Experiments in analog mixing, Part II: more prog rock stuff

[TwilightOdyssey]

Moved onto the next section of the prog release. Tried a different approach with the drums and bass guitar (thanks for the feedback on the last mix!). Still no vox yet, so this part may even be more trippy than the last one ... and it has a VERY long guitar solo (you have been warned!).

Enjoy! Any and all feedback welcome!



Same setup as the last mix; Focusrite 18i20 > Mackie 1604 > back into the Focusrite. Some plugins used on the output buses, some outboard effects (Space Echo, Lexicon reverb, outboard compression on the drums run in parallel).

Lot of guitar tones going on within this section, and it has some of my favourite individual moments from the entire suite.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Experiments in analog mixing, Part II: more prog rock stuff

Updated so file can now be downloaded at full resolution.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Experiments in analog mixing, Part II: more prog rock stuff

GV, sorry (not really), but you have been on my ignore list for some time, as I have found your replies (especially to me) to be overwhelmingly negative and full of general ass-hattery. I am sure the above is no exception and I thank you (not really) for putting the inevitable negative spin on my thread. Have a nice life.

 

[Rodney Gene]

Re: Experiments in analog mixing, Part II: more prog rock stuff

Moved onto the next section of the prog release. Tried a different approach with the drums and bass guitar (thanks for the feedback on the last mix!). Still no vox yet, so this part may even be more trippy than the last one ... and it has a VERY long guitar solo (you have been warned!).

Enjoy! Any and all feedback welcome!

Hey TO, this is really excellent! I like the refinements to the mix, better gels with and supports the track, nice job. This type of tune and approach takes a big mind to manage LOL. I have no idea how you can write out a 7 minute guitar solo! It would wear me out~ I enjoyed all of the tones through-out. Lots of little subtleties going on. Look forward to the record!(OR CD, or Download, or whatever technology will be available when its done)~

If you're trying to do your mix like the prog recordings of the 70's , you need to drop the drums and bass back in level.
The contemporary mix style of having the drums out front like a live mix kills this sort of music. It masks the dynamics of the guitars and keyboards and kills the overall dynamics of the instruments working together. It sux as a way to do a studio mix.

You've got a good sound quality on your instruments and generally it sounds good.

Many of the drum 'mixes' from the 70's prog rock era are both regrettable and poor quality production examples. It was an era in experimentation with dead kick, snare and toms, blanketed rooms and overly loud guitar mixes eating up too much sonic drum space. I have heard Neil mention that he wishes Moving Pictures was the first RUSH album released as it was the first record where the bands 'vision' was really realized in terms of sound quality, writing and production. As a fan, I love 2112, A Farewell To Kings and Caress Of Steel most but the drum production still leaves alot to be desired. The ability to get (and utilize) clear drums (the right tones) in a rock context is a huge and wonderfully musical advantage. Drum production choices today are just awesome.

I understand your point though 'influences' are just that. They are not us. They are inspiration and seed planters, but they are not our own road maps to follow. We cross-pollinate with our influences and find our own unique expression that is relevant to us and the times we live in or our own unique vision. I can think of very few musicians from the 70s who begrudge the advantages of today's production clarity.

Cheers and respect, RG

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Experiments in analog mixing, Part II: more prog rock stuff

GV, sorry (not really), but you have been on my ignore list for some time, as I have found your replies (especially to me) to be overwhelmingly negative and full of general ass-hattery. I am sure the above is no exception and I thank you (not really) for putting the inevitable negative spin on my thread. Have a nice life.

Probably if that' the way you pecieve my posts.
Thanks for letting me know. I won't waste my time again.

 

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Experiments in analog mixing, Part II: more prog rock stuff

;3527004
Many of the drum 'mixes' from the 70's prog rock era are both regrettable and poor quality production examples. It was an era in experimentation with dead kick, snare and toms, blanketed rooms and overly loud guitar mixes eating up too much sonic drum space. I have heard Neil mention that he wishes Moving Pictures was the first RUSH album released as it was the first record where the bands 'vision' was really realized in terms of sound quality, writing and production. As a fan, I love 2112, A Farewell To Kings and Caress Of Steel most but the drum production still leaves alot to be desired. The ability to get (and utilize) clear drums (the right tones) in a rock context is a huge and wonderfully musical advantage. Drum production choices today are just awesome.

I understand your point though 'influences' are just that. They are not us. They are inspiration and seed planters, but they are not our own road maps to follow. We cross-pollinate with our influences and find our own unique expression that is relevant to us and the times we live in or our own unique vision. I can think of very few musicians from the 70s who begrudge the advantages of today's production clarity.

Cheers and respect, RG

I did pose it as a question and you've pretty much answered that. I was reffering to the idea that in analog your recorded dynamic range is much smaller and hence the range that they mixed to was narrower and less separated. but your not into replicating that , so be it.
Cheers.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Experiments in analog mixing, Part II: more prog rock stuff

Hey TO, this is really excellent! I like the refinements to the mix, better gels with and supports the track, nice job. This type of tune and approach takes a big mind to manage LOL. I have no idea how you can write out a 7 minute guitar solo! It would wear me out~ I enjoyed all of the tones through-out. Lots of little subtleties going on. Look forward to the record!(OR CD, or Download, or whatever technology will be available when its done)~

Wow, it takes special kind of patience to listen to the whole thing, especially without the vox and finished little doo-dads! Thanks so much for listening and the feedback!

The solo ... that took a long time lol. And hence why I went for more of a compositional approach, as 7 minutes of 'going for it' would have been boring in the extreme. I also wanted to have each set of phrases to have their own guitar, pedals, and amp chain so as to get some texture and movement going across the whole thing.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Experiments in analog mixing, Part II: more prog rock stuff

very cool! nice mix, I can hear all the instruments just fine. I feel a hint of pink floyd and other stuff too, cool mellow guitars!!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Experiments in analog mixing, Part II: more prog rock stuff

Thanks for listening! There is, perhaps, a pinch of Floyd there.

 

[Rodney Gene]

Re: Experiments in analog mixing, Part II: more prog rock stuff

Wow, it takes special kind of patience to listen to the whole thing, especially without the vox and finished little doo-dads! Thanks so much for listening and the feedback!

Actually I may not have made it with vocals! Few singers move me and honestly the ones who do are generally from 'Time Life' soft rock hits of the 70s...or AC/DC..or Rush. HA. In truth I cleaned my studio and tuned in like a musician can.

The solo ... that took a long time lol. And hence why I went for more of a compositional approach, as 7 minutes of 'going for it' would have been boring in the extreme. I also wanted to have each set of phrases to have their own guitar, pedals, and amp chain so as to get some texture and movement going across the whole thing.

Old school. The real fun is in the process anyway isn't it? Cheers!!