mix #1 "Trouble" - final mixes for new album

batsbrew
https://soundcloud.com/bats-brew/trouble-mix-1
 
i've got 10 songs almost finished for a new album release.
any suggestions on final tweaks, eq issues, translation issues, etc, are appreciated.
 
this is mix #1 of this song.
 
i'll only leave these up a few days each.
 
Issues:
i'm on the fence about using verb on this one, versus mixing it bone dry.
i gravitate towards the verb, because it smooths things out nicely.....
but i think a modern approach to this would be...... more modern.
LOL
ideas?

Sounds great man!! You could always have two versions for your album, extra track perhaps? 
What would be kind of interesting would be if you added a slight bit of reverb to to the slide and maybe a little bit of some type of tube echo or tape echo to the vocals. LOL, probably a crazy idea, I'm no pro, but what I am trying to say I guess is maybe selectively add some reverb where you feel it needs it, maybe keep the rough edge sound and polish the parts you want to stand out with it more. 
 
Probably crazy talk I guess by me, but I just thought I would throw that idea out there. Sounds great man!!!! All your music sounds great along with the vocals which are outstanding!!!
 
Enjoyed hearing this one, looking forward to hearing more. 
 
Bobby
 

batsbrew
there is already reverb on voices and guitars,
the question should be : should it stay?
 
there is long delay already printed with the slide guitar....
i thought it was too much already!
 

Oh, sorry, I honestly couldn't tell, but I guess that's the trait of someone who knows how to mix better than me. I'm just starting to take the time to learn a few things on mixing myself. Sorry, I was just trying to help.
Sounds great either way. Even though I'm no pro. on the mix stuff, I would say it sounds really great as is, so if I were doing it I'd keep the reverb you have, I'd probably add a little more to make it stand out, but that's just me.
 
I will say this, I'll be curious to hear what the others who know how to mix much better than me have to say on your question. I've just always been one to follow that old path "Add some reverb to it and it will sound better idea", but I get what your saying here. Wish I could help. 
 
Sounds great either way! Keep on keepin' on man!
 
Bobby
 

yes, i have some high end issues...
 
it's a complicated mix..
i've got 2 harmony 12 string guitar tracks, 3 danelectro 12 string parts, 2 taylor rhythms, 2 taylor single line tracks, 3 different slide tracks, 4 vocals, bass, percussion..
 
and probably added to much brightness somewhere, 
and it's adding up.
 
the vox sound a bit dull to me,
even tho i've high shelf lifted everything from about 3k up...

I have to agree with timidi. There is a rather gnarly sibilance that I'm hearing on the lead vocal. I certainly wouldn't add any high-shelf to it. It sounds plenty present as it is. I love the sound of the bass guitar! Seems perfectly balanced. The lead guitar sounds a bit loud to me over-all, especially around the 2:30 mark. Sounds great though. I like the delay on it. Something you might want to try, since you're on the fence about the reverb: Run the acoustics dry.. Completely dry. Leave the rest as is. Don't know if it'll work, but would be curious as to the result. Really like the tune!

Serious_Noize!
Oh, sorry, I honestly couldn't tell, but I guess that's the trait of someone who knows how to mix better than me. I'm just starting to take the time to learn a few things on mixing myself.

hey man, it's cool!
i'm just glad anyone is interested at all, so all opinions are valid to me.... it's a good 'backboard' for throwing ideas.
i've done the heavy lifting (the mix levels) so i need to dial in some of the aesthetics now....
so thanks!
 
 

timidi
Nice one Bat. Has an Eagles vibe to my ears.
As far as reverb goes, yea, everything is pretty dry these days. delay is a good compromise. I didn't notice any lack of or too much of any reverb.

I did notice some spiky sibilance here and there.

hey timidi,
i'm glad you called out the sibilence, i'm going to have to re-think the eq on the voices, and across the collection of multiple guitar tracks,
i think i need to fall back on that old adage "if everything is bright, then nothing is bright!"
LOL
i have some solid ideas about where the issues are, and how to fix them, so that's next!
 

DarinBad
I have to agree with timidi. There is a rather gnarly sibilance that I'm hearing on the lead vocal. I certainly wouldn't add any high-shelf to it. It sounds plenty present as it is. I love the sound of the bass guitar! Seems perfectly balanced. The lead guitar sounds a bit loud to me over-all, especially around the 2:30 mark. Sounds great though. I like the delay on it. Something you might want to try, since you're on the fence about the reverb: Run the acoustics dry.. Completely dry. Leave the rest as is. Don't know if it'll work, but would be curious as to the result. Really like the tune!

thanks for listening, darin, good observations on specific things,
just what i needed feedback on.
the acoustics are all routed to a sub bus, so it'd be easy to take the reverb back off of them.
my first pass, had them dry.
i added the verb because i thought it sounded 'too dry'.
LOL
it's like going down the rabbit hole.
 

Glyn Barnes
I was listening to something else and Soundcloud pulled this up next at random. My reaction was wow, whats that! I like it a lot. If anything the drums are a bit lost sitening to it on my cheap logitech speakers, but maybe its you intention to keep them low key.

hey glyn,
maybe you listened to the wrong song.
there are no drums in this tune.

Glyn Barnes

batsbrew

Glyn Barnes
I was listening to something else and Soundcloud pulled this up next at random. My reaction was wow, whats that! I like it a lot. If anything the drums are a bit lost sitening to it on my cheap logitech speakers, but maybe its you intention to keep them low key.

hey glyn,
maybe you listened to the wrong song.
there are no drums in this tune.

Odd and a bit embarrassing because I thought I could hear some very low in the mix. This time I cranked it right up and it was some of the muted guitar I was hearing and some other percussive sounds, particularly around 2:43. If I turn it back down I can see why I was mistaken on these speakers.
 
It sounds a lot better turned up! I will have to try it on my studio monitors later.

yes, that would be the more 'serious' critique i'm looking for!
heheh

thanks wookiee....
for listening and commenting,
i've gotta focus on exactly where that sibilence is, 
i think it's a buildup, and just a wrong choice on my lead vox setup...
 

you know, i think the clickiness MAY be the high end transients on the acoustics...
and your mention of that, makes me think that i've got high end boosted where i SHOULDN't...
 
like, maybe where ever the pick attack is, is too accentuated, and it only comes across that way at low listening...
which a lot of folks do..
 
so, i'm gonna play with that this weekend, try a de-ess on the vox, and maybe some selective compression on the guitars, on just the high mid bands...
that might just do it!!
thanks glyn

Really cool song! Other than the sibilance mentioned above here I think the mix sounds very good! Cool guitars and voice too! Great work :D

Wookiee
Now I have had a chance to listen to it on the monitors I am hearing the sibilant's on the vocals, something DT's obviously are just not up to revealing. I like the feel and groove of this IMPFO the ambience is just right it all sounds like it is being played and sung in the same space.
Nice stuff Bat.

thanks wook,
since i posted this, i've already found that sibilence, and took care of it with extreme prejudice.
;)
 

Frugaard
Really cool song! Other than the sibilance mentioned above here I think the mix sounds very good! Cool guitars and voice too! Great work :D

alright fruggaard, thanks for listening...
thanks for the props

timidi

batsbrew
yes, i have some high end issues...

What mic do you use on voc?

hey timidi,
i think this mic was a ADK Hamburg..... and probably run thru a ART DPS preamp, into a DBX compressor, and into soundcard.