SDC - One Bastard of an Accident! - Bobbybovine

[bobbybovine]

Wow 3 months and 3 great songs. This was definitely the quickest of all of them for me. I decided after listening to the song a couple of times that it didn't really need me getting in the way. So with that in mind I tried to only do things that helped the mix get more of a jam feel. Lots of automation, lots of subtractive eq and high and low passing, panning, layering. But what you hear hopefully is the band playing and not me mixing Thanks for offering up the tracks Fullbloods, really great stuff.

[Jeronimo Mora]

Bobbaaaaaaaaaay.

I felt the main vocal was a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittle too upfront. Maybe not level wise but "feel" wise. High passing just a dash more may have helped push it back. Having the main bg vocal panned hard like that was a bit weird, especially at the level it was. I felt that would have worked at a lower volume. I actually thought most of the vocal tracks were a little too "in the listener's face". Instruments sound fantastic. Ironically enough, once the faster part comes along and the guitars come in full blast the vocal becomes a bit too far back.

Solid mix dude!

[Ableton_Love]

Bobbybovine, this track sounds just great. for me it was a couple level things that I found distracting. The doop a doop BG vocals and the Haaa's in the bridge were much louder in my M50's that your vocal sound even. I'm away from my monitors for a couple days so I've gotta rely on the cans. The other thing is the very intro toms. It's seems you used the same tom sound/volume for the beginning when the solo guitar was playing by itself that you did when all the instruments were playing together. I would have kept them lower and not as punchy in the beginning so that there was more impact when the band comes in. The drums in general are louder than the solo guitar in my cans, so thats something to maybe adjust. Maybe use a little delay in the background somewhere in this mix to get it moving a little bit, I hear a groove, but it's not driving me. Lots of good stuff in this mix. Thumbs up from me

[fHumble fHingaz]

Another excellent mix! I really love your vision for this mix - it sounds intimate, yet the width & effect from the extra vocals really expands the panorama... the build for the solo at the end is very nicely done.

I'm really big into deliberately unbalancing the mix, then bringing in an equally obtrusive element to counter-balance it. This is the only area I would suggest an improvement in: From 2:50 on, I would have liked to hear the "whoa" vocals panned to the right to counter-balance the extreme "outside-the-speakers" panning of the extreme left vocals.

That said, this mix is excellent, & you should be very proud of it. 5 Stars.

[m24p]

This is a nice mix. Definitely a solid "stay out of the way" mix.

The doops get in the way, though. I'm pretty sure they're supposed to be quieter.

Also at the climax, the vox get pushed back. (3:47). Adding the doubling in there doesn't properly emphasis it, IMHO.

[killingpingu]

Hey Bobby,

Great balance and clarity here. Just listening on my laptop here and it sounds great, which I've come to learn is a hard thing to achieve!

Only things that bugged me a little was the amount of delay on the vocals on the outro and the amount of reverb on the ohhh and aahhhs in the intro... I'd have toned them down a little but otherwise the vocals are sweet and intimate.

Excellent mix overall!

[wireman957]

Hey, Bobby! Nice mix!! Not much to comment on other than personal taste things. I liked the little cymbal roll in the intro - nice touch! To me, your kick sounded a little metallish, On a song like this, I'd prefer a little less click and maybe more of a thud to reinforce the bass, but that's me. I thought you did a great job of controlling the low-end of the drums. The first guitar solo could have been a bit more on top, but I'm a guitar player . You did a great job of spreading things around, leaving room for everything, and personally, I kinda dug the way your vocal effects appeared to change from section to section.

Excellent job!

[UsernameN/A]

nice mix. I think its a little hi mid heavy and the stereo image is pretty small. The drums are conservatively panned then all the sudden the vox come in from far left and right almost out of context for the soundstage that was setup. The intro guitar being dead center IMHO is really weird because it moves later on and the guitarist would never be dead center in a live setting (chalk that to taste and ignore LOL) I liked the vox clarity

[bobbybovine]

Bobbaaaaaaaaaay.

