"Take Me Away"
 
NOTE: Hopefully Final Mix for this one! 6/24/16!
 
Hi, guys, just uploaded another new test mix!
 
The song is called "Take Me Away", If you can spare a few minutes to check it out, as always, any and all helpful comments, suggestions, constructive criticism, input and ideas are very welcome, and also greatly appreciated!

Sincere thanks in advance for any observations, suggestions, comments and ideas!
 
Bob
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"Take Me Away"
 
128kbps MP3 on SoundClick at:
http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=13382812
 
Or Better Quality 320kbps MP3 at the top of the Player at:
http://www.boboister.com/test-mixes.html
 

A song the begins with a short harp solo?    Nice...  
 
Mix-wise it's got your stamp - big, wide and present.   Really great sound.
 
But there do seem to be some timing issues.  In the first section it seems like some parts are swinging a bit while others are fairly straight.     And the one second choruses is there supposed to be an extended turnaround?   It sounds like the drums are playing the same basic rhythm as the first time through, but on the second time the music+vocals are playing over it in a syncopated fashion.    
 
Timing aside, it's another quality Bob tune!
 

Hi Bob, nice rocker. For me the drums are way to loud and the rhythm guitars to far back. It sounds more balanced during the guitar solo, imho.
 
Rik

Hey this is a good demo for your song -- vocals are very good.  My nit is that the tune really takes off in the instrumental section  -- it sounds more full and well arranged than the sections before that.  Killer guitar, too.

stevec:
 
 
Hey, Steve,
 
How are you, buddy, hope you had a great Memorial Day holiday!
 
Thanks for checking this out for me and for your good input and observations!
 
I just uploaded Mix #2 after fine tuning the vocal timing during the choruses and a few spots on the rhythm guitar tracks, but I'm not sure what you meant about an extended turnaround.  I also lowered the drum bus about 2.5 db and re-eqed the bass for a bit more presence.  I'm hoping it's getting closer to where things should be.
 
Thanks again for lending your good ears and your input, greatly appreciated!
 
Have a great weekend!
Bob
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Rikkie:
 
 
HI, Rik,
 
How are you, my friend?  Hope you're doing well!
 
Thank you so much for giving this a listen and for your very good input!
 
You were 100% correct about the drums overpowering the other instruments!  Since my many months away from mixing, my biggest struggle has been balancing instrument buses  and vocal levels, and I had the drums way too loud on the first mix.  For this second mix, I dropped the drums by 2.5 db and jacked up the guitars and bass a little to hopefully get things back in the ball park.
 
I'm very grateful for your good ears, Rik, and I wish you a fantastic weekend!
Bob
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ABull:
 
 
Hi, Allan,
 
 
Thanks for taking time to check this one out for me, and for your good input, observations and very kind words!
 
I'm hoping this new mix addresses your observations a bit, and also Rik's.  I think the overly loud drums were sucking the life out of the guitars and bass during the earlier sections, so I tried my best to re-eq and boost the bass, re-eq and lower the drums, and beef up the rhythm guitars to fill things out and make things punch better, like during the fuller sounding solo section that you both mentioned.  I'm thinking things are sounding fuller in general, LOL, or at least I hope so!
 
Thanks again for your input, greatly appreciated, and have a Rockin' weekend!
Bob
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Mix #2 Up 6/4/16
 
Been a crazy couple of weeks, but I was finally able to get Mix #2 up for this one!
 
Thanks all so far for your input, greatly appreciated!
 
I fixed a few timing issues on the chorus vocals and a few spots on the rhythm guitars, lowered the drums by 2.5 db, re-eqed and boosted the bass, and beefed up the rhythm guitars a bit to hopefully get a fuller mix.
 
Please let me know if you have any other advice or suggestions, I always try everything anybody mentions for the sake of experimentation, and you guys are always great at catching a few things that I've become "immune" to after hearing the song a zillion times, LOL!
 
Thanks again and best wishes!
Bob

Hi Bob. I love a heavy sound that is melodic - you don't hear that much these days. The vocals are just fantastic. I have to tell you - I'm not a fan of those kind of drums - the double bass thing. Other than that small nit pick - this is one of your signature great tunes.

Hi Bob
there's a flaw at 1'04 on the upload between the verse and chorus -sound just cuts out - edit - same thing happens before second chorus -so i'm assuming intentional doesn't sound quite right
first verse the cymbal is syncopated and the guitars are straight - sounds wrong
in the chorus again the timing of the kicks is just not working against the guitars. actually, listening again, not sure if it's the drums or the 'you take me away' in the second half of the chorus which is just wrongly placed - yep it's deffo that - the vox in the second half of the chorus are half a bar out
it's a shame as actually the guitar playing is stellar, as is the singing. a great solo too.
 

Monster riffs and big choruses, classic Oister.
The drums sound off, and the kick pattern I found annoying. But I am guessing you are going to fix that along with the things previous posters mentioned.

this is really friggin' slamming dude. ya know you really have one of the better voices out there in this genre it's one of your gifts like your guitar playing - 
 
only thing is the drums- I was going to write some notes but a lot covered above esp the unique patters you are trying to execute. I think there is some competition with the hits esp kick play? maybe a more simple solution is the right one, whatever direction you will take. 
 
great tune - it's close ;) 
 
- Daren T