Mix feedback

[chriswattsuk]

Hi guys, this is my first post. I've been a member of Taxi since January, I guess I feel I might have joined a little too soon, I feel (well, know) my production isn't sharp enough and have a massive amount to learn. This is the 7th or 8th song I've produced at home and although I think there has been improvement, it isn't as fast as I'd like by any stretch of the imagination..!

I'd love to get your thoughts on my latest effort - and any immediate feedback that you guys might have on any aspect of the mix or song. No holds barred!

Hope to pop my head up in here a lot more regularly.

https://soundcloud.com/chris_watts_uk/brand-new

[mojobone]

This is very nicely done, and everything seems well-represented here, except the bass and maybe a smidge of kick foot/beater click; just kissing a vintage bus compressor would probably get you in the ball park, but if you think it's compressed enough, it probably is. Maybe just a little tilt EQ in favor of the low end would put you right. The system I listened on has 12" woofers, so if it seems light in the bass, it certainly is. This kinda thing should have a firm, wide bottom; I can't imagine anyone on earbuds is hearing bass at all. Very cool tune!

[andygabrys]

well done! especially for the 7th or 8th tune you have done.

Like Mojo, I hear some things you could do differently.

I am assuming its Virtual drums. If so its a little light on the kick in general, although I think its got enough nail in the paddle (the click sound) - so if you brought up the kick slightly in the VI drums mixer it would feel more balanced against the snare.

The bass is a little light over here as well (8" monitors), and it ebbs and flows a bit in the track. I didn't get a sense that it was pinned in place by having enough compassion. it seems balanced reasonably against the kick, but the kick is a little light, so bring up the bass slightly when you bring up the kick.

The guitars are fine - you could go for a slightly more "produced" edge on this by sticking them in place with more compression.

The vocals for the most part sound reasonably well leveled as well. Although for this style, several more db's of compression can't usually hurt. Chain a second compressor instead of hammering whatever is on there already.

For my ears, the song has got some different tones spread across the band, and I would be looking to homogenize them a little.

The kick has click but not much bottom. a couple db at 65 hz could help with a semi-sharp Q
The bass feels warm and could use some more definition. Some 700 hz or some parallel overdrive or distortion (I prefer the parallel overdrive to eq for "hearing" it better)
the guitars feel bright and dry - and more in my face than the vocals.
Vocals sound pretty well leveled, although missing some of the "excitement" and they also feel really dry.

If you are wanting a fairly "dry" mix, there is lots you can do using short delays and short reverbs set at almost subliminal levels to give parts like keys, guitars, and vocals dimension and space without sounding like Lana Del Rey's latest efforts, and when you hear the production it will present with a little more polish and a higher overall production value.

that leads into what Mojo was saying as well:

This tune seemed fairly "quiet" in apparent volume (to me ear vs. other tunes). If it hasn't been "mastered" consider adding some gentle buss compression, re-eqing things that stick out after the master compression, and some limiting to bring it up to reasonable commercial standards.

Hope that perspective helps!

[chriswattsuk]

Thanks so much for such detailed replies. This has been massively helpful in targeting a few areas for revision in the mix. I have made amendments in the areas you suggested and have bounced a mix for listening in the car later. If it passes scrutiny I will upload later!