Fezz...Woodman... everyone... lend me your ears!!! (mix content)

Howdy gang!!!

Well, you've seen me babble on about this record I've been working on, and while I'm not totally done with the thing, I think I've progressed enough that I could use some other ears to listen in... these are NOT in any sort of final order, I think this is just how SoundCloud decided to pull the files... also, please note that "Let's Go Jukin" still has a couple issues with timing in my mind (notably the intro) so don't crush that one too badly... and now, without further ado...

http://soundcloud.com/backalleybluesproductions/sets/initial-mix-files-6-25-12

Thanks in advance for all your help!!

Franc Robert

SoundCloud is telling me it can't find that page. Mebbe check your link ... you can test it by punching the Preview Post button below, hit your link and make sure it goes to the right place. Looking forward to hearing it!

Hmmm... I'm new to Soundcloud, too, so it could certainly be any number of operator errors...
let's try this (just one song)...

Edit: Like I said, I'm new to Soundcloud, just saw the secret link feature... :lol:

http://soundcloud.com/backalleybluesproductions/beale-street-memories/s-mdkeI

Franc Robert

There it is.

So is that the correct link, then? If so, I'll post up the rest of the links in a minute...

Franc Robert

So is that the correct link, then? If so, I'll post up the rest of the links in a minute...

That worked for one tune. You can create a set of multiple tunes in Soundcloud and then link it.

Thanks, ScatMan! Turns out I had already created a set when I uploaded them originally, but didnt' know about that Secret Link (the Moroccan Mole didn't tell me about it!) Here's the link for the whole set...

http://soundcloud.com/backalleybluesproductions/sets/initial-mix-files-6-25-12/s-6BQMF

Enjoy (I hope!)

Franc Robert

cool!

btw: you can order the songs in the set anyway you want.

Jukin: My first thoughts are lose the slapback. What mic are you using?

MXL V-67 for vocals, ain't the greatest by any means, but I'm used to it and its nuances (or lack of)...

Franc Robert

Try an RE20 into a decent pre.

Now yer diggin' where there's taters link-wise ....

My top o' the head observation after skimming all the songs is be aware your ambient environment ... in some tunes, it sounds like the singer's in the living room and the guitarist is in the back bedroom. Ideally you'd weave them to where they sound like they're in the same space. If you're running them off aux sends, give the vocals a taste of the guitar ambience, and a little of that tight vocal verb/slapback on the guitar. Just enough to make them resonate together. ... As reverb increases, it sends that instrument to the back of the mix.

Just a nitpick on what seems to be turning into a good project! Keep swingin' the hammer.

Woody nails it...Again. Environment. :grin:

I say this all the time. When mixing, most people think LCR. Two dimensional thinking. Also think front to back, and top to bottom.

On this, There's a little bit of Trueverb on everything. I also doubled the slide by playing while singing. I used a re20, and compressed the snot out of it.:lol:

Banker's Blues (http://snd.sc/MwAegU)

Franc,

The thing that jumped out at me a little bit was the drums. They just sound a little, well, little. I'd like them to have a little more sizzle, size, impact. I'm not saying you should make them 80s hair metal big or anything. This is a blues record after all. They just seem to me to be needing a bit more energy or something. Or, maybe I just like a lot more of the stick/beater hitting the skin than you do.

But if you agree with me (and this is largely a taste thing), there's a few things you could try. First is just eqing more 3k (+ or -) on the snare and toms to bring a bit more "pop" out of them. Or perhaps a transient designer could work as well. You could try parallel compression (either on the whole kit, just the drums or just the cymbals). Compress like crazy, but just bring a little bit of that up under the non-crazy compressed drums. Or, you could add some distortion to them - again trying in parallel is probably the best way to go.

Or, maybe you like the more old school kind of tones on the drums and just leave 'em.

I had similar concerns about the bass on a couple tunes. I though the low end was nice but I wanted a bit more articulation in the mids. A bit more 750- 800 ish Hz and/or distortion could achieve that. Not every tune needed it though.

Sounding pretty good though. My thoughts really come down to taste- I just thought the rhythm section could be a bit more upfront, energetic sonically, especially on the upbeat, more rockin' stuff. I think if you can give the drums and bass on those ones a bit more impact without swallowing the rest of the band, it would kick those tunes up another notch.

Nice work so far!

Cheers,
Geoff

Went to the second link. Really nice stuff! Dig the space in the reverb/delay thing.

Not usually a fan of name dropping in songs, but at least you didn't mention Johnny Cash!:mrgreen:

I know it's been a bit, but I've been a VERY busy boy... :lol:

Pulled up "Let's Go Jukin" last night, and took Geoff's and Fezz's ideas, it's coming along now, should have it done tonight... the drums did sound kinda buried on that tune, so there's be some tweaking goin' on... should have another mix up tonight... thinking I still like the slapback on the vocal, maybe not quite as much, and might add some to the guitar...

gonna try to finish the entire project this week, since I'm now under a bit of a deadline... and I also have time to work on it...

Thanks again, and keep them ideas flowing!!!

Franc Robert

I know it's been a bit, but I've been a VERY busy boy... :lol:

Pulled up "Let's Go Jukin" last night, and took Geoff's and Fezz's ideas, it's coming along now, should have it done tonight... the drums did sound kinda buried on that tune, so there's be some tweaking goin' on... should have another mix up tonight... thinking I still like the slapback on the vocal, maybe not quite as much, and might add some to the guitar...

gonna try to finish the entire project this week, since I'm now under a bit of a deadline... and I also have time to work on it...

