Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

[Jake]

http://www.facebook.com/sundownaudioband


Tell me what you think. This is by FAR our poppiest song, but we're releasing it first this way at the advice of a local radio DJ, who said this is our best "radio song", and to wait for later to release one of our heavier songs as a single.

Oh, and that sweep picking at the end is definitely the other guitarist, not me. With rare exception (the last chorus onward really), my guitars tend to be all on the right channel, the lead guitarist's on the left.

My gear for this song: Schecter PT (with JB) through my Bogner Shiva 20th Anniv.

Lead guitarist: Stock Gibson Les Paul studio through Peavey 6505+ rig.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

Nice to see someone else using RootMusic!

The intro reminds me very much of one of my favourite bands, Coheed & Cambria.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

It's a nice song, nice guitars and vocals - but I have to be honest the mix is not happening.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

^^Gotta agree. Song isn't bad, but the mix is most definitely detracting from it.

 

[Jake]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

I should have posted that this is definitely a rough mix and not final. But I do have to ask...you two are music producers - what type of input would you have on how to fix the song?

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

I should have posted that this is definitely a rough mix and not final. But I do have to ask...you two are music producers - what type of input would you have on how to fix the song?

I would suggest you get your mix where you think it's pretty good then post the song again and get some input.

 

[Jolly_Rancher]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

no comment on the mix ^^^
there are also a lot of dissonant notes between the lead guitarist and vocal melody.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

The intro guitar tone sounds too good

The drums are too dry - sounds like software

Bass needs more edge, and the guitars need to pop out on top of it, probably with a touch more high mids

Good work with the song

 

[everdrone]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

good song! I am not digging the rough mix for pro rough mix . I would want to hear some harmonies and polish on the vocals. vocals are pitchy, I am sure they will tune them.

cool band, it is really awesome that yall are opening for Saliva! I dug that band when they came out.

 

[Jake]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

There's a remixed version on the page now.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

Sounds better man. Is this the final mix?

 

[Hoss]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

good stuff Jake!

totally diggin it!

 

[Jake]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

Sounds better man. Is this the final mix?

We may tweak it a bit or two - our producer says we can make as many changes as we see fit. There are some parts I don't like about it, but unfortunately I am not a producer and I don't really know how to explain what I want out of it.


It sounds amazing when I hear it in the studio on his high quality system, but when I listen to it on my home PC or my car something sounds missing, and I can't put my finger on it. This will be my 3rd album to make (first for this band), but being a producer is simply not in my blood.

good stuff Jake!

totally diggin it!

Thanks Hoss! Glad you like it dude.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

We may tweak it a bit or two - our producer says we can make as many changes as we see fit. There are some parts I don't like about it, but unfortunately I am not a producer and I don't really know how to explain what I want out of it.


It sounds amazing when I hear it in the studio on his high quality system, but when I listen to it on my home PC or my car something sounds missing, and I can't put my finger on it. This will be my 3rd album to make (first for this band), but being a producer is simply not in my blood.

I don't know what bands you like and who you want to sound like mix wise but if you want some CC let me know, I'll give you my honest opinion and you're free to ignore me.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

A little food for thought. Listen to where these guitars are in this tune and also listen to the drums.

 

[Jake]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

I don't know what bands you like and who you want to sound like mix wise but if you want some CC let me know, I'll give you my honest opinion and you're free to ignore me.

You're a legitimate producer, so honestly I'll take any CC you're willing to give. Just don't completely rip my band apart, ok?


I'm in the fortunate position where one of the DJs for the biggest rock station in the city has been bugging us for a copy of one of our songs to put in his bloc of programming, and I want nothing short of the best I can give him, since he won't play it if it sounds like garbage (like that first mix, for example). Obviously, given budget considerations we can't go out and get the best producer, but given the price we're paying we got a good deal.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

Okay, this is about the mix, I said before i liked the song . The two big problems are the guitars and the drums. The guitars have too much bite and are too loud (especially the ascending figure), they also are eating up the middle of the mix all of these things are drowning out the vocals - you have to be able to hear the vocalist. The drums could use some parallel compression and some eq to clean them up, the snare is woolly sounding - you could always try a sample to replace it if the mixer knows how. Whoever is mixing needs to clear out the middle of the mix and widen the stereo field with panning and good use of delay, it can be done. Once these things have been addressed then any other issues should be clear but right now those are hurting you I think.

A good way to hear relative levels between instruments is turn the song way way down in the studio and listen critically to what is the loudest and what you can and can't hear well.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

I see the facebook status changed so that a "like" is needed to listen to the song now

I dont use FB

 

[Jake]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

I see the facebook status changed so that a "like" is needed to listen to the song now

I dont use FB

http://www.reverbnation.com/c./rpk/466913?access_code=90150b6c0558bd7223a4&auto_play=true


Better?

 

[Jake]

Re: Sundown Audio presents - "Hold Back The Sky"

Okay, this is about the mix, I said before i liked the song . The two big problems are the guitars and the drums. The guitars have too much bite and are too loud (especially the ascending figure), they also are eating up the middle of the mix all of these things are drowning out the vocals - you have to be able to hear the vocalist. The drums could use some parallel compression and some eq to clean them up, the snare is woolly sounding - you could always try a sample to replace it if the mixer knows how. Whoever is mixing needs to clear out the middle of the mix and widen the stereo field with panning and good use of delay, it can be done. Once these things have been addressed then any other issues should be clear but right now those are hurting you I think.

A good way to hear relative levels between instruments is turn the song way way down in the studio and listen critically to what is the loudest and what you can and can't hear well.

Thanks for the input. I'll forward this along to the producer. He's got a lot of great equipment and has a good mind for recording, but clearly he's still cutting his teeth in the mixing department.