Hello everyone.
We're submitting this song to a film and I want it to be what it should, and I could use some creative and mixing tips.
 
There are two elements I'm not very experienced in, and that's the mixing of the strings I have, and also the female BACKGROUND vocals, that are harmonizing.
 
I would like for the instruments to just sound good and like they were recorded in a big room, but as you can hear right now, I've just slapped some verb and it sounds like it.  I want to do better than that.
 
Next are the female background choral vocals.  I want them to be PART of the mix, kind of like another instrument, and seeming like "they come from heaven"  LOL.  Know what I mean?
 
I don't want them to be here on earth, and I don't want them too far away either.  I just want them in the back, yet audible and part of the overall feel of the song.
 
I did a late mix last night before bed and this is what I have.  I know it needs work and that's why I'm here.
 
Any help you can give will be MUCH appreciated!!!  I would like to get this done in the next day or so.
 
Best!!
 
PS:  the link:
 
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=9329068

Tall order there Scott!

What reverb are you using, and how? On first listen it sounds like everything is treated with the same reverb equally, making the mix kind of 2-dimensional and mushy. Have you tried different room sizes on a sequence of busses, getting bigger going outwards? So, lead vocal in a small sized room, guitars slightly bigger room perhaps, strings in a concert hall, backing vocals in a cathedral. I'm exaggerating a little, but something like that might help to get a more 3-D feel.

Also with the backing vocals, I think you need more doubling, tripling of the parts to get that 'celestial' sound.

James

James.  Good idea about switching up the verbs.  I'll give it a shot this afternoon.  I did quite a bit of work yesterday too, getting better drum sounds, cleaning up vocals - cleaning house in general.  I have a better mix now, but still need those finishing touches. 

I'm using Perfect Space on the background vocals, and WAVES Rverb as well on some of the vocals, so I am changing it up a tad bit.  Actually, this is different than the earlier mix, because I WAS using all the same - Perfect Space. 

I've messed around with the end part too with the guitar, I cloned one of the tracks and hit it with my Antares Harmonizer and did a 2 part.  Sounded pretty good!!  Mixed about 6 of the tracks, panned all over the sound field and set it down in the mix just a bit, kinda where the BG vocals are.

Having fun!!!  I'll post an updated sample when I get another.  Thanks for your help!!  Any comments between now and then will be welcomed, of course!!


As far as HOW, I am bussing the Perfect Space and sending all the female background vocals to it.  That's pretty much it.  On the lead vocal, I'm doing it on the FX bin of the track itself.

On first listen....

tune the vocals they are off key in a few places.(approx 1:07) .....  Be careful of having the instruments compete with the vocals... the strings? and another BGV (cellos?) were running interference on the vox there at the beginning of the vox part.

A little further along, there was a kind of lead behind the vox. clashing with the vox.

Lyrics in a movie track are  either dead on to the mood and feeling of the scene or a total distraction..... you really have to be careful with lyrical content.

It sounds good.... but take the time to get it right if you're submitting to a movie studio. The  bar is pretty high and competition is rough.

Good luck.

New version up!
Thanks Guitar Hacker!

I don't know if your top post is the updated version but if it is, I think the vocal seems way back, almost loud enough but back in the mix.  I don't know how to explain those things I hear.  I could hear this song as a movie tune.  It's a good song!

Warren,
I believe you're hearing the right one; the top post should go to it.  I clicked UPDATE and replace on SOUNDCLICK so it should have happened.

Noted on the vocal.  I'll take a listen in the car.  I think I'm getting close!!

Thank you for the listen, it's much appreciated!!

Scott:

The whole idea/song is cool, but the mix is a complete mess, my friend:

• sounds like the entire thing was highpasses around 200hz, and a big dip at 800hz; there is so little bottom to any thing other than the drums. Get a multiband on it and harness the lows, don't reduce them to nothing
• the strings sound way too synthy, and thin as all heck; find some better patches and work on any articulation they might have with them. ThAs mentioned, the orchestration is working against itself
• her vocal sounds clipped and distorted, and very boxy sound, can barely hear the reverb, which is a shame, since she can really sing
• the hihat is too HERE when it should be back here

Best of luck, pal

Cool ideal and song but I too have to agree with James these types of songs really need good mixing .

Keep at it you have something good here , hope I didn't affend your work on this I like where its going .

Good luck with it !

That's why I'm here!
Thanks to all.