Author Topic: Another Metal Mix I've Done... (Read 4594 times)

Muttley · « **on:** July 22, 2006, 09:31:21 PM »

This time a US band called Fool's Crown:

Fool's Crown - Watch Where You Step (Mixed by Muttley)

I'm a lot happier with this than the Stillrise track I did a while back. I could still do with some decent monitors though, these PC speakers are a bit shitee.

Comments welcome. :)

Muttley

Fubar · « **Reply #1 on:** July 22, 2006, 09:56:24 PM »

First off, you really want to get some decent monitors. Doing a mix down with anything else is like painting still life with cataracts! :lol:

I'm currently having to listen through dodgy speakers at work so can't comment too accurately but, the overall mix works quite nicely up until the vocals come in (although it sounds slightly light in the bass department), they then overpower the guitars a bit. It could be that just bringing the vocals down a bit would help but I think this would weaken the track overall, you might be able to get away with dragging the other trcks up but this could lead to mushiness so I would recommend doing both whilst generally experimenting with the compression settings until it sounds about right.

Muttley · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2006, 10:26:38 PM »

Quote from: Fubar

First off, you really want to get some decent monitors. Doing a mix down with anything else is like painting still life with cataracts! :lol:

Tell me about it. They're right at the top of the shopping list once the house move is out of the way...

Doesn't help I have to do most of my mixing with headphones either. :(

Quote from: Fubar

I'm currently having to listen through dodgy speakers at work so can't comment too accurately but, the overall mix works quite nicely up until the vocals come in (although it sounds slightly light in the bass department), they then overpower the guitars a bit. It could be that just bringing the vocals down a bit would help but I think this would weaken the track overall, you might be able to get away with dragging the other trcks up but this could lead to mushiness so I would recommend doing both whilst generally experimenting with the compression settings until it sounds about right.

Thanks for that. I'm gonna burn the track to a CD to try in some different environments tomorrow too. So I'll keep your comments in mind. :)

Muttley

deg0ey · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2006, 10:43:47 PM »

Headphones tend to (if i remember rightly) cut the top end slightly. My mate who used to have absolute pitch - could tell a note played on its own perfectly - is now usually a semitone flat due to recording using headphones. But yeah, can be a pain for mixing, often means you give it too much treble to compensate for the headphones...

Fubar · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2006, 11:11:39 PM »

Quote from: deg0ey

Headphones tend to (if i remember rightly) cut the top end slightly. My mate who used to have absolute pitch - could tell a note played on its own perfectly - is now usually a semitone flat due to recording using headphones. But yeah, can be a pain for mixing, often means you give it too much treble to compensate for the headphones...

Their bass response is usually very lacking often leading to bass heavy mixes too? Either way, mixing using headphones for monitoring is kinda like...err....um....something that you don't wanna do that is very hard to think of a similie to describe. Meh.

deg0ey · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2006, 11:15:04 PM »

It's like performing surgery with a hacksaw instead of a scalpel - it does the job, but makes a bit of a mess of it :drink:

Fubar · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2006, 11:40:45 PM »

Quote from: deg0ey

It's like performing surgery with a hacksaw instead of a scalpel - it does the job, but makes a bit of a mess of it :drink:

Nice one! :good: :lol:

gingataff · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2006, 07:16:38 AM »

Not a bad mix at all, I wish I could do that. If I may add some constructive criticism I'd say the drums and backing vocals are a little dry and the cymbals a bit tizzy, otherwise awesome work. Did you study audio engineering or pick it up through practice?
As for monitors it's good to use a variety though, my last mix was done using monitors and it sounded ok, I tried it through headphones and some of it was good but other parts were way too loud and out of balance. I guess thats why most studios have 2 or more sets of different monitors, and of course the old 80s horror story of using car strero speakers for monitoring cos thats where most people listen to music!

Fubar · « **Reply #8 on:** July 23, 2006, 09:19:48 AM »

Quote from: gingataff

... and of course the old 80s horror story of using car strero speakers for monitoring cos thats where most people listen to music!

*Shudders*

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #9 on:** July 23, 2006, 10:15:13 AM »

I just listened to your track via the headphone monitors on my E-MU soundcard with Bayer DT100's and compared it with the headphone out on the hi-fi amp with the loudness in/out. It sounded better to my ears from the amp with loudness in. It just brought it to life more.

It all sounds great by the way!

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #10 on:** July 23, 2006, 10:18:07 AM »

Quote from: Fubar

Quote from: gingataff
... and of course the old 80s horror story of using car strero speakers for monitoring cos thats where most people listen to music!

*Shudders*

When I did tapes for my car years ago I used to be able to put the Graphic EQ settings on the tape to adjust for the cheapskate Harry Moss stereo and cr@p speakers! :lol:

deg0ey · « **Reply #11 on:** July 23, 2006, 10:22:57 AM »

I'd just like to say: Don't take any of my comments as criticism, I haven't actually listened to the track as my computers with speakers are down at the moment, I've just been contributing to the discussion about headphones :drink:

Fubar · « **Reply #12 on:** July 23, 2006, 05:14:52 PM »

Quote from: Johnny Mac

It sounded better to my ears from the amp with loudness in. It just brought it to life more.

...Indicating that the problem lies with a lack of compression added to the overall mix, I think. :)

Muttley · « **Reply #13 on:** July 23, 2006, 07:19:57 PM »

Quote from: Fubar

Quote from: Johnny Mac
It sounded better to my ears from the amp with loudness in. It just brought it to life more.

...Indicating that the problem lies with a lack of compression added to the overall mix, I think. :)

I might have to try some multiband compressor on the bus before the limiter then, as with normal full-band compression I found that in acheiving that smooth and loud low-end (which is what I find most "Loudness" buttons do I find) meant that I totally lost the punch of the snare drum.

Thanks for the comments, give me a good insight into what to play with. :)

Muttley