Marshall
Max Output Level: -78 dBFS
- Total Posts : 602
- Joined: 2007/06/14 04:28:16
- Location: Alicante, Spain
- Status: offline
Tigers
Hi all Had some time to work on my mixing and production skills, such as they are, since I last posted here a few months ago. Hopefully making progress, and thank you for listening! https://soundcloud.com/bill-saunders/tigersBill
|
emeraldsoul
Max Output Level: -56.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1858
- Joined: 2009/01/02 23:16:43
- Status: offline
Noice! Particularly the vocals.
One idearr, if you haven't thought of it already, is to look at snare volume. The snare and your voice are competing for the same eq range, and the first thing I noticed (or think I noticed) is that the snare has the exact same volume when you aren't singing as when you are.
You could get away with dropping the snare's volume just a db or so only when you are singing, it would make your vocal punch out a bit better I think. Fun with volume animation!
cool songwriting and I like your lyrics. The piano is pretty perfectly placed, really supports the groove.
-Tom
|
dcumpian
Max Output Level: -34 dBFS
- Total Posts : 4124
- Joined: 2005/11/03 15:50:51
- Status: offline
I agree with Tom that the snare is in the way of the vocal. Honestly, all of the instruments are way up front and the vocal is pushed too far back. The overall mix of the instruments themselves sounds pretty good though, just need to change the balance between the vocals and everything else.
Regards,
Dan
Mixing is all about control. My music: http://dancumpian.bandcamp.com/ or https://soundcloud.com/dcumpian Studiocat Advanced Studio DAW (Intel i5 3550 @ 3.7GHz, Z77 motherboard, 16GB Ram, lots of HDDs), Sonar Plat, Mackie 1604, PreSonus Audiobox 44VSL, ESI 4x4 Midi Interface, Ibanez Bass, Custom Fender Mexi-Strat, NI S88, Roland JV-2080 & MDB-1, Komplete, Omnisphere, Lots o' plugins.
|
biodiode
Max Output Level: -66 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1202
- Joined: 2006/04/13 13:48:09
- Location: Blackpool, UK
- Status: offline
Nice song and lyrics. The snare to vocal balance issue that the others have pointed out is really noticeable to my ears around the 1:22 mark when the snare drops out. Apart from that little bit it is a well recorded/rounded song. Enjoyed the Listen 
www.biodiode.com https://soundcloud.com/biodiodePC Specs :-Sonar Platinum, Fractal Design Define R4 Case, Asus X-99 Deluxe motherboard, Intel Core i7 5960X Processor, Bequiet BK010 Dark Rock Cooler, 32GB - 2400mhz Corsair memory, 650W Bequiet Dark Pro PSU, 1GB XFX Radeon R5 Passive GFX, 2 x 256GB Samsung 850 Pro SSD, 1 x 3TB WesterDigital Black HDD, LG - BluRay Combo Drive, Windows 10, Kensington SlimBlade Trackball, LG34UM88C 34-Inch 3440 x 1440 UltraWide IPS Monitor
|
Marshall
Max Output Level: -78 dBFS
- Total Posts : 602
- Joined: 2007/06/14 04:28:16
- Location: Alicante, Spain
- Status: offline
Thanks all for your comments and valuables feedback - this is how I improve!
So, on this track I have put a compressor on the bass track which is triggered by the kick drum, so that the bass ducks when the kick is hit. Would you advocate a similar approach for the snare/vocals, or would you simply automate the volume on the snare?
|
dcumpian
Max Output Level: -34 dBFS
- Total Posts : 4124
- Joined: 2005/11/03 15:50:51
- Status: offline
Marshall
Thanks all for your comments and valuables feedback - this is how I improve!
So, on this track I have put a compressor on the bass track which is triggered by the kick drum, so that the bass ducks when the kick is hit. Would you advocate a similar approach for the snare/vocals, or would you simply automate the volume on the snare?
You could duck the snare that way but, as I posted earlier, bringing the vocals more to the front is what I would focus on first. You may need to lower all of the other tracks to do that and still give yourself mixing headroom. Once the vocals are better seated in the mix, you can probably do some simple automation on the snare itself, if it is still getting in the way. Regards, Dan
Mixing is all about control. My music: http://dancumpian.bandcamp.com/ or https://soundcloud.com/dcumpian Studiocat Advanced Studio DAW (Intel i5 3550 @ 3.7GHz, Z77 motherboard, 16GB Ram, lots of HDDs), Sonar Plat, Mackie 1604, PreSonus Audiobox 44VSL, ESI 4x4 Midi Interface, Ibanez Bass, Custom Fender Mexi-Strat, NI S88, Roland JV-2080 & MDB-1, Komplete, Omnisphere, Lots o' plugins.
|
Wookiee
Rrrrugh arah-ah-woof?
- Total Posts : 13306
- Joined: 2007/01/16 06:19:43
- Location: Akahaocwora - Village Yoh Kay
- Status: offline
Like the others the snare is competing with the vox, I think automation of the snare would be a better approach. thanks for sharing.
Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
Karma has a way of finding its own way home.
Primary, i7 8700K 16Gigs Ram, 3x500gb SSD's 2TB Backup HHD Saffire Pro 40. Win 10 64Bit Secondary i7 4790K, 32GB Ram, 500Gb SSD OS/Prog's, 1TB Audio, 1TB Samples HHD AudioBox USB, Win 10 64Bit CbB, Adam's A7x's - Event 20/20's, Arturia V6, Korg Digital Legacy, Softube Modular, Arturia Keylab-88, USB-MidiSport 8x8
|
stevec
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 11546
- Joined: 2003/11/04 15:05:54
- Location: Parkesburg, PA
- Status: offline
Good song! It reminded me of someone, particularly the section in the middle, but I can't think who... Either way it's got a good feel.
