I have struggled trying to get my tracks, and mixes, to not sound so muffled.  Especially my guitar and vocal parts.  I listen to CDs and songs I like and the guitars and vocals sound so airy and clear without being too bright or boomy.  Oviously there is some art here that I have yet to learn.
 
If I try to boost the higher frequencies things always sound harsh.  If I cut the mids or lows then it sounds weak.  I would like some constructive critisism.
 
I have an audio file but am not sure how to post it here.
 
Thank you for your help.

First and foremost, if it's sounding that bad to begin with, it's not your mixing. You need to get it right from the source first. This means mic placement, room and choice of mic. If you're using a dynamic, that could give you this result. A condenser should be a lot clearer sounding. I see you have a blubird. I don't know that particular mic personally, but it should still do the trick if used properly. I'm sure you have this right, but just make sure you're singing into it the right way... It will sound muffled if you're coming in from the back... Aside from that, would need to hear the audio sample.

I personally like SoundCloud for putting up samples. Free to join. Check it out.

Thank you for your reply.  I agree that you need to get it right at the source. and that is exactly what I am trying to do.  I spent 3-4 hours yesterday trying various things to get a guitar sound that I was happy with and just felt like I was not getting anywhere.
 
Although I am not an expert or professional I have studied and been playing music for many years.  I took a recording class in college, I have read everything I can find about frequencies, compression, eq'ing ect, so I am not completely un-educated about the recording and mixing process. I think I am mostly just inexperienced in producing great results.
 
The guitar sounds were recorded direct from my POD HD 500 into X1 Producer Expanded (maybe the POD HD is part of the problem?).  For the vocals I used both my dynamic mic and my condenser. To tell you the truth the dynamic doesn't sound bad compared to the condenser just a bit different.
 
The sound clip has a few of the guitar sounds I was trying and then a clip of the song I am working on to put it in context.  I included a few clips of some commercial songs that I was using as reference material.  I wasn't trying to recreate the guitar tones but just use them as a reference for the qualities I liked in them.  The last clip got put in twice on accident.
http://soundcloud.com/reginaldstjohn/blanketexample
 
Your thoughts and suggestions are welcome.

Reginald,

Listening to a guitar track in isolation in and of itself is not the best way to go as all sounds affect each other.

With that said... yeah, there's a blanket over your solo'd guitars. Probably a HPF at 90-150HZ may help but this is a suggestion that is so out of context it may not actually be helpful.

the 'capture' is everything.

don't ever boost highs, to get a clear or 'bright' sound.

change it at the source.

when micing, this is where quality gear comes into play, and especially quality MICROPHONES.


when running line level signals, this is where quality preamps and other outboard gear come into play.

when it comes to midi, this is where quality samples come into play.

As I listened to each guitar part, all I could think of was there is nothing wrong. Thats they way they sound with those effects. When the first part with vocals came on I saw what you meant, but then the next one sounded great. The one that sounded bad just sounded like it needed compression and EQ, which was corrected on the next part. I think you might just be hitting that "artist" wall and only hear the flaws. At most I would dial back the bass parts a bit. Maybe post a completed song (up in the song forum) and you will get lots of feedback and advice.

bapu,
 
I agree with your comment on listening to the guitar part in isolation.  That is why I included a clip with the guitar part in context of the song.
 
 

foxwolfen,
 
    Thanks for your comment. You may be right with the artist block.  I will take whatever suggestions people give me, try it and then just finish the song and then let people critique the song.
 
I will say that I am trying to get the sound good at the source/begining so I don't have to do so much tweaking in the mix.
 
Thanks