SOUND ON SOUND

[geryon24]

Hey everyone. Trying to mix my own album and would like to get some input if anyone could spare a moment.

A month or so ago, this was my mix https://www.dropbox.com/s/sgs2s2qv7tyzs ... o.wav?dl=0

This is where I am now https://www.dropbox.com/s/dbiyb8pihqjfp ... 9.wav?dl=0

Thank you for your time!

-Chris

[resistorman]

As far as the sound goes, the drums sound two dimensional to me. In general the parts all feel isolated from each other, not really a blend.

[Sam Inglis]

Nice track, and a really good vocal performance!

The newer mix is also a lot better than the older one, which is encouraging. In fact, to me, it's reached the point where the main thing that's holding it back is the programmed drums, which just sound stiff and robotic. If I were you I'd be looking for a good online session drummer who can lay down some real parts for you.

[blinddrew]

Just had a couple of listens on this and have to agree with the above. The drums, particularly last third are just a bit too relentless and it doesn't quite sound like it's all sitting in the same place. Almost like it's a live vocal recording over a pre-mixed backing track.

[geryon24]

"As far as the sound goes, the drums sound two dimensional to me. In general the parts all feel isolated from each other, not really a blend."
Thank you for the input! Could you please offer some suggestions as to how I can make this piece feel better blended?

"Just had a couple of listens on this and have to agree with the above. The drums, particularly last third are just a bit too relentless and it doesn't quite sound like it's all sitting in the same place. Almost like it's a live vocal recording over a pre-mixed backing track."
I appreciate the feedback. Is there any insight you could offer as to what I should do to make it all sound like it's sitting in the same place? And by the drums being too relentless, do you mean it's just too obviously robotic because it's the same pattern for too many bars?

"The newer mix is also a lot better than the older one, which is encouraging. In fact, to me, it's reached the point where the main thing that's holding it back is the programmed drums, which just sound stiff and robotic. If I were you I'd be looking for a good online session drummer who can lay down some real parts for you."
Thank you so much for your encouragement. I would love to be able to get real drums more than anything. But I am in North America unfortunately and the ravages of the pandemic have kept me from making a decent income for quite a while now. Money is super tight, that's one of the reasons I am so passionate and driven to produce this album myself.


A couple of weeks ago I actually paid to get this song mixed. Here is what the producer sent back to me https://www.dropbox.com/s/cdj0ihe7oij98 ... d.wav?dl=0
I feel like I could get mine sounding at least this good with just a couple more Eureka! moments and hard work. I want this so bad I can taste it.

Thanks again everyone for your willingness to assist me.

-Chris

[Kwackman]

A couple of weeks ago I actually paid to get this song mixed.

I obviously don't know how much that cost you, but maybe it would be worthwhile buying an on-line tutorial or two from one of the well known guys on this site instead?
Zukan and the Elf spring to mind, but there are others too.

You'd learn skills specific to your needs and maybe would give you a bigger bang for your buck than paying someone else to mix it?

[geryon24]

That would be most excellent. I would love nothing more than that. I will shout out to The Elf.

[blinddrew]

I don't think you've been shafted, but I do recommend a session with the Elf because, as you say, you're not far off. :thumbup:

As to your question about getting different parts sounding like they're sitting in the same place, are you using a send to global reverb? That sounds like one of the things your paid mixer has done (very brief listen only I'm afraid).
I'll generally have a few reverbs in a mix, some doing very specific jobs on specific instruments, but I'll always (always? Yeah, probably. Can't think of a case when I haven't) have a room reverb that everything goes through (via some delays for front-back depth) before being sent to the master bus. I'll then balance the amount of instrument-specific reverb with the room reverb to get things how I want them.
Apologies if any of that is teaching you to suck eggs. :)

[James Perrett]

...and the mix I bought. It's not very good, is it? I'm afraid I got shafted a bit...

I felt that mix was pretty good considering the other version that I've heard. The mixer has taken all the positives (like the strong vocal performance) and minimised the negatives (like the robotic drums) to come up with something that sounds far more cohesive and also interesting enough to keep me listening for much longer than your mix did.

Sound wise it may not be as hifi as your mix but in this case hifi isn't what is needed. With this style of music you need to feel that everything is struggling to be heard and the skill of the mixer is allowing you to hear the right part at the right time - but not have it overpowering all the other elements.

[geryon24]

I actually have no Reverb in that mix except on the ezdrummer where it is built in.

Probably one of the problems huh? haha

[geryon24]

...and the mix I bought. It's not very good, is it? I'm afraid I got shafted a bit...

I felt that mix was pretty good considering the other version that I've heard. The mixer has taken all the positives (like the strong vocal performance) and minimised the negatives (like the robotic drums) to come up with something that sounds far more cohesive and also interesting enough to keep me listening for much longer than your mix did.

Sound wise it may not be as hifi as your mix but in this case hifi isn't what is needed. With this style of music you need to feel that everything is struggling to be heard and the skill of the mixer is allowing you to hear the right part at the right time - but not have it overpowering all the other elements.

Thank you for your feedback. I would never pretend that I am at nearly the same level of skill as this mixer. I did not mean to come off as disrespectful to his craft but I am afraid I did.
I guess in honesty I just didn't feel like it was worth the price, but if you guys think it sounds strong, I am more than happy to be wrong.

[Sam Inglis]

I felt that mix was pretty good considering the other version that I've heard. The mixer has taken all the positives (like the strong vocal performance) and minimised the negatives (like the robotic drums) to come up with something that sounds far more cohesive and also interesting enough to keep me listening for much longer than your mix did.

Sound wise it may not be as hifi as your mix but in this case hifi isn't what is needed. With this style of music you need to feel that everything is struggling to be heard and the skill of the mixer is allowing you to hear the right part at the right time - but not have it overpowering all the other elements.

Completely agree.

[CS70]

I actually have no Reverb in that mix except on the ezdrummer where it is built in.

Probably one of the problems huh? haha

Probably. :D Just listened on cans only, but what struck me immediately is that in your mix the drums seem to be in front of the vocalist. From the first drum hit, the mixing engineer's version has them further back, where they belong (because the track is of a type where people get an idea on where things usually are) so it immediately feels more realistic and "right".

You've got to think of a mix in terms of left/right but also front/back, and even up/downs at times :) Reverbs and delays help with that, since that's how our ears perceive position - difference in the timing the same sound reaches our ears.