Thanks again, and keep them ideas flowing!!!

Franc Robert

Cool! Looking forward to hearing it!

Cheers,
Geoff

Great song, great playing! I particularly enjoyed the guitar and the organ. Is that a Hammond? Do you play everything there?

Yeah, I'll just give a +1 to the previous posts regarding the distance. IMO the vocals are fine - although sometimes I compress them a bit just to compensate for not getting the distance from the mic consistent with my screaming. ;-) Everything else feels too far back, especially the drums and the guitar less so. Great stuff though!

Great song, great playing! I particularly enjoyed the guitar and the organ. Is that a Hammond? Do you play everything there?

Yeah, I'll just give a +1 to the previous posts regarding the distance. IMO the vocals are fine - although sometimes I compress them a bit just to compensate for not getting the distance from the mic consistent with my screaming. ;-) Everything else feels too far back, especially the drums and the guitar less so. Great stuff though!

By the way, I only listened to Beale Street Blues. There's another track?

The organ and piano playing are by my buddy, Lee Pons... www.leepons.com we used a Korg Triton, and just took the direct outs into the computer... bass and drums are my band, Trent Sholl on Bass and Dave Simmons on drums.

I have some compression on the vocals, but I didn't crush them, partially because I've learned some basic mic technique (as in don't jump all over the place!!!), and also I wanted something that sounded more natural.

The drum micing was the Glyn Johns/Drummerman technique, snare, kick, and 2 overheads...once you get those mics positioned, you can get some REALLY nice sounds, and Dave is a helluva smooth drummer, making things a lot easier to record and mix...

More later...

Franc Robert

I have some compression on the vocals, but I didn't crush them, partially because I've learned some basic mic technique (as in don't jump all over the place!!!), and also I wanted something that sounded more natural.


Franc Robert

I absolutely agree! It's probably not a compression issue then, but rather the distance of the other instruments. I am definitely no expert on this... just curious! :-)

Alrighty!!! After much slicing and dicing (still don't know how to julienne!) here's Let's Go Jukin, the new version... much drier than the rough version, I think it gained some punch in the process as well...

http://soundcloud.com/backalleybluesproductions/lets-go-jukin-7-2-12/s-sv9Lv

Enjoy!!!
Franc Robert

Smoothed out real nicely! Great blues band sound, has a live feel.

1000% better!

Ahh, now I think (to borrow your phrase woodman) I'm digging up some potatoes in the right places!!! Will have some new mixes done now that I have this as a template...

Thanks again, everybody!!!

Franc Robert

Ahh, now I think (to borrow your phrase woodman) I'm digging up some potatoes in the right places!!! Will have some new mixes done now that I have this as a template...

Thanks again, everybody!!!

Franc Robert

Definitely like the new mix better.

Good stuff!

Cheers,
Geoff

Alrighty, I tried to get this up last night (sounds like a personal problem!) :mrgreen:

But Soundcloud was misbehaving badly... finally got ALL the songs up there, with new mixes all around... enjoy!!!

http://soundcloud.com/backalleybluesproductions/sets/mulligan-stew-mol-final-mixes/s-gRwnW

Franc Robert

Skimming the ten tunes at random, I was hearing a lot more coherence and spatial integrity in the mixes.

The only specific that jumped out at me was that on "Oh Baby," the snare has some undesirable ring ... it sticks out in the intro, but gets buried when the tune picks up. Try an EQ sweep to find that freq and duck it. But mix-wise, it sounds like you've told yourself "I can do this" and you're getting your craft in hand.

Just a post-script or an update, if you will...

Released the album in Mid-August and has gotten nothing but glowing reviews (7 all told!!!) and reached #22 on the Roots Music Report Blues chart, and stayed on there for 3 months!!

Also found out tonight, it was picked as a Top Ten release by a US based artist by the Blues Underground Network for 2012... http://www.bluesundergroundnetwork.com/Top10Albums2012.html

In short, I can't thank all of you enough for all the help you've given me, I could not have done anywhere near the job I did with this recording without your ears and insights!

I'm already being asked when my next CD will be out...

Franc Robert

Just a post-script or an update, if you will...

Released the album in Mid-August and has gotten nothing but glowing reviews (7 all told!!!) and reached #22 on the Roots Music Report Blues chart, and stayed on there for 3 months!!

Also found out tonight, it was picked as a Top Ten release by a US based artist by the Blues Underground Network for 2012... http://www.bluesundergroundnetwork.com/Top10Albums2012.html

In short, I can't thank all of you enough for all the help you've given me, I could not have done anywhere near the job I did with this recording without your ears and insights!

I'm already being asked when my next CD will be out...

Franc Robert

REally cool!

Well done.

Cheers,
Geoff

Glad to hear you had good luck with it!


In short, I can't thank all of you enough for all the help you've given me, I could not have done anywhere near the job I did with this recording without your ears and insights!


+1 — this board has been an invaluable resource in my personal war against audio ignorance! :mrgreen:

I'm way late to the party ....

Just listened to Mulligan Stew - Love the tune and everything about it!

tx4posting
kc