Surf/Garage Rock: Am I Close?

[Phen]

Greetings,
I've been working on this instrumental for the past 2 days https://soundcloud.com/violetfane/ground-rising-up and wonder if you would mind terribly letting me know if I am even close. I am using Audacity on my laptop. I would not have even attempted a home recording, but for the fact that the listing specifically calls for a "garage" low-fi sound. I've lived a life of lo-fi, So I thought I would give it a shot! Certainly welcome feedback on the mix, too.
Here is the listing:

NEW LISTING -- SURF/SKATE GARAGE ROCK INSTRUMENTALS are needed for several $2,000, Direct-to-Music Supervisor, NON-Exclusive placements in a series of Virtual Reality Video Games by a AAA Game Developer. Please submit fun, and slightly quirky Mid-to-Up-Tempo Instrumentals that could be found on a playlist with bands like (but not limited to) FIDLAR, Surf Curse, Tijuana Panthers, Mrs. Magician, Together Pangea, etc., etc., etc. Take a listen to the references to get an idea of what could work for this pitch:

“Got No Money” by FIDLAR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gxRs-b9hPc

“Freaks” by Surf Curse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL-D9CVj-Pc

“Summer Fun” by Tijuana Panthers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCOcOOkRCLg

“Phantoms” by Mrs. Magician:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxUsAia6sQE

“Looked In Too” by Together Pangea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZHKxT_NICs

Send them Instrumentals that have a “surfy,” “beachy” Garage Rock sound, with a rhythm section that’s a little bit loose so it sounds like a believable band playing real instruments. Anything that sounds too slick, stiff, or synthetic won’t work for what they need. Remember what your first band sounded like when you played “Wipeout” in your garage? That’s what this Supervisor needs! And make it FUN! It’s okay if your sound is Lo-Fi for this pitch, but don’t go as far as being poorly recorded.

Your submissions should be at least 2 minutes in length. Non-faded, buttoned endings are needed for this pitch. Do NOT copy or rip off the references in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for feel, texture, tone, and vibe. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine).

Thanks everyone!

Phen

[lesmac]

Hi Phen, you are getting there.
Just listening on my laptop headphones.
It needs a bit of reverb to make it all gel, probably master bus processing too and some attention to the drums.

Don't know how well you are getting around in Audacity but if you can create a global reverb track and sends from each audio track then adjust the amounts of each to taste.
If not then just a touch of reverb on the master bus would do.
Download the reference tracks and play them in your DAW. Listen to how the drums sound and how all the instruments sound and what kind of space they are in. Bounce back and forth between your track and the ref tracks making adjustments till you are happy that yours have a similar tone, texture and "space".
Think about "masking" when you mix. The kick drum usually occupies 55-60Hz frequency range. If it can't be heard try putting an eq on the bass to cut those frequencies. EQ one instrument while listening to another, the majority of your eq moves are usually cuts.

You might want to put compression and eq on the master bus to make things gel. If you do, gentle moves are usually best. Putting the compressor on before you do your mix and mixing into it is usually the best bet.

HTH.....hope I'm not telling you how to "suck eggs" too

[Phen]

Hi Phen, you are getting there.
Just listening on my laptop headphones.
It needs a bit of reverb to make it all gel, probably master bus processing too and some attention to the drums.

Don't know how well you are getting around in Audacity but if you can create a global reverb track and sends from each audio track then adjust the amounts of each to taste.
If not then just a touch of reverb on the master bus would do.
Download the reference tracks and play them in your DAW. Listen to how the drums sound and how all the instruments sound and what kind of space they are in. Bounce back and forth between your track and the ref tracks making adjustments till you are happy that yours have a similar tone, texture and "space".
Think about "masking" when you mix. The kick drum usually occupies 55-60Hz frequency range. If it can't be heard try putting an eq on the bass to cut those frequencies. EQ one instrument while listening to another, the majority of your eq moves are usually cuts.

You might want to put compression and eq on the master bus to make things gel. If you do, gentle moves are usually best. Putting the compressor on before you do your mix and mixing into it is usually the best bet.

HTH.....hope I'm not telling you how to "suck eggs" too

Les,
Wow!
Thanks a million for the tips. I am so new to this game baby steps might as well be a marathon, so please bear with my questions.
First off, the "drums" are actually a sample track from my inexpensive Yamaha keyboard. They were my biggest concern going in, because I'd really like to have some drum fills. I don't own a kit. I have a very rudimentary studio. All the other instruments are the real deal. I know this is a kindergarten question, but how can I determine the Hz frequency of the kick in order to raise it? I really like the idea of reverb on the whole mix.
I also ran the compression (default setting) before mixing and rendering. Do you suggest I run it again after EQing the master?
Again, very helpful suggestion about downloading examples into my DAW. Thanks again,
Phen

[lesmac]

G'day Phen,

First off, the "drums" are actually a sample track from my inexpensive Yamaha keyboard. They were my biggest concern going in, because I'd really like to have some drum fills. I don't own a kit. I have a very rudimentary studio. All the other instruments are the real deal. I know this is a kindergarten question, but how can I determine the Hz frequency of the kick in order to raise it? I really like the idea of reverb on the whole mix.

