Hi: - I am re-posting to try for some feedback on "Come and Be With Me" - which is a remix of the original version on SoundClick. It should be the first one on the play list. Appreciate it. 

Thanks

Well.. I like the song (and the next one) but.. this is the strangest mix I have ever heard. I confess, I do not know what is happening with the vocals at times. Is it a noise gate on the vox or guitar? Or is it pumping? in a bad way. I am not sure without knowing what you have in your chain and how it is set up. But the vox seem to go very wide with no center, and then very narrow with strange harmonic interplay with the guitar. I think you have EQed the vox and guitar too close to the same space.

OK, on your third song now, and now I think I understand. You need to low cut (high pass) the vox. bring it up to about 75hz to 85hz. You need to use a pop filter on your mike; you are getting plosions. And you need to cut those very high pitched tones that come in now and again. I am not sure what they are... feedback?

It's definitely somewhat of a quirky sound, in terms of what's going on with the panning etc, but I have to say I really enjoyed it! The vocal is close and intimate and the guitars are pleasant. One thing though...is the bass panned a little to the left? 

I appreciate you guys taking the time to give a listen....I do tend to listen to my own stuff too many times without other ears on it ---I get too OCD and then end up over processing things at times. I think some of the weird stuff is my vocals being sent at times (chorus mostly) through the VX64 Vocal Strip - with probably too much Compander dialed in and doubling (gotta watch the spread amount compared to the dry portions of the track).  The high ringing sound in parts I am sure is a separate track of some acoustic guitar licks and harmonics being played high up (capo'd). Gotta blend that in better.....  Thanks for the observation of vocals needing more hi-pass...does our work ever end !   Keeps it fun. Thanks again.  

I really like the balance between vocals and guitar. I think you have got that right. As far as the vocal sound is concerned here is a technique I use which might suit this type of vocal mix.

On the vocal track itself I don't use any vocal compression. Maybe a little EQ. I send the vocals to a vocal buss first and put the compressor there. That compressor does not have to be working that hard either. 2:1 ratio, 5 to 10 ms attack threshold set for about 2 or 3 dB gain reduction. 

Create the vocal reverb ambience. A nice convolution reverb with a smallish club or intimate room setting dialled up. You send to that from the vocal track however. Not the vocal buss. The vocal buss sound is compressed but the track is not so the signal going into the vocal reverb is uncompressed. You tend to hear it more on the louder parts of the vocal performance. It sounds much better. Obviously you are returning this vocal ambience low so it is in that you cannot hear it while here but if you turned it off it is like what has changed mode?

The vocal should be just beautiful and dryish up front and clear with a hint of ambience behind. The vocal performance is so nice and subtle that takes care of everything else, as it should be. Adding in any doubling should be occasional and subtle to just highlight important phrases perhaps.

I like to ride the vocal track fader now on mixdown for fine tuning. There is nothing like it really. And this level is feeding into the compressor on the vocal buss now so you are working the vocal signal into that compressor manually now. Vocal compression on a track is almost useless because it is pre fader and any fader movements are not seen by the compressor. It is just working the same all the time. Sends to effects are usually after any compression so you are always sending a compressed signal to your reverbs. (You do need to do this in other circumstances though)

I am talking the more intimate vocal and guitar thing here much more, not so for the other tracks which feature more instruments that you have done. I liked all the other tracks too very interesting and enjoyable to listen to.

Thanks --- I like it when listeners send back their techniques! It really helps to build up the "tool box" to try on remixes and then new stuff.  Appreciate the positives you mentioned - it helps to keep it worth all the effort. .... 

Based on comments and observations I did some tweaks of Come and Be With Me (Sound Click). Did this sort of quick and dirty but think it has improved....if you get a chance please let me know. 

Thanx 

I like this song, Charles.  It's simple but clean, and it gets its message across.  I have no problem with the mix.  I will return later and listen to some of your other songs.  Good job.

Thanks Lynn. I will give your songs a listen when I get home ---- my work computer will not allow me access to SoundClick or similar sites.....darn