help with mixing......

[bigheadood]

Re: help with mixing......

Ok, Just a Garageband hack here, so I won't criticize the mix in any way.

I listened to the first track. Holy crap! that rocks!
To get an idea of what JMoose was talking about, I listened to
Little Sister, from Monster Magnet, and King of the Road, from Fu Manchu.

While I hear some similarities in the low-end intentionally muddy sounds, I think your guitar tones are far superior. Much more going on. More definition, more "nuance" in the guitar work. In my opinion, this work would be degraded by making it sound more like Fu Manchu.

Good luck, man.

Nick

 

[J Moose]

Re: help with mixing......

In my opinion, this work would be degraded by making it sound more like Fu Manchu.

Its not that I think Superchief should sound like Fu or anyone else... not the point. Not even close.

Superchief should sound like Superchief. Period. Otherwise what's the point?

No, that comment was more about making nods to the proper fashion of the genre... be it rock or jazz or prog metal or whatever.

When you put on a real record vs. a demo the real records will almost always "pop" out of the speakers... and its not a mastering "loudness" thing or even close to that. Level has NOTHING to do with it at all!!! Any monkey can make it loud in 30 seconds.

The difference is harmonic content.

Smoke & mirrors make the magic.

Years ago a great tip I got from George Massenburg, one that really changed my approach and thoughts about production was on balances.

There are two kinds of balance in a mix... internal balance and external.

Internal balance is how all the sounds relate to each other.

External balance is how all those sounds translate to the outside world.

Its entirely possible to have a great internal balance that's clear as mud in the outside world... but right now I'm hearing a hihat that's stepping all over the vocal... maybe that's the intent. I dunno.

 

[bigheadood]

Re: help with mixing......

Put it against something like QOTSA 'Little Sister' or my all time favorite "blow out 'yer speakers" record Fu's King of the Road... those are huge sounding records that explode out of speakers and IMO would the high water mark for something like Riccs band.

In my opinion, he has already exceeded this "high water mark", while maintaining a "nod" to the genre.

I'm all for smoke and mirrors, and have no experience to really criticize, so I'll leave the technical details to you guys.

I just don't want to hear a harsh, brick-walled guitar sound with zero dynamics, like Fu. I think ricc's playing deserves better.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: help with mixing......

I really like the song. Good luck with the mix.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: help with mixing......

The last mix sounds damn good! Rockin' tune.

 

[DankStar]

Re: help with mixing......

When you put on a real record vs. a demo the real records will almost always "pop" out of the speakers... and its not a mastering "loudness" thing or even close to that. Level has NOTHING to do with it at all!!! Any monkey can make it loud in 30 seconds.

I always get pissed when I listen to one of my tunes then listen to an Exodus album (post their debut). Their guitars are always so cutting and in your face; there seems to be so much depth, yet you can hear the other instruments too. I've never acheived it via a home setup (not that I shoot for their sound, but I do shoot for a jump out of the speakers in your face, 3D type clarity, which never seems to pan out).

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: help with mixing......

When you put on a real record vs. a demo the real records will almost always "pop" out of the speakers... and its not a mastering "loudness" thing or even close to that. Level has NOTHING to do with it at all!!! Any monkey can make it loud in 30 seconds.

The difference is harmonic content.

Smoke & mirrors make the magic.

Years ago a great tip I got from George Massenburg, one that really changed my approach and thoughts about production was on balances.

There are two kinds of balance in a mix... internal balance and external.

Internal balance is how all the sounds relate to each other.

External balance is how all those sounds translate to the outside world.

Its entirely possible to have a great internal balance that's clear as mud in the outside world... but right now I'm hearing a hihat that's stepping all over the vocal... maybe that's the intent. I dunno.

I don't think you can expect commerical quality out of most people working on projects themselves.

I have the ears, maybe enough quality gear, but no facilities, quality sources (good players/bands), and not enough time to get commercial quality...and I actually have a bit of experience.

Most folks who play with recording aren't even aware of the 3D aspect of compression and dynamics, they learn a little bit at a time.

So you can't critique a mix in Tips and Clips too harsh.

Hell that little clip I posted a few days back isn't too bad, but it would never pass for anything of quality...snare hits the mastering limiter waaaaay tooo hard, the kick is a little too clicky while missing a some body, I used the lowest amp on the totem pole in my house and it doesn't even fit the clip tonally and simply dropped a 57 on it while being too loud in the mix - all done by a guy who can't even play half of the instruments well enough to pass as mediocre, and not even attempting any kind of end product other than a sound check...

...but it sure as hell was fun.

People learn recording stuff one little peice at a time untill the whole picture is painted the way they want.