I felt the main vocal was a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittle too upfront. Maybe not level wise but "feel" wise. High passing just a dash more may have helped push it back. Having the main bg vocal panned hard like that was a bit weird, especially at the level it was. I felt that would have worked at a lower volume. I actually thought most of the vocal tracks were a little too "in the listener's face". Instruments sound fantastic. Ironically enough, once the faster part comes along and the guitars come in full blast the vocal becomes a bit too far back.

Solid mix dude!

Thanks for your comments Jeronimo. When I started to attack the vocal track I didn't really have anything particular in mind. After compressing and eqing the main vox I really liked how it sounded but I did find it was tricky riding that fine line of too loud and too quiet.

[bobbybovine]

Bobbybovine, this track sounds just great. for me it was a couple level things that I found distracting. The doop a doop BG vocals and the Haaa's in the bridge were much louder in my M50's that your vocal sound even.

Isn't it funny what we hear on different stuff. I pushed those up because on the 3 things I monitored on I could barely hear them. So I figured I was playing it safe.

I'm away from my monitors for a couple days so I've gotta rely on the cans. The other thing is the very intro toms. It's seems you used the same tom sound/volume for the beginning when the solo guitar was playing by itself that you did when all the instruments were playing together. I would have kept them lower and not as punchy in the beginning so that there was more impact when the band comes in. The drums in general are louder than the solo guitar in my cans, so thats something to maybe adjust. Maybe use a little delay in the background somewhere in this mix to get it moving a little bit, I hear a groove, but it's not driving me. Lots of good stuff in this mix. Thumbs up from me

There is a slight change from the first section of the song to the last. I added a bit more over compressed parallel drums, and there is a slight change in the overall drum volume but it is very slight less than a db overall, just to change the feel and not meant to be noticeable. Do you mean the solo at the end?? I purposely turned that solo up to be at the same apparent volume as the lead vocals just before it. Thanks for you comments.

[bobbybovine]

Another excellent mix! I really love your vision for this mix - it sounds intimate, yet the width & effect from the extra vocals really expands the panorama... the build for the solo at the end is very nicely done.

I'm really big into deliberately unbalancing the mix, then bringing in an equally obtrusive element to counter-balance it. This is the only area I would suggest an improvement in: From 2:50 on, I would have liked to hear the "whoa" vocals panned to the right to counter-balance the extreme "outside-the-speakers" panning of the extreme left vocals.

That said, this mix is excellent, & you should be very proud of it. 5 Stars.

How can I not like this critique. Thanks man, it means a lot to have someone of your caliber diggin my mix. Its funny, it is almost like two totally different schools of thought when it comes to "width" of a mix, either really wide, or staying within the borders. I prefer mixing the two. Keeping the core of the tracks tight and following "the rules" and taking all the subtle elements and supporting stuff and placing them wherever it seems fun. Maybe that is "my" style.

[bobbybovine]

This is a nice mix. Definitely a solid "stay out of the way" mix.

The doops get in the way, though. I'm pretty sure they're supposed to be quieter.

Also at the climax, the vox get pushed back. (3:47). Adding the doubling in there doesn't properly emphasis it, IMHO.

Thanks for the comments. The doops were funny, no matter what I did to them they just didn't seem to really to sound like I wanted. I definitely wasn't trying to crank them up, I actually debated not using them. At the climax, I added a pretty heavy reverb on the last syllable and I automated the vox there down a bit to keep the verb from getting out of control. In hindsight I should have paid closer attention to the verb automation instead of the main track. Thanks for your observations.

[bobbybovine]

Hey Bobby,

Great balance and clarity here. Just listening on my laptop here and it sounds great, which I've come to learn is a hard thing to achieve!

Only things that bugged me a little was the amount of delay on the vocals on the outro and the amount of reverb on the ohhh and aahhhs in the intro... I'd have toned them down a little but otherwise the vocals are sweet and intimate.