A couple of links for ya!

http://blog.sonicbids.com/the-ultimate- ... instrument

http://www.bluecataudio.com/Products/Bu ... ewarePack/

Blue Cat's frequency analyst can be handy.

Be careful with reverb on the whole mix. Using sends is the best way. If you were to slap a reverb on the master it should be so minimal that you can really only notice a change if you take it out.

Listening in the studio I can hear quite a bit of bass from the bass instrument. See if you can get a good balance between the kick and the bass. Maybe carve enough out of the bass so the kick pokes through. Usually you decide which is the leader in the low frequency department and one plays a supporting role to the other. That seems to be the safest bet anyway, it can get a bit murky down there.

I also ran the compression (default setting) before mixing and rendering. Do you suggest I run it again after EQing the master?

It sounds like you mixed into the compressor so just leave it be and pop an eq in a slot after it. Just use some gentle eq moves like you are eq-ing your car or home stereo. You might not need the eq on the master. It's just something to try and see if it glues the mix together a bit.

You can use multiple compressors and eq on the master bus. The pros do and the rule of thumb is let each processor do just a little bit, don't push one too hard, multiple compressors especially.

Good luck with it. It's a good effort. Do some more tweaking then it's fingers crossed for a forward.

[SladeKennedy]

Hey Phen,

I'm really digging this, it's got the vibe just need better mixing like Les said. I'm not a big fan of reverb on a whole mix, mainly because I struggle with it not because it's a bad idea.

I would love to take a shot at mixing it for you if you're open to that. Even willing to send notes on my mixing to give you an idea of the moves and chains I use to mix. If you're open to that let me know and we can swap emails. I do not charge because I like the art of mixing. Regardless, best of luck and great start.

Slade Kennedy

[kova]

I know this is a kindergarten question, but how can I determine the Hz frequency of the kick in order to raise it?
Phen

Just as a way of encouragement, we were all in kindergarten at some point

One thing that I do when EQing new instruments is a frequency sweep. Basically, select a band from your EQ for an instrument, make it relatively narrow, crank the volume up for that band, and then move it around to different frequencies while your song plays. What you're looking for are frequencies that sound either unpleasant (boxy, muddy, harsh, etc) or pleasant. You want to cut out the unpleasant frequencies and maybe boost the pleasant ones.

This gets a bit tricky with kick and bass because they both occupy the lower frequencies. The sonicbids link from lesmac is an awesome starting point. When you're looking at a kick sound, you're looking at both the "boom" and the "thump." As counterintuitive as this seems, when I EQ a kick drum, I tend to slice out a portion of the "boom" (so, a part of the low end) so that the "thump" (low mids) stand out more, which allows the kick to cut through the mix.

First off, the "drums" are actually a sample track from my inexpensive Yamaha keyboard. They were my biggest concern going in, because I'd really like to have some drum fills. I don't own a kit. I have a very rudimentary studio.

You could also look into getting virtual drums. For non drummers, there are stuff like EZ Drummer and their ilk that has dozens and dozens of preprogrammed grooves and fills (I can't vouch for any of those products, though, b/c I've never used them). If you know how the rudiments of playing drums, then you can look into a more advanced suite like BFD, Superior Drummer, Studio Drummer, etc. that'll allow you to use MIDI to draw in your own drum lines. It takes a bit of practice to make them sound human but it is a viable alternative to a full kit that might end up disturbing the neighbors.

[burpo]

Lots of stuff has already been covered here, so...

The beat feels more cajun than surf to me.

Good stuff, so far. Keep a-goin'!

-b

[Phen]

I am overwhelmed by the help you guys have offered. I am pretty fastidious so I know I'll get there if I am diligent! I thank you most sincerely.
Phen

[Phen]

Hey Phen,

I'm really digging this, it's got the vibe just need better mixing like Les said. I'm not a big fan of reverb on a whole mix, mainly because I struggle with it not because it's a bad idea.

I would love to take a shot at mixing it for you if you're open to that. Even willing to send notes on my mixing to give you an idea of the moves and chains I use to mix. If you're open to that let me know and we can swap emails. I do not charge because I like the art of mixing. Regardless, best of luck and great start.

Slade Kennedy

Thanks, Slade. I sent you a PM.
Phen

[Phen]

I just wanted to check back and express my sincere gratitude to Slade Kennedy, who gave me an awesome mix. https://soundcloud.com/violetfane/plantface
Gave it to him yesterday and submitted to the listing 5 minutes ago! I have been only a short time here and I have the sense it is going to be a rel blessing sharing this experience with you all.
Thanks!
Phen