Mix critique for Autism charity

I'm done. I've tweaked & tweaked. Took me forever to find a female vocalist for the harmony part. Good thing the deadline got pushed back.

For those of you who don't know, this is the song that I wrote/recorded/produced in order to donate to an autism charity. The charity is putting together a compilation album to sell to raise money for the costs associated with educating an autistic child.

I have no idea when the album will be ready, but I'm putting the song up here for one last critique before submitting the finished product to the producers of the album. To everyone who helped before, I owe a debt of gratitude. The song simply wouldn't be where it is without everyone's input & ears.

http://soundcloud.com/a-j-howard/evans-song-mix-6

Leaps and bounds from the first version! The female harmonies add hugely, and it sounds like you resolved a lot of issues with your own vocals. The production overall shows you've been working hard at it!

I wish I could hear the lyrics in the first verses better, though — the softer passages aren't quite making the trip. Maybe you could use automation to bring those lines out some.

Also, the snare sounds pretty dry and out-front ... wonder if a touch of 'verb and an EQ dip in the 2K range might help it settle back in the mix some.

Just one person's opinion — hopefully others will chime in. You've done a good job with it, but I imagine you're at the stage where you're ready to have it done with!

Thanks woody! The drums are all one track in this production.

About the vox on the first line. Almost too loud on my system so....... Hmmmm? I have automation all over the vox tracks, so it'd be a snap to pull them up.

Looking forward to seeing if anyone else thinks they're too low.

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I just don't feel qualified to critique your mix. But as the father of an autistic child I do feel qualified to say thanks. May you be blessed, good karma to you . . . .

Thanks woody! The drums are all one track in this production.

About the vox on the first line. Almost too loud on my system so....... Hmmmm? I have automation all over the vox tracks, so it'd be a snap to pull them up.

Looking forward to seeing if anyone else thinks they're too low.


Not the whole first verse, just the parts where your voice dips down soft — "when you're old enough" but particularly "and never give up," which is a strong line you want your listener to catch the first time. Of course what I'm hearing might be a quirk of my system, so ....

that's great how you're doing this

I LOVE what you are doing for the Autism cause!!!!! I may steal this idea from you. Anyways, about the mix. I'm with Woodman on the drum track. The snare is too flat and in your face. There seems to be some great steel going on in the background. I'd bring more of that up front. The harmonies work fine, and the guitar work is just about right. I'd add some more seperation to the guitar parts though. I hope that dosen't sound like I don't like the song, I DO like it. Just trying to give you a few ideas....

Actually the snare doesn't bother me... but if you dial it back just hair like Woody suggests, and maybe a slight boost around 100 hz to bring up the kick a little (I didn't hear the kick very strongly), just 1-2db adjustments there... if you're going to add reverb to the drum track, I'd high pass it around 300 hz, so none of the kick sets off the reverb.

I also agree about some of the vocals being buried in the first verse... maybe bring the muffled guitar down a touch? Also, could some of that steel be brought in under the guitar solo? Whoever's playing that did a really nice job, so feature it!! Otherwise, I really like it overall, nicely written and well-played!!!

For the record, my setup is Mac>Yamaha Stereo receiver (1978)> Tannoy PBM 6.5s... I'm really happy with this setup, things sound like they're supposed to sound like, to my ears, anyways...

Franc Robert

First, I have a kid who just got diagnosed with autism about a month ago - so my heartfelt thanks for doing this.

I also hear the intro vocals as being uneven and a bit too soft in places before the drums kick in. Don't be afraid to get in there with a compressor to even it out. Be careful though - you don't want it sounding overcompressed, and you might consider a compressor just for that part and that gets shut off or bypassed on the rest of the tune when you're belting it out a little more. Don't be afraid to automate heavily either - even to the point of pushing up or down a syllable that just needs a little push. Do you have any reverb or delay on the vocal at that point? There's something there that's taking away the intimacy of that part a little bit - but it also sounds like it could be the room you recorded in. If there is delay or verb on it, try taking it off. It would help bring the vocal forward too. I think it would sound great really bone dry. You might like what that does - you might not.

I think it's sounding really good though, overall. I actually hear the kick fine on my system. The snare could maybe lose a bit of the 2-3 k-ish stick hitting the skin "thwack", or conversely maybe get a boost in the vicinity of 200 to beef it up a bit if you can do it without muddying the low end. But to me that's purely a taste thing. I think it has a good energy where it's sitting. And yes to high passing (and low passing as well so it doesn't get too splashy) the send to the reverb.

Other than that maybe a gentle boost for some of the fills between the vocal lines (the steel in particular).

Sounding awesome and obviously a labor of love.

Nice tune too!

Cheers,
Geoff

First, I want to say great cause! good on you! well done!

I really like the song! The feel, the lyrics... just great!

No problem hearing the lyrics in the early going for me, I can make it all out just fine.

The steel does need to come up, like 1 to 2dB.

