any ideas on this mix guys?

stakeoutstudios wrote on 1/21/2003, 12:13 PM
OK, this UK band have been paid by J records in the States to come back in with me to do some more tracks with me ;D

This is a kind of a roughout mix I've done in Vegas 3.

They're a rough and ready rock band called Stout, so the mix ain't exactly sugar and spice, but I'd like some of your ears and ideas in on this project if possible! It's been interesting for me - this is a very raw rock band!

Lemme know of any ideas, and do you think this will sell in the US market at the moment?

If you're interested, you can download the track from http://www.webpuppy.co.uk/joski/mp3/ipsofacto.mp3

Comments

bgc wrote on 1/21/2003, 12:39 PM
Very cool stuff, I really like it. Given todays tastes for stuff like this I think the mix is too clean/good. I'd distort the vocals more and reduce the bandwidth to make them sound cheaper (actually play them back through a guitar amp and record that). Distort the bass. Compress the f**k out of the drums and make them thick. I'd actually smash the overall mix with tons of compression to make the whole track DENSSSSE. Fix the drum fill at 45 seconds, it loses the beat and trips into the chorus for me. I could hear this on the radio in the states.
bgc
wazer wrote on 1/21/2003, 1:53 PM
Webpuppy!

I enjoyed to listen your track. (I'm wondering why in the World still a lot of peolpe say : "computermusic? oh, i'm not intrested... 8(

I have two things in my mind.

On the one hand i love the "reel-feel" (not grid quantized audio) I can imagine this like your concept. (and your band said : yee!)
Tell me about the recording equipments, plz. The recordings sounds FAAT to me :) !

On the other hand i agree with bcg - i prefer a bit "overcompressed" sound. I'm also working with a kinda rock band these days. They've seen me what i wanna do with their stuff, an said OK, let's walk on your way... :)
This means a LOT of editing/quantizing and using my favourite outboards as "over" as they can go...

w!

P.S.: The SONG is great TOO!
fishtank wrote on 1/21/2003, 10:28 PM
Good band. Good song. Good recording\mix overall.

If you are looking for constructive criticsm.......

Distorted and band-limited vocals would certainly fit in this piece, but this is all too common these days and I prefer it the way it is. I wouldn't call it too clean though I could stand the drums squashed up a bit more. The snare could use a little more *zing* IMHO - A bit of bottom mic would help (or a bit more if you already have it). The kick is slightly too constricted for my tastes - thus a little less damping in the drum when tracking is what I would go for. This type of music usually calls for a fairly tight kick sound, so it is a fine line. Some good compression on the drums may bring out the resonance some (an EL8X Distressor or two would do the trick).

Keep in mind I'm being fairly picky and was pleasantly surprised with the song. The majority of the *listen to the mp3 of my mix* posts are mediocre at best while this one is near the top as far as I am concerned. I would want the same type of feedback for my mixes.

Do you plan to have this mastered outside or do it yourself? I ask because the track is extremely hot. These days the trend seems to be towards limiting the hell out of the music so it is louder than everything else out there. Unfortunately, the music doesn't *breathe* and fatigues the ears when processed this heavily.

I am also curious as to what gear you used to track this.

Just my two cents!




PipelineAudio wrote on 1/21/2003, 10:50 PM
Kickass energy! Sounds good....no mix comment from me, if it needs to go on the radio, who knows...
Weevil wrote on 1/22/2003, 1:17 AM
Ya big show off it sounds really great. :-)

A couple of things come to mind, kinda similar to what a couple of the others have said.

As far as this sort of music goes I am from a Strokes, White Stripes, Vines, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club indie kinda area. If the band is also coming from that sort of direction then the things (and the drums in particular) are way too clean. Then again they did sound more like simple straight ahead rock band than any of the acts I mentioned. It’d be good to have some references to know where the band sees themselves. Either way, it’s purely a personal taste thing, not a technical thing at all.

The drums did seem to me to somehow be demanding a bit too much space in the opening verses. I don’t know in some way it didn’t feel like it quite balanced. To me the vocals wanted to sit clearly on top, but I couldn’t quite focus on them because they had to compete with the drums a little.

If it were me; at the start of the song I’d somehow thin or subdue the drums a touch and not pan everything so wide (not quite mono but not particularly stereo either). Then when I’d hit the chorus, I’d hit it with absolutely all guns blazing; big drums, big wide guitars, the kitchen sink.

Overall it sounds like a really excellent professional job. Out of curiosity; is this music a lot dirtier that what you usually do?

It’s hard to be really specific without knowing exactly what the band are after.
stakeoutstudios wrote on 1/22/2003, 5:21 AM
it's interesting you guys mention distorting the vocals - there is actually a distorted vocal track playing alongside the clean track! I'll adjust the balance so it sounds a bit dirtier...

When I recorded the vocals, I sent an aux send to another room with a guitar amp (peavey 5150), distorted the crap out of them and recorded that too.

hmmm, so taking all your ideas into account... to bring the vocals into focus and the drums out of focus at the beginning of the track, how about if I submixed the drums in the intro and distorted them, then let them come in full whack in the chorus?

The drums are already quite heavily compressed, but I guess I haven't let the compressors pump much, so I'll increase that effect!

I'll post a revised mix up soon :o)

cheers for all your input guys!

Jason
musicvid10 wrote on 1/22/2003, 12:08 PM
Love the music. Wouldn't change too much. The message from the newer circuit bands is "Clean is Back!"

I'm sure you know the kick drum is clipped. It'll be fatter by dropping the track level and working with compression and plugins.

I would drop the cymbals at ~5K a bit, but that is a personal preference. Low mid at 400-500hz might benefit from a teensy boost.

I'm a semi-retired 70's pro and I would go to hear this band!
Weevil wrote on 2/4/2003, 8:34 AM
Hey pup, someone made me sit-down and listen to some Nickelback today (not my usual listening fair). I instantly thought of your track.

I had a listen to yours again and the ‘cleanness’ of your mix made much more sense to me in that context.

But boy, the flamming snare drum in the intro really jumped out at me though. Sounded really jarring to me, I reckon the first verse would sound much, much clearer if it were just a single hit...

Anywho...enough of my nit-picking...it sounds tops...Probably been mastered and pressed already...

Cheers.
Sari wrote on 2/4/2003, 8:39 AM
Hey Pup;

Yes, yes, I can say anything I want about this track. But it will be subjective anyway. So ...

This is a KILLER TRACK. It is great. That's all I have to say.
VU-1 wrote on 2/5/2003, 11:57 AM
Sounds good to me.

Two things I would adjust:

1- I would like to hear either MORE guitar (bring gtr levels up to match drums) or
have the guitars more present (up front - in your face).

2- An interesting effect for the intro would be to pan the LdV full right so the
drums take up the middle (primarily kick/snr at intro), the gtr sits on the
left side and the LdV balances out the mix on the right. When the full band
comes in, re-pan LdV back to the middle. Thought I heard a "spoken" vocal line
in the middle of the tune - that could be panned hard right also.... Or, I guess
you could go way out and take the drums full right for the intro????.....(I've
heard that done b4 on a major label release as a lead-in to a gtr solo.)

Thought you did a great job!

Wouldn't mind a shot at the mastering.... ;)