Hi James, awesome stuff !!!  Realy somethin' else and nice to listen to. Keep up the unique/brave choices / things !
 
In terms of mix perhaps try a delay or bigger reverb on the vocals.
And there's something about the mix....hard to describe it....it's a bit 'not flowing' with the groove / sounds a little 'restricted' and I"m thinking it's a compressor maybe.
To me it sounds the attack is too soon perhaps (would be around/just onder 10ms I guess, or the release is too quick.....or it's an 'optical compressor' maybe.....or a bit too much 'threshold'.
Anyway, something sounds a bit like it's 'holding the music'  where it would better let it loose,  sorry man I just find it hard to put into words.
And also, that's ofcourse just my ears, and general Lee the mix sounds great !!
 
Taking my hat off sir for this music, deep bow.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I'm glad you thought the suggestions were positive!  What I mean by extending the last syllable is that it sounds like her last word ends too quickly.  Not sure if that's just how she ended them or if there's a volume cut (what it sounds like to me).  It just seems to need a longer decay IMO (I'll see if I can find an example).  Only 15???  Wow!
 
As for the Daft Punk part, I'm pretty sure they incorporate the "Cher" effect which is achieved by using an auto-tuner (like the AVG I used to have) with the correction setting turned up too high.  
 
BTW - I listened to the only other song you have up on SoundCloud (UltraViolet) and that one sounds great (and complete)!
 
One last comment.  I'm only listening on the speakers that come with my new 4k monitor and the mix sounded pretty good.  Others with better monitors might be more suited to provide input on the mix (like adding a little more compression to the bass).

Just saw Sheanes' comments (must have been writing at the same time).  Yeah, what he said!  Hehe...  Something is clamping down a bit too much.  Below is a quick example, though not the best example unless the extra flair is what you're looking for.  Right around the 0:29 mark, notice how the word "alone" continues into the next part?  In this case it's a bit extreme but, in your song, that last word is almost getting grabbed and smothered - lol.
 

Sheanes
Hi James, awesome stuff !!!  Realy somethin' else and nice to listen to. Keep up the unique/brave choices / things !
 
In terms of mix perhaps try a delay or bigger reverb on the vocals.
And there's something about the mix....hard to describe it....it's a bit 'not flowing' with the groove / sounds a little 'restricted' and I"m thinking it's a compressor maybe.
To me it sounds the attack is too soon perhaps (would be around/just onder 10ms I guess, or the release is too quick.....or it's an 'optical compressor' maybe.....or a bit too much 'threshold'.
Anyway, something sounds a bit like it's 'holding the music'  where it would better let it loose,  sorry man I just find it hard to put into words.
And also, that's ofcourse just my ears, and general Lee the mix sounds great !!
 
Taking my hat off sir for this music, deep bow.

 
Thank you Sheanes! This is all very encouraging. :)
 
I still find reverb a bit of a dark art. I have plenty - maybe it's time to go into preset monkey mode on them all and just learn what they'd do. 
 
As for being restricted - I'm guess that was me being too heavy on the master buss. I have a UAD API 2500 I mixed into - it's pretty subtle, but then I was experimenting with using the Sonoxx inflator into the Stealth Limiter and I think I squeezed it too much. I'll post a version without those and perhaps you guys can tell me if the mix is squashed itself or just the "mastering" stuff I applied.
 
 

craigb
Just saw Sheanes' comments (must have been writing at the same time).  Yeah, what he said!  Hehe...  Something is clamping down a bit too much.  Below is a quick example, though not the best example unless the extra flair is what you're looking for.  Right around the 0:29 mark, notice how the word "alone" continues into the next part?  In this case it's a bit extreme but, in your song, that last word is almost getting grabbed and smothered - lol.
 

Thanks Craig the video was helpful! Sounds like was an effect so I don't have to have Grace sing again - I'll play with some delays and such and see what I can come up.
 