Mix-wise, I'd +1 the idea of lowering all of the instruments so the vocals are more forward where they should be, and then adjust as needed from there.
SteveC https://soundcloud.com/steve-cocchi http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=39163 SONAR Platinum x64, Intel Q9300 (2.5Ghz), Asus P5N-D, Win7 x64 SP1, 8GB RAM, 1TB internal + ESATA + USB Backup HDDs, ATI Radeon HD5450 1GB RAM + dual ViewSonic VA2431wm Monitors; Focusrite 18i6 (ASIO); Komplete 9, Melodyne Studio 4, Ozone 7 Advanced, Rapture Pro, GPO5, Valhalla Plate, MJUC comp, MDynamic EQ, lots of other freebie VST plugins, synths and Kontakt libraries
|
Freddy J
Max Output Level: -52 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2348
- Joined: 2009/03/09 21:05:54
- Location: Lutz, FL
- Status: offline
I'll ditto the comments about the instruments competing with the vocals. Your vocals are very good and the lyrics are good and should be the feature.
Nice one Bill.
|
bjornpdx
Max Output Level: -75 dBFS
- Total Posts : 759
- Joined: 2010/12/10 11:41:29
- Location: Portland, Oregon
- Status: offline
Bill
I listened to your track before reading the other comments and came up with the same opinion.
Very good overall and well played. I couldn't follow the lyrics very well tho since the vocal didn't stand out from the instruments. Not enough volume and maybe too much of those lower frequencies that cause muddiness.
|
Marshall
Max Output Level: -78 dBFS
- Total Posts : 602
- Joined: 2007/06/14 04:28:16
- Location: Alicante, Spain
- Status: offline
Thanks all. It's funny, I put this track on the UK songwriters forum, had plenty of responses but almost nothing about the vocals being too quiet. I completely respect you guys' opinions, and I specifically asked for mix feedback, rather than song feedback. It's always easier to "hear" the words if you are reading the lyrics, which were published on the other forum.
The other possibility is that like many others I suspect, I am not hugely confident of my own voice. Therefore, I might think the song sounds fine, precisely because my voice is lower down in the mix. Makes for a more comfortable listen, but that's only to my ears! So, that's why I need detached opinions...
|
jamesg1213
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 21760
- Joined: 2006/04/18 14:42:48
- Location: SW Scotland
- Status: offline
Hi Bill, I'm listening to a batch of songs on here through my Tannoys at a low-ish volume, rather than through headphones as usual. For me, the lead vocal is perfectly clear and riding above the music. No issue with the snare, I could pick out all the lyrics, no problem. Nice song, well presented.
Jyemz Thrombold's Patented Brisk Weather Pantaloonettes with Inclementometer
|
Lynn
Max Output Level: -14 dBFS
- Total Posts : 6117
- Joined: 2003/11/12 18:36:16
- Location: Kansas City, MO
- Status: offline
Bill, sorry I'm late to the party, but I have listened to this several times over the last few days. I gotta say, this is a gem waiting to happen. Don't be afraid of your voice (though, I think it's mixed well) because it's one of your best qualities. Play it up. I love the lyrics, especially because I've experienced this kind of relationship once or twice. My only suggestion would be to pay attention to the dynamics because everything seems to be front of stage. You have plenty good panning left to right, but I'd like to hear more front to back depth. I think that would take this production over the top. All in all, terrific song.
|
Marshall
Max Output Level: -78 dBFS
- Total Posts : 602
- Joined: 2007/06/14 04:28:16
- Location: Alicante, Spain
- Status: offline
James - thanks very much. Perhaps our both being in Scotland helps with understanding the lyrics!
Lynn - your encouragement is much appreciated, as is the time you have taken to listen several times, and confidence boost re the voice. Getting the dynamics right is hard, but I hope I am learning. I know we should mix with our ears (obviously), but the wave form of the completed track is far from being a solid squashed up block. I do know what you mean, listening again, and it's something I'll continue to invest time in with future songs. I have resisted the temptation of tweaking this mix based on everyone's comments as I think I would end up going round in circles!
|
daryl1968
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 10984
- Joined: 2010/06/01 22:51:43
- Location: Englishman in deepest, darkest Wales
- Status: offline
Nice song well recorded Bill.
|
santa3d
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
- Total Posts : 7
- Joined: 2017/01/09 09:05:10
- Status: offline
|
Leizer
Max Output Level: -82 dBFS
- Total Posts : 446
- Joined: 2012/04/26 16:08:57
- Location: Sweden
- Status: offline
Strong voice, nice song. I liked the mix. Everything is well recorded and panned.
Dell i7-2600 3,40 Ghz, 16Gb RAM // SX1 drive: 240 Gb SSD // Windows 7 64 Bit // SONAR Platinum 64 bit // Focusrite Saffire 6 USB // KORG D888 Mixer // Roland JV-2080 MIDI synth // Guitars, basses, violins etc. https://soundcloud.com/lasse-williamsson
|
Marshall
Max Output Level: -78 dBFS
- Total Posts : 602
- Joined: 2007/06/14 04:28:16
- Location: Alicante, Spain
- Status: offline
Daryl, Santa and Leizer, thank you for taking the time to listen and your encouragement. Means a lot, ta.
|