Excellent mix overall!

I have a laptop that I check every mix on now. It totally tells me straight up how the vox and effects are behaving. You should have heard the amount of verb and effects on my first mix down. Thanks for your comments.

[bobbybovine]

Hey, Bobby! Nice mix!! Not much to comment on other than personal taste things. I liked the little cymbal roll in the intro - nice touch!

Cymbal roll? I never noticed it.I wonder if that was a result of my uber compressed snare track letting in all the cymbal bleed. I didn't add it on purpose.

To me, your kick sounded a little metallish, On a song like this, I'd prefer a little less click and maybe more of a thud to reinforce the bass, but that's me.

I am with you there. I was intending on what you describe here and found a sound I really liked, even if it isn't totally "indie" so I stuck with it.

I thought you did a great job of controlling the low-end of the drums.

Thanks, gotta love those transient designers, my new favorite tool. And of course our old pal Mr. EQ

The first guitar solo could have been a bit more on top, but I'm a guitar player .

I know all about you guitar players, if it were up to you guys everything would sound like Malmsteen But in all seriousness,that was a conscious decision to keep lower. I wanted the last solo to be the apex and have the song build in intensity throughout. That is one of the reasons I also threw a pretty gnarly distortion on the bass on the last part.

You did a great job of spreading things around, leaving room for everything, and personally, I kinda dug the way your vocal effects appeared to change from section to section.

Thanks, that is always a love it or hate it deal.

Excellent job!

Thanks for your comments man, much appreciated.

[bobbybovine]

nice mix. I think its a little hi mid heavy and the stereo image is pretty small. The drums are conservatively panned then all the sudden the vox come in from far left and right almost out of context for the soundstage that was setup. The intro guitar being dead center IMHO is really weird because it moves later on and the guitarist would never be dead center in a live setting (chalk that to taste and ignore LOL) I liked the vox clarity

Panning choice is always something that is hit or miss. Personally I like having some panning interest going on, whether its good or bad depends on your tastes. Thanks for your comments. Like the username too

[bobbybovine]

liked the little cymbal roll in the intro - nice touch!

I just listened again for that, well what a nice "accident" that was. I don't know how I missed that, lol

[audiofool]

Superb mix sir ..
Great punchy drums but at the same time having the dynamics intact. Loved them.
The main vocals are a bit different as they feel too much in front, especially in quieter sections. I don't know i just noticed it but it really does not take anything away from the mix.
The hard panned background vocals can go down a bit i think , since they attract all the attention because of the panning.
The cymbals have so much sustain , i thought they will sustain till the end of this world lol .
The solo could be high lighted a bit. Nice bass guitar tone. The guitars have that eq sound to them its a bit eerie , which really works for this song.
Not much to add technically man. Great job.

[bobbybovine]

Superb mix sir ..
Great punchy drums but at the same time having the dynamics intact. Loved them.
The main vocals are a bit different as they feel too much in front, especially in quieter sections. I don't know i just noticed it but it really does not take anything away from the mix.
The hard panned background vocals can go down a bit i think , since they attract all the attention because of the panning.
The cymbals have so much sustain , i thought they will sustain till the end of this world lol .
The solo could be high lighted a bit. Nice bass guitar tone. The guitars have that eq sound to them its a bit eerie , which really works for this song.
Not much to add technically man. Great job.

Thanks man. With regard to the vox, I just listen to my mix again this morning and I agree some of them are too loud. Amazing what you hear a day or 2 later. The main vox I don't think I would have changed, but the supporting vox I probably would have them lower in the mix especial the doops. M24p hit the nail on the head with regards to my vox. I have 2 distinct bass tones, the ending part of the song was a very aggressive distorted bass tone. The guitars I eq'd VERY little actually, probably a phase thing after reading chicken8r's thread. Thanks for the comments.

[kakeux]

Hi,

A mix with character, I do like that...

