The Unintended Christmas

Yes, I agree with you that the gtr is a bit in front of the mix.  However, the song is very nice.  I never know what to expect from you, but each time it's something good!  Just one or two little changes to this mix and it will be a gem.

Agree with Lynn - gonna be a good 'un

Cool song, Starise.  

Tim - this is really cool! 

I do think the guitar is a little too hot (but I understand from your references why you mixed it that way) and I think the piano is a little "muddy" sounding at the beginning (but not at the break)

but I do love this and hope you continue to develop it! 

really cool!

yeah, pull the guitars back a bit... the piano sounds so fine... what did you play that on... That is a great sounding piano...

Hey Tim,

Very cool tune.  I really like the instrument selection and layout.  Have to agree about the "hotness" of your guitar.  And one other crit... the whole mix sounds a tad bright and a little thin on my system (which is odd 'cuz it's usually the opposite...), as if a bit too much Enhancement/Exciter on it.  Maybe just me though.

Great creativity my friend!  Merry Christmas!

Hi Starise,

This is a cool tune! Agree with what's been said already so I won't beat on that. I think for the most part, the mix seems a little bright to my ears and this is after working from 6 pm last night until about an hour ago. So my ears have definitely lost the highs in them about now and this is still a bit bright all through to my ears. I'd definitely low pass it a bit or maybe lighten up on the exciters. Loved what you did here though and you got some cool performances going on.

I let a few of your other mixes sort of play while I was doing a few other things and now that I'm typing this, they all seem to have that same bright quality going on. Do you feel you're mixing just a little bright on your end? If so, you can maybe try reducing your sub a little bit which will make you mix a bit more bass heavy. Everything just sounds a little thin to me...like you're in need of good low end.

Everything seems audible though, so your mixing skills are definitely going in the right direction. Lead guitars seem to be a bit loud at times in the tunes, but your mixes seem pretty balanced. We definitely have some high end going on that needs to be curbed a bit though in my opinion. Or we have to at least find out why you're not hearing it as lacking "meat" and see what you can alter on your end.

It's not just lows though...you seem to be missing low mids and mids. Sort of like things are scooped. The more mids we take out, the smaller the music gets. I think you have some good sound source sizes here, but all the meat seems to be scooped out. Can you hear this at all when you compare your stuff to something that may be close to it in style?

The good thing is, you're not mixing bass heavy and muddy....so hopefully there is an easy fix for this. You do turn ARC off when you export, right? I know...silly question, but I always ask because quite a few were under the impression they were supposed to leave it on. Also, are you using ARC 2 by chance? If so, have you done anything to the custom EQ? If you have, I'd be curious to hear a mix with it set to flat with just your basic correction so we can see what you're getting that way. Good stuff though brother...I hope you don't take any of this the wrong way. I'm honestly trying to help and enjoyed listening to your songs. :) Thanks for sharing.

-Danny

Well, I am going to be the voice of dissent here. In this sense the lead guitar is not just the lead guitar, its the lead voice. I like it out front and in your face. I did not hear any clipping like Robby, but I would try to bring a bit more energy into the low end. It sounds like you used the left hand on the piano for most of the lows, which I loved, but, low piano notes do not carry a deep tone (just resonance), which I feel this needs to round it out. - Cheers, Shad. - edit - just read Danny's reply and I am in agreement.

cool project and well done...

As a guitar player myself.... I must ask the question... Is a guitar ever too loud? 

After shouting a firm "NO... turn it up to 11 and rip the knobs off!"

the producer in me tempers that and says... yeah... perhaps. 

nicely done. 

Love it.

The guitar does get a little loud in places for the style.  But not always.  I'd be careful w/ it.  And it does sound a little bass shy, but then on these computer speakers there ain't no bass and half the time what is there disappears so it is hard to judge.

Good song, tho, and well done

@

hey Tim- 

quite a gem u have here :)  a most beautiful blend of homages to the sounds of Elton John, Queen, a bit of Wings, and I'm hearing some King Crimson/Robert Fripp gtr too 

i don't mind as much the gtr being kinda front and center being a guitar player and all lol 

diggin' the staccato part as well that starts at 1:46 

a most lovely noise, bro.  i feel like i've journeyed somewhere upon listening .... 

-Daren

  I have made probably the last changes to this mix pending any crits about the bass. I am still iffy on some of the bass in this but can't quite put a finger on what it is.

  I might add a continuation to this later on, sort of like a story in song. Thanks for all of the comments from the fine folks here on the forum!

 Mark- Thanks for listening! 

 AT- I appreciate your listening and comments here. I made a few tweaks on the mix.

Kev- Thanks for your kind comments . I did as you said and made a few adjustments to the mix.. Thanks!

Daren- Thanks man! That means a lot coming from a guitar player such as yourself. I am really digging your tracks! Thanks for the info on the browser too. Take care my friend.

Absolutely Lovely!!

 Thanks guys for listening and your comments.Special thanks to Band19 for pointing out the hiss. I found the source of the hiss. It was one of the Kontakt synths.

 I wish you all a wonderful Christmas!