General Music Chat

Ruinosus:
This song isn’t exactly brand new, I’m just really unhappy with the end mix. I made quite a few mistakes, like perhaps the cymbals should have been further apart, the vocals louder, is it too much compression squashing it all together? I messed around with it for weeks, couldn’t get it where I wanted and finally just settled for what I got.

Some of you folks come up with mixes that are extremely clear. So what I’m hoping is, that maybe some of you would give it a listen and some advice on what you would do to clear it up? I just want to make sure whatever I did wrong this time, I don’t do wrong again. We spent so much time on it and the end result was very muddy.

http://www.bandmix.com/lalong

The bass line is almost unable to be heard.

Capt.s got it, I was listening and trying to single it out, and couldn't. but other than that, good stuff...I've always loved the blending of synth and live instruments.. well done

Good call Capt, thanks Tronix.

I keep trying to isolate it to bring it up. I believe it’s some where between 150 and 250Hz the damn kick drum will be a problem no matter what I do. Every time I try to bring the bass up, the kick drum just dissolves into the bass. The samples we used had to much reverb built in. I know on our next one, the bass is going to be as bright as possible and I gated all the reverb off of the kick drum. I’m still messing with it right now. It may be better with a louder bass even if the kick falls off some.

I think that was a very good mix. Very interesting song ,great playing.
One thing you have to keep in mind is that working with really THICK tracks is or can be difficult. [You don't want to lose the intensity of the single track but when combined it does]

I think you also have to remember the next step is mastering. If I were to master this I would probably try it with this mix and one that has all effects knocked down 25%. The secret with mastering is that you can break down all the frequencies seperate them and give them their own space, boost and cut,and expand them to make them seem to have more space with less effects.
Check out OZONE 4 its a great inexpensive mastering program.

Overall I think you did a great job mixing,good work.

Thanks GlenJ.
Yeah we got really over ambitious on this, actually I should fess up and say I did. Lol all the flashing lights and cool effects, but yep, when it’s all mashed together not the best end result. The bass and kick drum are just like stuck together. I suck at mastering, the co-writer will be doing the end production on our next one. He has a lot more experience and a better ear. I’m downloading the Ozone demo right now.

Ok like wow! I just loaded in up in Sonar and immediately it’s a huge difference. I just clicked though all of three filters and each is better than it was before. I’m stuck with having just the one wave file from the end mix, all the other tracks are on another computer. Even so I think even with that, I should be able to clean it up a lot. Glen thanks man, this is an excellent program.

I liked it! Very creative!

The first transition where it goes back to the talking, needs something more (to me) but I like the transitions, and the one at the end (unexpected). Loved your keyboard solo! Melody was a little Floydish to me, which is cool. Don't know if anyone else thought that?

So you guys are a trio right now?

Very cool! Let me know if you post anything new!

Just remember mixing an mastering are two different things . DO NOT TRY TO DO THEM TOGETHER. Also try to have fresh ears and different people to give you perspective, it is easy to get too close and then you screw up everything by trying to make it "PERFECT" and thats when it starts to sound really bad
Have fun ,good luck , and Thanx for sharing , good music !

Thanks Craig, no just two of us, keys and guitars. Usually I come up with a starting melody and Mike gives a bit more life and structure. Originally he contacted me here, through this site. He does all the vocals, my singing sucks. The guy is pretty unbelievable, usually picks stuff up in like five minutes and plays it like he’s been practicing on it for months. Right now we are looking for a local drummer. We both feel if we get that, things will definitely pick up a notch. It’s one thing to come up with a melody on the keys, but to have a drummer there from the very beginning would be huge. I agree about the first break, something to smooth over that bump in the background would have been better. We bumped up the guitar before the synth kicked back in, thinking it would be enough, but it is still a bit rough.

Glen thanks. I swear at one time I had this sounding crystal clear and I have no idea where it went south. Using the Ozone it should clear it up some. I think it may even be worth giving the mix another try. I’m going to grab the original tracks tonight. After a while man, the enthusiasm fades a week, two weeks, a month, I just get tired of listening to it. Mike loves mixing, so we both agree on the next one he’ll be doing the end mastering. I’d rather just be playing keys instead.

Its awesome when you have someone talented to work with, that you also WORK WELL TOGETHER WITH! Hope you guys find a drummer, and improve the project that much more! Sounds good now! It will be even better with a good drummer! Good luck with the search! Look forward to hearing more!

I can definitely hear the Alan Parsons/Pink Floyd influences, but this is a bit more updated, too.

I wish I could hear the lyric better, but MP3's suck on so many levels.

Nice musicianship on everything I could hear. Yeah, the bass....

Interesting arrangement. You know I love the changes & the dynamics.

Nice bit o' work, lalong!