of a boost on the high end of those guitars. The lead guitar sounds wonderful. Don't mess with that!

The song felt like it begged for harmonies in the chorus. Of course, I'm all about adding harmonies, so take that with a grain of salt.

I know that another had suggested more reverb on the vocal, but I'm not certain. I do like the way the vocal lays in the mix now and applying more reverb may reduce the clarity you have in the vocal today.

A well-written and enjoyable to listen to creation. Great job.

Thanks for sharing,
Tom

Doug,

It sounds great. Vox are a bit thicker and more present. Those synth lines are very rich. Nice colors!!!

Doug I sure enjoyed this.
My opinion on the sounds are pretty much what some have already said. the guitar could use a little high..brightening.
Don't take this wrong..as I thought it was cool..when the synth came in it reminded me of one of the nerd movies...when they formed a band..the sound of it reminded of that.

Got the feeling you were holding back on the vocal part..could be a volume thing..I don't know.

But I liked it!
Michael

I like it, I may back off just a tad on the r-guit. And maybe brighten it a little. It seems to be competing with the bass a little to me.

**edit** Ha! Sorry didn't mean to beat a dead horse, I didn't read the others posts first, but it sounds like there are a lot of folks in agreement :-) Still in all, cool song though.

Big drums Doug! Love the synth! ELP sound. the r.... guitars are a litle 'dark' sounding to me (still works for me tho) Good lead tone. You have a distinctive voice/style, kinda moody/sullen that fits pefectly! I think I like this the best from you yet. I like the mix/instrumentation..ear candy man! Those little synth and subtle guitar bits that you have scattered are the sprinkles on the ice cream....

Really like this, Doug! I do agree with the others about the rhythm guitars being a little dark, but still very good. Love the synth and the guitar solo is excellent. Fantastic drums! Your vocal is perfect on this. I do think Tom has a good point about some harmonies to add to an already excellent production. Very, very good.

I'm going to be contrary and say I like that guitar tone, it's meaty, dense and well placed in the mix. Love the solo Doug, very tasty.

I find the guitar a bit muddy.

I, of course, love the synth. Fat, fat, fat. Lovely sound. That hooked me and kept me waiting for the next time it came.

A bit more punch to the drums would not be unwelcome here, and some more projection in your voice.

Cheers
Shad

edit -Oh yah... great song.

notnat - Thanks for listening Frank, and I'm glad you liked it - I've become a fan of the VC-64 as I use it more and more.

tyacko - Hey Tom, thanks for stopping by and listening. I did think about harmonies on the chorus, but I was just looking to try something different from the last couple I've posted. Most have mentioned the rhythm guitars being too dark, so I'll look into that on the next remix.

Guitarhacker - Thanks Herb - I think PodFarm sounds great, and it's easy to use - I don't have to get up from my chair and plug in a real amp and all that I'll give a listen to the lead vocal again, maybe an eq boost around 7 or so.

No How - Thanks Rick - you know, finding the synth tones and playing them was the funnest part of the song.

Trist_Pat - Thanks Patrick - there's definitely a Cars vibe in this one, no doubt.