The Dream

Hi All,
I just finished mixing the first song from my new project and would really appreciate constructive feedback.
Link:  http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=972363&content=music
 
It's all recorded in Sonar Producer 8.5, all guitars, bass, vocals and keys are played live, the drums and percussion are MIDI.
The issue is that my "studio" is sonically pretty bad.  I mixed with quality monitoring headphones and like the mix.  But it's not right through the monitors.
 
So anything that others hear is welcome advice.
Thanks in advance.

Matt, I love this tune - really nice.

But, if I can say this - the mix to me sounds kind of like it's coming out of a transistor radio - it just lacks dynamics - it might be on my end.

I love your music - just don't particularly care for the mix.

I'm with my partner. CLEAN.  I like what's going in but not really that hot on what's coming out.  The more I listen the better it sounds.  It does lack a fullness that would really beef up the song.  How do you fix that (if you want to) I don't have a clue.  That's Mark's forte.  The bass about 2:30 or so has a bucket sound to me.  Kinda bland.  That's where I'd start.  NOW, it could be that this is the sound you were going for, kind of a retro sound.  Good song!!

Matt, I've been playing with this a bit.
Here's what I've got.
It's a bit strong in the mids, contributing to the thinnish sound Mark and Warren mention. Also, above 12k.
I put a fairly wide dip in the 1k to 2k range, and rolled off above 10k.
I also dropped the low end below 200.
These dips are maybe 3dB, but helped thicken the sound, and the bass and kick seem to be cleaner.
The guitar and vox in particular seem to benefit from the 1-2k dip.
I like the song.
Very catchy, somewhere between punk and rockabilly.

Thanks everyone!  These are exactly the type of feedback i was looking for.

Georgia Sattelites, there's an obscure reference I wasn't expecting!   haha

Now for the detailed replies:
 
Adrian - thanks, I've tried to keep a live feel to the whole batch of songs in my current project.  I haven't played live in 6 or 7 years, but really think that that feel will MAKE an album. 
 
CLEAN:  You're right about the mix.  It sounded great on my monitoring headphones, alright through my monitors, and pretty bad through ipod headphones plugged into my laptop (which i listened to after seeing these comments).
 
Rhyno:  Thanks.  I actually wrote 2 versions of this song.  First it was all swampy morose blues thing focussing on the organ and slide guitar.  Then I had a fun rockabilly version of it.  I couldn't decide which I liked so i decided to try combining them.  And those riffs were my best Keith Richards impersonation, but I listened to "keep your hands to yourself" after your comment and had to laugh...
 
Evadianpug:  Thanks for the compliment on the song itself.  For the bass, i actually WAS going for that bare, 60s motown sound.  I'm going to take it one step further for whatever i do next and use a double bass...
 
Bapu:  I couldn't really hear what you were describing until I cut out some of those frequencies for the kick.  It is cleaner now.
 
RobertB:  Thanks for the detailed notes. I applied them all to the overall mix and it did sweeten it.  I might try to focus on those areas for all songs in this project - as the instrumentation and styles are pretty consistant an overall EQ adjust might help make up for what my room is lacking.
 
JonBuoy:  To much whomp and compression?  I'm going to look into the snare compression, is it just too consistant?  I liked the sound of a loose, roomy kit - to me it fakes some of the 'live sound' that i'm trying to accomplish (even though i'm playing everything myself).
 
Janet:  Just plain THANKS! 
 

Nice song, had a real good groove.

When the song first started, I was like wow everything is down the middle.  But then you opened it up real nice.

Last comment, it seems to end kind of abrupt.

Thanks,

Love the tune...mix needs work...but again...I really like the tune..love yer vox!

MoreNoise:  I tried OD'ing the slide originally, but it seemed to lose something in the translation.  I do like the sound though, so it's something i want to use in other tracks.

Kroneborge:  The centred beginning wasn't really on purpose. It's just that I naturally keep all those instruments in the middle:  kick, snare, single vocal, and single guitar track.  The first time I heard the bridge section come in while wearing headphones, I was surprised at how it exploded.  But it was a GOOD surprise... haha

Freddy:  I was worried that using a standard RnR/ New Wave rhythm might get boring.  Just D/A/G/D on 8th notes.  I naturally started to emphasize certain beats, and i think that kept it from being too mechanical.  To me, anyway.

Thanks Pogue.  Mixing is my weak area - I'm trying, and i'm learning.  That's what makes this forum so invaluable.  And thanks for complimenting the vocals - i've been taking operatic vocal lessons for the last year, and they're starting to pay off.

MGH:  thanks!  Where've you been?

Hi, Matt,
 
Cool song with a great early 80's live feel to it!
 
I'm on my third listen.  Nicely written, well played and sung, and a really good job on the arrangement.  I think a little minor EQ surgery could beef up the bottom end punch and high end sparkle a little bit, and will address the thinness that Warren and Mark mentioned above.
 
The vocals sound excellent, but my only minor suggestion would be to maybe throw in a vocal harmony part or two, just to fill out the choruses and add some extra texture to the mix.  Don't get me wrong, I really think the song sounds fantastic as it is, but a harmony part might turn out to be some tasty icing on the cake.
 
Anyway, really nice job on this, Matt, have a good one!
Bob

That's cool, Matt.  :)

Hi Matt,

Hope you don't mind me dragging this back up from page 2, but I really like this song. It does sound a little empty and a little restrained though, I could hear some counter-melody guitar going on after the first chorus. Definitely a new-wave vibe, reminded me of The Motors (our version of The Cars I suppose )

The break-down at 2:30 lost the momentum somewhat, it was almost Pink Floyd territory there.

But...I really do like the song!

I really like what you've done here. No extra comments on the mix.

Great song and overall tune. Plenty of others have commented on the vox but i'll echo them...i really like the sound you achieved...very clear and right out front. Do you mind sharing what settings you used to get such a great vocal sound? The riffs and hooks are cool and the middle was unexpected. Very nice work.
 
~Jeff