Feedback for a new Song

[FreddieK]

I would appriciate Feedback for this new Song I just finished.
Is the Song overall OK? And do you hear any fixes that I need to make?
Thanks for your help! Freddie K

https://soundcloud.com/user-984504112/y ... al_sharing

[BradGray]

Hey Freddie,

It's quite a nice song. I like the sound of your voice, and the tonal qualities it has. The song itself sounds pretty good.

That said, a few thoughts, but take with a grain of salt as country is not my forte, and without references it's tricky to compare the sound you're shooting for.

The Mix - The biggest thing about the mix that I could hear is the that as the other instruments and voices come in, they're all competing for the same frequency range, which leaves a lack of definition in the instruments, and a bit of a muddy mix, in the mid-range.

To improve this:

- Roll off the lows on the vox and guitars. Cleans up unnecessary low end in the mix that can create some mud.
- Listen to the piano against the guitars. The acoustics and the piano are playing in the same tonal registers, and many overlapping frequencies. You could try making one or the other a bit brighter, roll off more of the bottom end, and eq some of the competing frequencies so they sit better together. Don't worry about if they don't sound as good solo'd, its about how they sound together in the full mix. Alternatively, you could change the arrangement of those parts, and when one is playing either, back the other off in volume, or take it out, and alter.

My quick thoughts for a Friday Morn.
Brad

[FreddieK]

Hey Freddie,

It's quite a nice song. I like the sound of your voice, and the tonal qualities it has. The song itself sounds pretty good.

That said, a few thoughts, but take with a grain of salt as country is not my forte, and without references it's tricky to compare the sound you're shooting for.

The Mix - The biggest thing about the mix that I could hear is the that as the other instruments and voices come in, they're all competing for the same frequency range, which leaves a lack of definition in the instruments, and a bit of a muddy mix, in the mid-range.

To improve this:

- Roll off the lows on the vox and guitars. Cleans up unnecessary low end in the mix that can create some mud.
- Listen to the piano against the guitars. The acoustics and the piano are playing in the same tonal registers, and many overlapping frequencies. You could try making one or the other a bit brighter, roll off more of the bottom end, and eq some of the competing frequencies so they sit better together. Don't worry about if they don't sound as good solo'd, its about how they sound together in the full mix. Alternatively, you could change the arrangement of those parts, and when one is playing either, back the other off in volume, or take it out, and alter.

My quick thoughts for a Friday Morn.
Brad

Brad, Thanks for taking the time to help me get better! I appreciate ALL of your comments!
All of you Taxi folks are very generous with your time, experience and knowledge!
I will work on those suggestions that you mention!
I don't know about everyone else... but I get so deep into creating and producing a piece of music that it's hard to be a judge when you're at the Finnish line of mixing.
I appreciate the outside opinions! I'm always trying to learn!
If anyone else has comments or advice I would appreciate it !
Freddie K

[johndalenow]

Hi Freddie,

Do whatever possible to add more "presence" to the vocal. The mix seems to "hide" it. Sorry I can't be more specific, but I do not do much work with vocals. I just know what I hear to be lacking. Hope this is of value. Best!

[AlanHall]

I'm curious why you tagged it as "country" on your soundcloud page. Nothing I hear on K100 sounds like this. It does remind me of the music I grew up to in the 'way-back' years, and I heard it in that context. So I may not be comparing it to the correct references.

[Casey H]

Also want to add. When asking for feedback, there are 2 aspects-- the songwriting and the production. It's a good idea to mention which (or both) you are looking for. If the songwriting is part of it, it's a good idea to include lyrics. All the production and engineering in the world is meaningless if the song itself isn't there. Of course, if you are using it as part of learning production, nothing wrong there of course.

Best,
Casey

[cosmicdolphin]

I agreee with much of what's been said, I think a lot of it goes back to an arrangement issue. Many of the parts are all " speaking " in the same register as Brad alluded to.

Personally I don't think it's an issue you can 100% fix in the mix, the arrangement needs fixing first. Every just sounds too congested all in the same frequency range instead of being spread out.

Whilst I agree your voice has something going for it , I also hear a lot of issues. It sounds a bit like you have a lisp which could be a side effect of too much compression or de-essing, there's some pitchy-ness throughout as well which needs attending to espcially at the end of phrases it tends droop away. I am also fining it difficult to hear some of the lyrics which again I think could be due to come compression artifacts affecting the intelligebility , some arrangement issues and also just a mix thing of getting other instruments out the way of the vocal.

Style wise and songwriting wise, I have to agree with Telefunkin here it's got that retor 80s MOR-AOR type feel so as a piece it comes across as dated and not contemporary ( which might be a good or a bad thing depending on what you're aiming for so some context in terms of a Listing or Reference tracks may help ).

I think if you could fix everything it could be a decent throwback song, but it's not like anything you hear on TV now unless it's a period piece set in a previous era which I think it could work for.

Mark

[FreddieK]

Hi Freddie,

Do whatever possible to add more "presence" to the vocal. The mix seems to "hide" it. Sorry I can't be more specific, but I do not do much work with vocals. I just know what I hear to be lacking. Hope this is of value. Best!

Thanks, John Appreciate your input! Goin to try to get the vocal to sit more out front and louder in the Mix!

[FreddieK]

Also want to add. When asking for feedback, there are 2 aspects-- the songwriting and the production. It's a good idea to mention which (or both) you are looking for. If the songwriting is part of it, it's a good idea to include lyrics. All the production and engineering in the world is meaningless if the song itself isn't there. Of course, if you are using it as part of learning production, nothing wrong there of course.

Best,
Casey

Casey, Good advice taken! Trying to get better at songwriting and production... Will include lyrics as well next time... Agree with
"All the production and engineering in the world is meaningless if the song itself isn't there"
All This feedback is great! Brings awareness to what I need to know... As they say... (We don't what we don't know)
Really helps to get better! Thanks!
Freddie K

[FreddieK]

I agreee with much of what's been said, I think a lot of it goes back to an arrangement issue. Many of the parts are all " speaking " in the same register as Brad alluded to.

Personally I don't think it's an issue you can 100% fix in the mix, the arrangement needs fixing first. Every just sounds too congested all in the same frequency range instead of being spread out.

Whilst I agree your voice has something going for it , I also hear a lot of issues. It sounds a bit like you have a lisp which could be a side effect of too much compression or de-essing, there's some pitchy-ness throughout as well which needs attending to espcially at the end of phrases it tends droop away. I am also fining it difficult to hear some of the lyrics which again I think could be due to come compression artifacts affecting the intelligebility , some arrangement issues and also just a mix thing of getting other instruments out the way of the vocal.

Style wise and songwriting wise, I have to agree with Telefunkin here it's got that retor 80s MOR-AOR type feel so as a piece it comes across as dated and not contemporary ( which might be a good or a bad thing depending on what you're aiming for so some context in terms of a Listing or Reference tracks may help ).

I think if you could fix everything it could be a decent throwback song, but it's not like anything you hear on TV now unless it's a period piece set in a previous era which I think it could work for.

Mark

Mark, Thanks for your input! I'll use all of your thoughts and advice to help me improve!!!
Freddie K