Again, I think the mixer compressed the drums when we recorded them,
and i think it was running hot too. I noticed that in Mainland too,
when the cymbals get a bit loud an wash everything else out when they
pick up a bit.
I think more time will be taken over the drums next time round!

As for the guitar in Sea Me, it was just a tone I liked that maybe you
wouldnt expect on that sort of track. Its not a fuzz box though, its a
direct line out/in from my Marshall AVT100 amp. I get your point
though.

Cheers for all the feedback so far, its nice to hear some honesty for a
change!



Martin




philicorda wrote:
On Thu, 08 Jun 2006 04:18:57 -0700, Martin wrote:

I take it you are referring to the song Sea Me? The drums were recorded at
a rehearsal room's space using 3 of their mics and mixing desk, the master
out going into my laptop soundcard. Everything else was recorded in my
house. The room where the drums recorded is a good sized room, good studio
space. We never spent much time setting up the levels of the 3 mics so I
remember finding the high hat being too loud and simply lowering the eq of
high freq of the drums. Do they sound harsh? More reverb maybe? I added
more reverb in post.


wrote:
martinw2k wrote:

Id appreciate any feedback from anyone. Specifically about how the mix
sounds, what problems exist and solutions to fix them, or tips for the
next time. I can take constructive criticism!

To my (subjective)taste, the hihat is somewhat on the loud side. But
overall the balance is pretty OK. Also, I'll make a few guesses: the
room in which the drums were recorded was nearly square and acoustically
completely untreated? This gives for the somewhat 'boxy' sound.

I like the sound of the drums at the start of the first track
("mainland"), they have a kinda trashy thump which appeals. When he starts
hitting the cymbals they wash out the sound unpleasantly though, and the
nice bd and snare sound gets lost. It sounds like you had a compressor on
a sub mix of the whole kit and it's wacking the whole level down when the
cymbals start going. Perhaps tweaking the drum mix just for the chorus
could be good.

The second and third tracks ("one of the less surprising...") have a more
balanced close mic/ overhead mix, but the basic kick+snare don't sound so
exciting.

Oh, and the fuzz guitar sound on 'sea me' playing the rhythm part is foul.
It's nice at the start, but way too aggressive, grainy and loud when the
vocals are in. I'd have my hand on the it's fader and eq and be riding it
throughout the track to get it to fit when the vocals are in, but still be
quite aggressive when he starts going for it towards the end of the track.
Or else using a different warmer fuzz pedal when the vocals are in would
do it.

Just some thoughts.