The snare doesn't bother me.... what does concern me is that the drums are all in this little narrow center spot in the soundstage and are not spread out a bit. Not sure how you accomplished getting the drums all on one track and this may sound like a bit of a crazy idea.... but can you copy the drum track into two more new tracks and pan one a bit left, leave one in the center and pan the other a bit right? Of course the levels would have to be dialed in too.

Right around the 4:07 mark, one of the guitar notes in the walk down is slightly out of time.

Thank you everybody for the good ears & giving your time to listen. I agree with all about the drums, but, I'm leaving it as is. believe me, i've tweaked the ***** out of em. You wouldn't believe the mess I went through trying to get the snare sounding a little more wet.

I think now I'm hearing what you guys are saying on the vox in the first line. I don't hear it on my studio setup. I don't hear it even when listening on my computer speakers or my iphone speaker, BUT, I can hear it when i listen in my truck. I'll tweak just a tad bit more on the vox & I'm gonna def try Goeff's idea. I've got some verb on em, but just a pinch right now.

on the steel: GREAT steel player, some of you may have heard me brag on him before. I've had to automate volume so heavily already. To my ear, there's so many places the steel sound competes with the vocal. On the visual EQ it's all over the same frequency range as the vox. I guess the short story is, I'm about tweaked out on the steel. Another note: if you're listening in mono, the steel is substantially less forward in the mix. I've got it panned hard right in the stereo field because frankly, that's where my steel player sits when we play live & that's how I hear it in my head :) It does have it's own space when listening in stereo.

Final note, the song hasn't been mastered yet.

Thanks again to all who have given advice & support. The song wouldn't sound nearly as good as it does without all of you!

not qualified to critique, but I think it's well done. It's wonderful that you've channelled your emotions towards this rather than some of the outlets I engaged in when I was dealing with the heartbreak of finding out your children have a disorder. I've got twin daughters who are autistic, dx'd almost seven years ago now, so I'm pretty far into this. For you new guys, it gets better, the kids mature like any others (careful of those who would take credit for it), acceptance comes and it gets back to normal, just like the song foretells.

Sounding great. I too hear the drop in vocals on the the second line of the first verse (when you sing low). Perhaps up a wee bit on those lines. Solo and harmonies sound great. Well done all round, I hope it gets used on the CD.

For clarity, my children do not have autism. I thank god for the blessing of my children's health. But any charity that helps any needy children is high on my list.

The idea came from a wonderful mother of two autistic children that I met at the Nashville Songwriter's Festival last year. I was given the opportunity to be a part is it & am honored to be able to contribute.

I am not producing the album, & as far as I know many tunes are still in the developmental stage for this compilation. All I know is the concept is a great one & as soon as I have more info on the release, I will be sure to pass it on.

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Thank you everybody for the good ears & giving your time to listen. I agree with all about the drums, but, I'm leaving it as is. believe me, i've tweaked the ***** out of em. You wouldn't believe the mess I went through trying to get the snare sounding a little more wet.

There's still a couple things you could try. You could put a snare sample/ drum machine snare or the like on a separate track. Line them up with your recorded snare hits. And send the sampled snare to a reverb - but set it up so you're only hearing the reverb, and not the snare sample. (So the send is pre fader, and the snare sample is not sent to the main stereo outs).

Then do the same for each tom if you think they would benefit.

A bit more work, but not a ton.

Cheers,
Geoff

It's great. Watch the hard panning. Try not to always think LCR, think about depth, front to back as well. Geoff is right on about compressing the vox. The ambince on the vox: Is that a room sound from where you recorded it, or a plug in? I think the vox should be drier, as if you're having a conversation. If you have a good set of headphones, listen to Wichita Lineman. The vocals are as dry as you can get and it sets the mood for the song. It actually sounds like the orchestra is in his mind, and he's singing in a truck. The backing vox are great, as if Mom is chiming in on the conversation.

Fix the snare with a little EQ.

Another father of an autistic kid here-good song and good cause. Folks in Oklahoma need extra help. They don't have a state mandate forcing insurance companies to help pay for treatment so for the most part they're on their own.

Great mix suggestions-i'm always impressd by the smart people 'round here.

Once again, thanks to everyone! I literally couldn't have done it without you. All the ideas were great & well received. I am going to admit, I took the advice of bringing the vox up in the first verse & making them dryer. Those are the only changes I made. There comes a point in time, when it has to be done. Just done. Not perfect, not ideal, not even good to some for sure, but for me, the point has come. It is finished. I've been working really hard in the studio trying to get another project finished up & this one has just been lingering.

All of you who have chimed in with praise & thanks, let me thank you from the bottom of my heart. God bless you & yours.

I feel I should at least post the finished product for you guys, so you can hear your influence in my art. (no, it's not finished, just abandoned)

http://soundcloud.com/a-j-howard/evans-song

My eight-year-old grandson has autism. Thanks for doing this!

A painting is never finished. You just quit painting.:grin:

Great stuff!