Feedback on my mix, song Blue 2021

[CarlParadise]

I am trying to wrap up a mix on a song, it's on my artist page

https://www.taxi.com/members/carlparadise

and the title is Blue 2021

I welcome feedback on the mix

In particular, there is some phasing like effect on the lead vocal, though it's more likely a bad mic issue, as playing with phase doesn't fix it.

The remaining breathiness and croak in the LV I would like to retain, that's not what I am referring to.

I have iZotope Producer pack here, and have tried various combinations of things to get through the last mile. Rather than listing what's not working, if anyone can think of another plugin or EQ suggestion they have had success with, that would be great!

Also, if people have suggestions on tags for this that I don't have there, I would appreciate that since I'm still kinda new here and don't know the lingo!

thanks!

[CarlParadise]

Listened again, the LV problem may be caused by choices in delay and reverb settings. Also there's a broken Easter egg on near the end.

Also a bit too croaky in a couple spots

[DouglasKnight]

Hey Carl! I really dig the lead guitar sound -- very tasty. Regarding the mix, the vocal and and lead guitar could come down so the backing tracks could be heard better. Also, the lead vocal sounds overly-processed to me, so rather than adding more plug-ins, you might try removing them for a more natural sound. Also, you could try taking off the harmony vocal to see if it's affecting the lead vocal. Nice bridge by the way! Doug

[myk247365]

I think the fullness of the Bass is affecting other choices in the mix. It really hit me right off the bat. This sounds like a very intimate song, so start with the vocal at a medium level and everything else turned all the way down. Remove any compression on the vocal so you get the original dynamic range. Then look through the raw waveform to see if there are any places that are much louder than average, if so, set the vocal track compressor to add just 1 or 2 db at the quietest places, the see how it handles the loud spots. Hopefully, it simply smooths out the level so those spots don't jump out. Fast attack and slow release may help. Once you have the vocal sounding consistent, bring in the guitar as that is the next prominent thing in the mix and give it a similar treatment with compression. Then bring up the Bass so it just supports the vocal and guitar. Then same with percussion. As you add these tracks, be sure that the vocal remains the dominant thing in the mix. Once you have the elements sitting nicely together, then look to add reverb, delay etc. just a pinch of each, either on each track or even less on the master track, just enough so it sounds like all parts are in the same space. Then on your master track, look at using some vintage type plugins to give it a feel of an older recording, I wouldn't do "vinyl pops, noises" , just something to blend things. I use the Waves J37 plugin for this on a lot of my mixes and I like the sound I get from it. Then a little compression on the master track. You should only have one or two (or a few, depends on taste) points where the master bus reaches 0db. Your current mix is at 0db for most of the mix and this means you don't have the dynamic range needed to create the intimacy the song is looking for.

hope this helps.

myk

[CarlParadise]

Thanks very much myk, I will try your suggestions!

[CarlParadise]

Thanks Doug!

Got lucky with some aspects of the recording, including the acoustic lead guitar