Thanks guys! :)

Thanks guys! 
 
I took some advice from Craig and created an intro using vocal takes I already had. This was actually pretty tedious work with lots of envelopes, but I really like how it turned out. I also turned off the master bus compressor but left the limiter on...
 
Let me know what you think!
 
https://soundcloud.com/jamesfoxall/believe-rev-09-mix-12-with-new-intro/s-4DnQx
 

Aaaaakkkk!!!!  It's ruined!!!!!    (Just kidding!)
 
Through my little speakers that really helped.  The bass is much better and the guitars and vocals sound much more alive.
 
I like the new intro, except for the last vocal sample.  With such a nice big chord coming up, my suggestion would be to leave that final one off to make a bigger impact (it's a bit hard to hear the end of her line anyway, almost like she's being rushed).  I'd still add a couple of "Do you believe's" in the outro though. 
 
Just removing the master bus compressor made the talking samples sound like they don't need any additional background.  The last part of her final words are better too.  I'm still curious what it would sound like with some words echoed in the background (maybe just the word "greener" since that part is emphasized).  I find myself adding it in my head when I'm listening - lol.
 
This is getting close to done me-thinks!  Though I'd love to hear some more experienced ears weigh in.
 

Oh, and thanks for leaving the prior mix up.  I kept going back and forth between them.  You could really hear the difference!
 

Hey James, the 'restricted' effect is gone and guess more people will relate/bond with the music now.
It's a good mix imo.
Imo (my ears) the drums are 'speeding' a bit and the mix could use some 'glue' therefore.
You could have this glue, with the API compressor back in, and getting attack and release right.
If you increase the release just close to where it starts to slow down the groove, that should be the glue.
Then you could still add the limiter, but would turn down the input, or raise the threshold so that the boost from the limiter is a bit less.
Pffff....long story sorry.....not an expert either and just writing what I'd try.
 
If you want to, you could load the wav. file without bus EQ, compressor/limiter and I"ll give it a try.
Or you could make this the 2017 Coffee House mastering competition :)
 
But again, it's ok and just minor niggles....and nice / original / interesting music you made.
Just my opinion hoping it helps
 

Craig and Sheanes - I can't thank you guys enough for being so generous with your time and your thoughts!
 
The only changes on this version was the intro and the removal of the API 2500 on the master. The other ideas I still have to try based on your feedback include:
 
1. More/different reverb on main vocals
2. Lighter bus compression for glue - I look forward to experimenting with this
3. Echo on key phrases, send as at the end of verses
4. Extend last syllable of some phrases into the next part
5. Have Bapu redo the bass line to create a composite of the pieces. Ed, if you're reading this - are you ready? 
6. I have a friend who is a killer slide player and loves Pink Floyd like I do and we talked about having him try some PF inspired guitar - either some slide on the chorus section or perhaps a fuzz lead. I'm not sure it will work, but we have to try. :)
7. Vocoder part. I'm making progress and not ready to give up just yet!
 
Also Craig - that last "Believe" was a different sample and I'm hampered but what I have recorded. I know in my head what I want it to sound like but it's not there. I might ask Grace to come over and just record some random stuff to sprinkle about - include some "Believe"s. I will also look to remove that last Believe and see how it goes, as well as try the same sample used for the other ones.
 
I plan to use Melodyne to extend some phrases but I have to export the key audio into a new project first since I have no more horsepower to do that in real-time. This is the first project where I've brought my computer to it's knees. I have an i7 with 32BG of RAM and 20 cores of UAD and with the limiter on I get crackles if I do anything with the computer. It's a big project! :)
 
Shaenes, I can post a non-limited version if you want to play with it! That's an area I can definitely use some schooling in. :)
 
I too feel that it is almost done, and that is SO exciting! I'm in an all day meeting so if anyone else responds I might not be able to respond today but I'm definitely not ignoring you guys.
 
THANKS!