Can you guys give me some critiques and advice on this mix?

[Lerb21]

http://www.box.com/s/cd077352e84588839bbc

Any thoughts you may have I'm more than willing to listen to. Thanks!

[fezz parka]

VOX are too hot.

[Lerb21]

Originally Posted by fezz parka

VOX are too hot.

The tone of the amp, or its position in the mix?

[yark14]

I really liked the mix, great sound. If there was one thing that needs improvement, its the vocals. Keep in mind, I can't sing a lick. My opinion is to sing a bit more from the chest, its a bit too nasally. I think your voice would sound a lot better that way.

[Jack S]

It is a rocking tune. I will say that there are some issues with pitch on your singing. Instrumentally, the steel guitar maybe just a little too busy during the singing, but it still sounds pretty good. The guitar and steel guitar sound like they are sonically covering a lot of the same space. I would suggest, if you do nothing else, practice singing the song a little more and re-record the vocal track.

[fezz parka]

Originally Posted by Lerb21

The tone of the amp, or its position in the mix?

Vocals are too loud. Squish 'em a little.

[ScatMan]

Hey Lerb,

Nice to see you over here in the recording forum too!

Vox = Latin for voice. It's used a lot as a substitution for the word "vocals".

[getbent]

okay, so I kind of dig the crazy busy steel.. I know where it all comes from and I think this will lead to good places for you (the whole buck and don thing is cool and you'll redo it modernized and that will be great and I'll say I knew you when you first got going!)

my advice---> you have the lyrics and know the song, but you aren't performing it yet... it is like you are typing the words and I want you to phrase them and have them mean something...

normally, I wouldn't say anything other than "great job" or whatever because I totally dig what you are up to... but, I think you are ready for the next part..and that is about phrasing and stylizing and owning the song...

and listen to Cris... he is generally right... and when he is wrong, he is still mostly right.

[fezz parka]

My delivery is usually wrong, but I mean well. Seriously.

Randy's right on about the phrasing. Live with the song for a while. Make a copy of the backing tracks and drive around and sing to it. Then go back and cut the vocal. The difference will be night and day.

Also...This is a Buck song. Where's Don?

[ScatMan]

See? Just dudes giving helpful advice without attaboys!

[Lerb21]

Bahahaha, thanks a ton, all of you guys. I wrote this song and recorded it about 2 and half years ago, then recorded it again this week. Like you were saying Uncle Fezz, I haven't got a chance to actually perform it live and develop a relation to a song, which contributes to the lack of phrasing. Also, not being able to sing at full volume (because I record at 4 AM ) doesn't help me out.

I'll put the music track on my MP3 player and walk around singing it for a few days and get something going here. Thanks again!

[Lerb21]

Oh and GetBent... you touched on the crazy steel thing... that comes from trying to be Ralph Mooney on steroids.

I didn't actually say anything about it on the forum, but on March 16th I tore three tendons in my left ankle (two completely through), so up until the past week I haven't been able to walk, or play Pedal Steel. I spent the whole time listening to Moon and Dickey Overbey. Both of those dude play A LOT of notes underneath the vocals, even when it would normally clash, and make it work. So I was trying to do that.

FOR EXAMPLE:
http://www.box.com/s/6636d959b16ade605d12
http://www.box.com/s/42991d8ee56988ab589f

[klasaine]

I think that 'busy steel' is generally pretty cool (I too get where you're coming from with it) but I'd lower the delay and reverb levels a bit.

At :36 (the first verse) get really sparse - 1/2 time on the drums (quarter notes, not eighths) the pedal steel can stay and really simplify the 'riff' electric guitar part. Maybe even double the bass part there(?) or, just steel string acoustic strumming. Basically play a lot less in the verses - not just quieter - than in the choruses. Leave space for the vocal. You can come back in BIG at 1:01

Push the lead guitar 'solo' up a bit - it should be front and center when it busts in.

All good man - keep going!

[backalleyblues]

Agreed on the voice, needs to be fuller and better sung... also the track just sounds tinny on my setup at work (using computer speakers, but they usually sound pretty good on things). Might want to look at beefing up the low midrange (300 hz-1khz) a bit, maybe 2-3 db at most, to put a bit of heft back into the recording...

Sorry to hear about your ankle buddy, broke mine in high school, was no fun at all, couldn't even begin to chase girls...

Franc Robert

[woodman]

I think the tune really moves along, good spirit and good playing.

One reason the steel seems to clutter things is because it's so strong in the 2K-5K range — if you gently scoop out those freqs, it will help make the lyrics more intelligible without putting the vocal so out front, and also make the Tele more distinct. Sounds like there's enough sonic info in the 6-7K range to carry your high mids/presence. Maybe see if there's a sweet spot in the 200-500 range that would add warmth and body. I like the way the guitar and steel interact, but the challenge is making each one distinct.

You could also sweeten the bass with a little boost in the 800 to 1K range and it would punch a little more without competing with the other instruments.

Others have made salient comments on the vocals, but a lot of what I hear is a young singer developing vocal technique ... just keep working at it and it'll all come around.

[klasaine]

^^^ +1 ^^^

[peteycaster]

Great playing and energy. I don't mind the steel all the way through but I would definately drop it out of the verse after the solo to add a bit of dynamism. Also agree with Woodman re. the bass, could use a little more punch to suit the song.

Maybe you could try "comping" the vocals. This is where you create three of four tracks, sing a line (or even a whole verse) on one of them and then go back, sing the same line on the next track etc. This then gives you a choice of the best takes. Sometimes when you sing the same thing over and over you tend to feel the "wrong" notes and fix them by take three of four. Some DAWS (I know Cubase does) allow you to set this up automatically so the recording goes back to where you started and on to the next track so all you have to do is keep singing the same line.

[woodman]

Petey's got a point on comp tracks, that's been around since Bucko's day, as soon as multitrack recording came into its own. ... I usually comp phrase-by-phrase ... slice 'n' dice note placement makes it lose the feel. But if you have a great take except for one blooper, you can paste in from the track where it went well. It ain't cheatin' to use what ya got!

Of course, you may already be on this and doing it, for all I know. ... Just be relentless in finding your real voice and learning how to use it best.

[getbent]

Woody....

you really do kick ass man.

[onenotetom]

Love what you are doing Lerb! Listen to the masters here and follow their advice.

As a non master I would suggest that you listen to each instrument and vocal on Wrong Company and A/B to what your are doing. I am with Klasaine on rolling back the delay and reverb a bit.