SDC JULY_War and Trees

[IMF OnSite Recording]

This will be my first, but not last, mix entry. I learned that lower track count does not mean easier mix. On the other hand, having many vocal tracks allowed for me to utilize them in different parts of the songs and really dig deep into the automation.
One thing I payed close attention to was riding gates on the probably 90% of the vocal tracks. Loud chair creeking and slappy spit-mouth had to go because once I heard it, I could hear it in the mix. Spending some extra time on getting the drums to have more impact was a must in this mix for me and I certainly needed to keep the cello alive..

I've slammed my head against the desk enough and it will just get worse if I spend 5 more minutes on it, so it's time to let go of it! Enjoy!

[BillyBoBBizWorth]

Groovy mix! i dig it.I like the effect you used on the transition at the end of the bridge/solo section.By the way im curious what you used for that? It sounds like its been reversed,but im not sure what track its been used from.My guess its the ride/crash from around 1:30-1:35? Am i right?

The delay/echo vocals with that lo-fi,radio style tone sound really good.The drums work and seem quite balanced.Everything sounds good where it is.

I've slammed my head against the desk enough and it will just get worse if I spend 5 more minutes on it, so it's time to let go of it! Enjoy!

I agree,i think im well and truly past the expiry date myself,hopefully should have it uploaded soon.For me,the amount of times ive listened to it,i feel ive killed this track just like the radio stations do these days.

Good mix!

Cheers

[fHumble fHingaz]

I love the width of this mix, Ian. The tones & the balances are great. I LOVE the punchy-ness of that kick drum! - I think it would translate well on smaller systems too, because it doesn't have a ton of subs in it.

However, the kick is right on the edge of being too loud for me - The reason being more to do with the effect on the overall groove... to my way of reasoning, it overpowers the snare, which counterbalances the rhythm & moves it forward. Perhaps if the snare was a little more prominent by comparison, the song would feel a little more energetic? I'm being picky & theorizing here... It mightn't even be an issue of actual volume - maybe the snare could just be a little more bright & cutting.

The vocals seem to suffer from a little bit of shyness volume-wise - with a pop song like this, the vocals could afford to be bigger IMO. Particularly from about 1:34 after the break, the lower register vocals get a little swallowed by the instruments - a simple automation fix there. The chorus vocals sound great.

One thing I payed close attention to was riding gates on the probably 90% of the vocal tracks. Loud chair creeking and slappy spit-mouth had to go

You just got me wondering on this point - Manually cutting the 'dead space' out of vocal tracks is my modus operandi. I've found that while it takes a lot of time, it allows you to do things like bring down breaths, nasty sibilance & the like, & pay attention to any little glitches that come along. I've been finding that if I have to spend too much time automating gates, the time would be better spent just manually editing. The only things I gate these days are live snares & kicks - everything else - even live tom tracks, get the manual treatment.

I know I sound like I'm being really critical here, but IMO this is a pro-sounding mix - very cool - top job!

[drummer67]

I like this alot.The only thing that comes to mind is the kick, maybe just like 2 db lower during verses, too me tends to distract from the volcals just a bit. I like the click I'm hearing in the kick as well.very well balance through out.Very nice job on the mix.

[IMF OnSite Recording]

Thanks ; the only part I know I think I fell short of was the vocals. I didn't spend enough time on them but got a decent theme throughout the song as it progressed, having the first vocal and chorus be lower end and saving the higher end "prettier" vocals for the latter choruses.

Yes it was a reversed crash crossfaded with a regular.. and abused with reverb and some panning and volume automation. The effects were constantly moving. I had so many faders automating on them I couldn't even tell you right now what's what.

That last radio style delay I used on a few words like "mine" and "my mind" etc. Just for the last chorus for it to be noticeable. I pretty much just got the settings where I wanted and automated the delay bus for the vocal track that had a send to it and also automated the mix % as well as feedback and panning.

If I send a pic of the automation lines I did in this mix, it would look like a 2 year old wrote on the wal with a deluxe crayola box of crayonsl. Why not, Let me do that.

This may look like quite a bit.. but if I am automating some filters.. its going to crap out 3-5 envelopes as I am adjusting several things simultaneously.

automation.png

[IMF OnSite Recording]

I know I sound like I'm being really critical here, but IMO this is a pro-sounding mix - very cool - top job!

Thanks fhumble, I appreciate it. I did a quick fake mastering job on it big time. It was just sonar's 64bit linear phase EQ into an L2. I don't own any mastering software plugs yet. It's actually the 3rd or 4th full mix I've ever done. I sort of shifted from tracking to mixing over the past 12 months when I moved into my new home and took over the garage for a studio. I do agree with you on the vocals, and I have so much other stuff going on that I sent the mix out before I was 100% happy with it, but every time I do I mix I get about 30% better, so I hope I am at least heading in the right direction.

However, the kick is right on the edge of being too loud for me

That is true. I ended up toning down the snare and rolling off some highs because the parallel compressed bus of the snare was too much on my ears when double checking through my hd280's and referencing with other snares I like. In turn, I did not compensate the kick in scale with it.. this was all in my last 5-10 minutes of being done with this mix. The bite you are hearing is my parallel compression that I rolled the lows off of. That could easily come down 2db. As for the 808 a threw underneath the kick, it was right where I wanted it without a doubt. I just need to watch my parallel compression a bit closer towards the end.

I love the width of this mix, Ian. The tones & the balances are great.