Only one thing to say, I feel like the main vox is sitting a bit ouside of the mix eventhough I love its sound!

Ok, maybe two things to say (sorry), the "whoop whoop doo pa doop" are a tad loud for me...but who cares, when the rest is really enjoyable.

Really good job!

[bobbybovine]

Hi,

A mix with character, I do like that...

Only one thing to say, I feel like the main vox is sitting a bit ouside of the mix eventhough I love its sound!

Ok, maybe two things to say (sorry), the "whoop whoop doo pa doop" are a tad loud for me...but who cares, when the rest is really enjoyable.

Really good job!

Thanks Kakeux, the main vocal I probably should have spent more time automating it. I found if I dropped it a db it felt too low and where I left it at did seem a touch too loud to me, but I would prefer it a touch too loud than hidden in places. The doops are definitely too loud. I don't know why I didn't notice that, but they aren't as I intended. Thanks for your kind comments.

[redworks]

hey man you have really cleaned provided a wide open and yet vintage feel to this mix. listening on the cans i don't hear that things are too extremely off. i do agree with the others that the last vocal section could have been louder after all what he is saying there is the most intense. your drums have a clarity to them, they are present but not begging for attention in fact i almost didn't comment about them which i thought was weird so listened more carefully and i realized the reason was because they were just so solidly done. you don't notice them because they are not missing and they are not dominating. so good job there.

[bobbybovine]

hey man you have really cleaned provided a wide open and yet vintage feel to this mix. listening on the cans i don't hear that things are too extremely off. i do agree with the others that the last vocal section could have been louder after all what he is saying there is the most intense. your drums have a clarity to them, they are present but not begging for attention in fact i almost didn't comment about them which i thought was weird so listened more carefully and i realized the reason was because they were just so solidly done. you don't notice them because they are not missing and they are not dominating. so good job there.

I think I am getting more comfortable with the instrumentation of a mix but the vocals are definitely something I want to spend more time on and develop my own strategy. They are after all THE most important aspect of most mixes. Thanks for taking the time to review.

[goodidea_]

I really enjoyed this mix, kept me interested all the way to the end! Lot's of cool little tweaks with the automation and stuff. Only thing that bugged me was the kick had a bit too much click but that's just me and i thought the vocals could have been slightly quieter when there was less going on in the mix. I really liked the level of the vocals in the last section but like i said that is just what i prefer to hear! Overall a great mix that kept me entertained which is the whole point!

[danmanisa]

Typing as I listen. Agreed that this mix needs little fanfare from the engineer! Great drum sample. Snare replaced? You may have said, I'm yet to read the comments. The vocals in the first half of the verses (it's actually just some lines) feels a little naked and up front. I would assume that it is more just a little dry given the roomi-ness everything else has. Once you bring in the delayed vocal, it seems to fit better, yet that could be becasue this is the 20th version I have heard and I am used to that sound. Still, as I try to not think of what I have heard before, the main vocal to me does still seem a little close. I love the layered backing vocals. Great idea and one of the best things I have heard that is both different but exceptionally effective. Instrumentally, I don't think I can fault it, and when the vocal is not dry, you have it spot on. So really, the just about, pretty much perfect mix. Is it too much to say that I would expect this to make the final 4, maybe even win it! I'd say it will be there or there abouts! Well done!

[bobbybovine]

I really enjoyed this mix, kept me interested all the way to the end! Lot's of cool little tweaks with the automation and stuff. Only thing that bugged me was the kick had a bit too much click but that's just me and i thought the vocals could have been slightly quieter when there was less going on in the mix. I really liked the level of the vocals in the last section but like i said that is just what i prefer to hear! Overall a great mix that kept me entertained which is the whole point!

The kick funny enough was actually processed in 3 different ways depending on the section, the first barely any click for the soft beginning, then the harder middle part had a little more click, and the last was a little more again. It really didn't come across to me that is was metallish but it has been mentioned a couple of times and after listening again I can see how someone would think that. Thanks for your comments.