How can I improve this?

[robynmackenzie]

Hello! Newbie here. I got a return on this for a modern, uplifting indie-folk listing. One of the boxes checked was "recording/mix needs improvement." I was hoping I could get a few pairs of ears on it so I know exactly what to fix. Thanks! https://soundcloud.com/robynmackenziemu ... the-people

[cosmicdolphin]

The kick is dull and lacks clarity, the synth bass isn't really in keeping with Indie Folk but for me the worst thing is the guitar.

It sounds like it's been chopped up and pitched shifted from a sample or something ?

Also the drums sound like they've been shifted too far from their original tempo and the whole mix is a bit of a murky muddle.

I don't know what the reference tracks were but with other Indie Folk I've heard all the instruments sound real and authentic, whereas yours just comes across like a bunch samples that have been badly altered to try and shoehorn them into the track.

Mark

[AlanHall]

Robyn,
I've lost many a good take because I was too lazy to mic the acoustic guitar properly, or use headphones and got tremendous bleed-through. It sounds like the guitar was processed too heavily (a smeary, lo-fi sound - and not in a good way) to try to fix something. At least that's what my recordings [used to] sound like. Another thought: you wouldn't be bouncing tracks on tape, would you?

[robynmackenzie]

Thanks for all the feedback! The bass is indeed a loop, but no other samples were used, and it wasn't bounced to tape. I'm still not quite sure how to fix the guitar. Is it an EQ issue? Like I said, I'm very new at this. Should I lower the compression as well?