Comments on mix, please

[ideascapes]

Writing from my hotel room in Las Vegas...I've been getting conflicting comments on the prominence of the guitar in this mix, so I humbly ask your opinions on the balance with the vocal. I suspect that it's the guitarists who want it loud...Thanks much.Vince======================================="At the Stroke of You"http://www.broadjam.com/transmit/index. ... ==========

[cjdenecia]

Dec 2, 2008, 3:29am, ideascapes wrote:Writing from my hotel room in Las Vegas...I've been getting conflicting comments on the prominence of the guitar in this mix, so I humbly ask your opinions on the balance with the vocal. I suspect that it's the guitarists who want it loud...Thanks much.Vince======================================="At the Stroke of You"http://www.broadjam.com/transmit/index. ... ====having listened to the whole thing and not just the guitar, I'm gonna talk about it all ...vox are a bit too hot - or maybe the piano needs upping ....kit is way too buried at times, especially in the chorus ... envelope it up .... verse level isn't bad tho ... kick isn't bad ... snare needs a bit more overal presence ... brush work seems a bit digital but is otherwise a great choice.bass .... don't mind me, I tend to love a feel and hear bass but based on that, compress that bad boy and bring it way up. lead guitar through all it's licks and fills needs to fall back about 2db's - which won't really be noticed but will let other voices pop through ... plus, I know it's not popular these days but I'd personally do a bit more smooth panning on that lead axe .... come on, it's a retro R&B pop thing anyway ... love the organ addition ... wouldn't change a thing on it ... it comes and goes sonically very naturally.lead vocal is very well produced and the backing vox mix is pretty sweet = feels nicely layered ... bottom line on the mix (besides just wet the whole thing up just one smidgeon more) is drums up, lead guitar down, bass up, spit polish and shine. btw - I really like this. it has a little blue eyed soul vibe and a decent chorus rise .... not real hip on the lyric for that but you didn't ask so I won't say it.so where in vegas are ya staying ... I was working there a few months back and stayed at circus circus .... next door you could buy 16 oz blue moon belgian white lager for 1.25 ....

[ideascapes]

Thanks for the pointed comments, cj. It's amazing what a fresh set of ears can bring to a mix. I'll try all your suggestions when I get back home.In Vegas, I slept at the studio...now in San Francisco and actually have a bed.Vince

[zoom]

Good song Vince!I really like this piece too... I think CJ's got some good tips above... and I'll agree with them. Kit up (with a little more snap on the snare), bass up, piano up a smidge. Also, I hear a couple of cymbals that sound like they were actually cut off (in post), not just hand muted -- it's kind of jarring. Not sure what you want to do with that, but just thought I'd tell you what I was hearing.Also, for the bass you might want to consider a little more EQ, especially under 100Hz... of course it's all personal preference here, but to me it sounds like the bass could use a little more volume, and a little more meat.Of course, these are all pretty minor "beauty tips" for this song, as everything is sounding really really good to my ears. Cheers!

[heckxx]

As far as balance in the mix is concerned, I really don't hear anything majorly flawed. Maybe the drums could be a little more or present, and the vocals are definitely loud enough, almost edging on too loud for my preference. Guitar doesn't strike me as too present, it never steps over the vocals in the song. It definitely is an important element in the song, and its definitely hear-able without overwhelming the vocals.Overall, a very good song, although I did notice it sounded a bit funny/unexpected/un-flowing as soon as the chorus/drums came in. Just my 2 cents -Jeff

[geo]

Hi Vince.....I'm on laptop speakers but the mix sounds good to me.... guitar sounds a little hot but if you make some of cj's and Zoom's suggested changes that should be OK.....I like the song a lot.... piano is nice.... always wished I had the patience to learn to play....The chorus does sound a little off when it comes in.... maybe drop out the drum fill.... let the hook stand alone and then come in on "you" with a crash....Good stuff Man!!!Peace, Geo

[gburgess]

Over all very nice. I agree with CJ regarding the lead guitar"lead guitar through all it's licks and fills needs to fall back about 2db's"GB

[billg]

Vince, great song, really classy sounding. Love the B3 sounds. Piano could come up, snare need a bit more presence . . . I'm still listening, man you've got some bad-ass pipes!!!!

[kitz]

Vince,Really Nice!! at 1:20 and again at 2:23 there's a cymbal on the right that seems to get cut off. Bring piano up in the appropriate spots and settle the drums up with a little more bite. Guitar is a bit loud in the beginning but sounds ok during the vamp at the end. Very Nice Vocals and the arrangement works well! You're so close!! Small changes can make a big difference at this point!Kitz