Recording, recording...

[skibalz1]

Hey everyone, thanks for taking the time to interact here on the boards. I know that it helps some folks, and I hope that it will me also.
My main problem is the amount of returns I am getting with nothing more that RECORDING checked off. I am talking about basic critques, not full ones. Some of the reviewers have even made short comments like "great lyrics though" then checked nothing more that RECORDING leaving me with no idea of what they don't like.
Conversely I received a full critique for my song "Goin' Home" where both the ENGINEEERING and RECORDING were rated 9s. Al the cats were either 8s or 9s and the in depth critique explained that it was stylistically wrong for the listing, which I do agree with.
Anyway can someone with production and recording expertise give a listen to either or both of the songs "Tonite" or "Just Like I Thought it Would Be"
They were submitted for a movie score listing where they specifically wanted modern sounding versions of the bands Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Joy Division and New Order. I was a little worried about my vocals which are not what they used to be but they chose only RECORDING as a fault.
I do record at home on a teac neo deck, and always master, then listen on something low fi like the old TV. I'm not a producer and I'm starting to get a bit discouraged. I know that the quick answer is to work with a pro but I can't afford a studio for every song I sumbit.
Any thing you have to say is helpful, I'm open to any constructive criticism.
Thanks for letting me run on!

Steve

have a listen at:
www.taxi.com/steveski

[kclements]

Hi Steve -
Welcome to the forum.

Let me say first that I am still trying to figure out the whole recording/mixing thing as well. But here are some of my thoughts.

Overall, I think you have some really nice tracks.

1) I listend to both tracks and they both seem to have the vocal buried in the mix. I would bring the vx out front more. Maybe a bit less verb on the vx. I really have to listen hard to make out the lyrics and hear the vocals.

2) Seems pretty bass heavy and muddy. This is something I constantly struggle with. I check my mixes on every system I have - the car, home stereo, clock radio anything I can find. I would also think about doing some EQ (maybe some roll off on the lower end...) on things and make sure the instruments aren't stepping on each other frequency wise. Maybe try and break each tune down to its very basic skeleton and make it sound great. Then piece by piece add in more and make it all gel together.

I would suggest you import an audio track of an artist you know well and like that is in the same style as the track you are working on. Then listen to that track and compare yours - back and forth - try to emulate the commercial mix. I started doing this a while back and it has made a big difference in my mixes.

Maybe if you know a local engineer - pay them to come to your room for an hour or three and have them mix a tune in your space, with your gear - ask questions - see what they do and take lots of notes.

Keep at it. I know it is easy to get discouraged - but keep going. The only way to get better at mixing is to mix a lot and really get to know your room and monitors. Again, listen to a lot of artists in your space on your monitors and analyze what makes it sound like that.

hth

Cheers -
kc

[skibalz1]

kc,
Thanks for all of the suggestions. I can go back and hear where most all of it rings true. I think that I will also use the peer2peer section before I submit my next tune(s)
Good luck with everything

Steve
www.taxi.com/steveski