I am doing some accompaniment tracks for a set of etudes by Marco Bordogni that are very popular among classical instrumentalists.  This one is a bit of a problem:
http://bordogni.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Vol1-07-t.mp3
 
It is a jazz waltz with vibes, guitar, strings and drums -- plus a solo trombone in this case.
 
I realize the drum track is really lame.  I need to work on that.
 
The vibes and guitar seem to be fighting for the same space, and the strings are in that same tessatura.  I don't really care that much about the strings.  I could probably raise them an octave to get them out of the way.  But I really can't get the vibes and guitar where you can hear those voices clearly.  I do have then somewhat separated on the stereo pans.  I also EQ'ed the vibes to reduce the fundamental and bring out more of the characteristic overtones.
 
Any ideas would be appreciated.  It could be that cleaning up the drums would help because the ride and crash are probably covering up some of the material.

Nice tune !! Im not an expert in mixing,but here are my suggestions.
 
As the trombone is the main element in the mix,I would try to give it more presence,make it stand out from the guitar and the vibes. Maybe work out where that freq is on the trombone and cut that from the backing ?? You could also try cloning the trombone part and panning it to make it wider..
I thought the drums sounded ok,but the guitar could be a little brighter with more attack.
The dynamic changes are nice, as is the backing.Its just needs a little more work.Hopefully others on the forum will have some ideas for you too.
Kev
 

kev11111111111111
 the guitar could be a little brighter with more attack.

This was (supposedly) an acoustic guitar.  I wonder if it might be a better idea to make it electric with some distortion.  I wonder if that would make it more recognizable as a guitar, distinct from the vibes without having to bring it up in the mix.

Here is an updated version  
http://bordogni.info/wp-c...8/V17-T-Sonar-Ver2.mp3
 
Here are the changes:

• Switched the guitar to a Stratocaster
• Pushed vibes farther to the left, guitar farther to the right
• Changed the strings to be short bows, and then added verb to take off that harshness.  I really didn't need the long pads.  The strokes seem to give the groove a little more energy and leave more room in the middle spectrum

Now the guitar really jumps out.  It may be too hot.
 

The vibes don't sound anything like vibes, just a horrible muffled non descript sound. (Do you know what vibes actually sound like? Listen to Gary Burton and Chick Corea)
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRSjLkj0VMw
 
You need to get them sounding like vibes. Nice and clear with the attack that they normally have. Guitar sound is also too similar to the vibes. A little better but you need to EQ that guitar to sound like a guitar. Pan those two though that is a good idea. Trombone sounds OK (although it drops away here and there, any reason?)  Bass sounds nice. Drums are non existent. Are they there or not? If they are they need to be clear. I want to hear the ride cymbal/snare not loud but clearly.
 
This is a case where you need to solo everything one at a time and get each thing sounding great in solo then bring them in all together and adjust accordingly.
 
 

Jeff Evans
The vibes don't sound anything like vibes, just a horrible muffled non descript sound. (Do you know what vibes actually sound like?

I play regularly with Billy Wooten.  We're doing a concert on Wednesday, actually.

Jeff EvansGuitar sound is also too similar to the vibes.

You're talking about the first example, right?  I think they sound fairly distinct in the second sample. 
http://bordogni.info/wp-c...8/V17-T-Sonar-Ver2.mp3
 
I'm not sure that is a great guitar sound, but it doesn't sound like the vibes.

Now that the overlap between vibes and guitar is cleared up a bit, I'll work on that vibe sound.
 
Thanks.
 

Here is a third version
http://bordogni.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/V17-T-Sonar-Ver3.mp3
 
This is getting a lot closer to what I had hoped for.  I think the vibes and guitar sound a bit more realistic.  The guitar is simple comping in the background, so I didn't expect it to sound like Jimi Hendrix.
 
Also btw, the changes in the trombone volume are all acoustic -- not from fader actions.  This matches the dynamics in the etude.  I know it doesn't sound completely musical, as the dynamic changes are exaggerated.  But that is one of the points of the exercise.  It is completely natural for a wind player to do this, but it sounds unnatural for the band to make that big of a change.
 
I may do another take on the trombone part.  I thought it was a decent take, but for some reason I played most of the middle Cs flat.  I don't know what happened with that.

double post : (

Hey Cparmerlee
 
I'd be happy to record real guitar for you,if you're willing to record a trombone part for me.Also send me the midi part for the keys parts,I have a nice Vibraphone VST which would bring the part more to life ! Send me a message if u're interested and I'll send u my email address.
Kev
 

Well Craig sounds like the results you are going to get in your final mix depend a lot on the quality of the sounds you are using to play the parts. I am bit spoilt in that I have a new Kurzweil synth with probably the best vibes patch on the planet and after that everything sounds pretty ordinary. I have played with them live too and recorded them too on a few ocassions so I know how good that can sound. It is all in the attack part of the sound.
 
The trombone lowering in volume sounds more like a technical problem rather than the piece itself. That is how I heard it anyway.
 
The drums are still sounding low to me too and it would be good to try and bring them out a little out front too if possible. Unless you are not overly happy with the programming and I can understand you holding them back if you are not. A relaxed jazz 3/4 groove is not easy to program by any means.
 
If you send me the midi file I can record a live drum part and perhaps put the Kurzweil on the vibe track for you too and send all the audio back. It has got a killer double bass patch too.