I owe all of that to my sonitus delay and reverb as well as my lexicon hall verb bus for that. The R Comp is by far my favorite compressor and it was used on alot of joining busses but I had to say I still like the sonitus comp alot(Danzi can back me up on this one). Having several styles of compression going on whether its lA2a, 1176, or whatever.. and letting different attacks and releases work with eachother like a puzzle is what im trying to do to aquire space. Delays and mid-side are great ways of helping clear out middle too to give a good wide sound. Panning automation has become something I enjoy lately too.

As far as riding gates.,, that took me about 10 minutes for all vocal tracks. I am bad at chopping things up manually. Recording a fader works best for me.

[BillyBoBBizWorth]

You just got me wondering on this point - Manually cutting the 'dead space' out of vocal tracks is my modus operandi. I've found that while it takes a lot of time, it allows you to do things like bring down breaths, nasty sibilance & the like, & pay attention to any little glitches that come along. I've been finding that if I have to spend too much time automating gates, the time would be better spent just manually editing. The only things I gate these days are live snares & kicks - everything else - even live tom tracks, get the manual treatment.

I agree,i actually spend the most time manually editing myself,glad to know someone else is doing it.Although,i do enjoy editing it that way personally.

[thomastx750]

This is a super clean professional pop mix. The drums are punchy and clean. Just a few tweaks and this thing is the possible winner. I liked how you used the lower vocals on the verse and the slap back delay really fit that style. What I didn't like was when it transitioned to the bridge and vocals were much higher it didn't transition well, to me. One of the other critique's is that in the chorus's the synth melody almost takes over the vocals, maybe this is just a taste thing. Overall, really well done.

[IMF OnSite Recording]

I liked how you used the lower vocals on the verse and the slap back delay really fit that style.

Thanks. Those vox were fed into my virus delay bus and they shared the same effect to different degrees. The wet mix in the delay had automation on the LP and HP filters as well.

I was on the verge of reconstructing all the vocals before I exported it and ended up putting the low ones in there quickly before uploading it. I guess I didn't want to obsess over it too much but on the other hand I can still tweak it in the future.

One of the other critique's is that in the chorus's the synth melody almost takes over the vocals, maybe this is just a taste thing.

It started out as laziness but I liked it too much. I had a lot of fun automating the filters on the synth as well... even though I could have moved it out of the way a little more for the vocals.

The only thing that comes to mind is the kick, maybe just like 2 db lower during verses, too me tends to distract from the volcals just a bit.

Yeah, I could have automated the parallel compressed send of the kick during vocals. That would have taken some of the punchy bite out of it. I would rather keep the low end consistent.

[danmanisa]

Typing as I listen, it is a very different approach vocally. I quite like the slow build of vocals. I'm not used to the first verse being the sole deep vocal. I liked it with the little delay, as dry it would sound a little too strange with the ambient synth. I like how you eq-ed the synth while the "so cold" section took over! Very nice. I would, however, say that the vocals there are way too low and I could barely make them out. In contrast, that kick is pretty up front. Is it too loud? Possibly not. I think if the vocals came up on the whole (especially in the 'so cold' section) it would be fine. On second listen, there are parts where the kick really does stand out, mainly in the synth solo.
Strings sound nice and balanced very well. They work really well with those harmony vocals to create a cool wall sound!! Love it.Your last chorus of your mix is the best part, it really comes together, drives and makes you want to move and sing. Love the ending too! To me, sonically spot on, just a few balances with the vocals and kick. Good work, welcome to the competition and I look forward to checking out your next mix!

[redworks]

i am digging your approach selectively using the vocals you were given to build through out the song. i do feel though that they could have up in volume a touch. the general vibe that you have achieved is great and the instruments are well balanced. i am not sure if i like the little 'mind' vocal that pops in one side then the other. that maybe something that would grow on me as i listened longer, in fact it may end up being brilliant but right now they are just a little too prominent. your mix has got me thinking in a good way. glad that you are a part of this competition.

[IMF OnSite Recording]

i am digging your approach selectively using the vocals you were given to build through out the song. i do feel though that they could have up in volume a touch.

I agree 100% with you.. i didnt spend the time on vocals that i did everywhere else.. and its not like i had a deadline that night - i really should have spent another part of my evening on it, but thats ok -

your mix has got me thinking in a good way.

thanks, everything music-wise is based on inspiration so thats a good thing!

[Magnolius]

Great mix! Everything works really well. The vocals are really tasteful and the way you built the arrangement adds interest. Nice touch with the filter fx on the synths I think you really brought out the best in the recorded material and it sounds really professional and polished. I love the spaciousness and punch. If should be be a little picky I would say that I would have preferred a little bolder arrangement. But then that's just my personal feeling about the song and not necessarily a good mixing call

[IMF OnSite Recording]

Great mix! Everything works really well. The vocals are really tasteful and the way you built the arrangement adds interest. Nice touch with the filter fx on the synths I think you really brought out the best in the recorded material and it sounds really professional and polished. I love the spaciousness and punch. If should be be a little picky I would say that I would have preferred a little bolder arrangement. But then that's just my personal feeling about the song and not necessarily a good mixing call

Thanks I appreciate it. As far as arrangement, I purposely did not change any arrangement. I figured if I just mix the song, everyone will be focusing on those elements rather than arrangement elements. If this was a producer contest, I would have approached it much differently

[bobbybovine]

Ian, Sounds very good man. I really like the movement you created on the virus track. I feel that sometimes it goes a bit too far to where you can barely here it but other than that I really like it. The vox in the chorus is bugging me a bit. You chose to use the vox track with the most low end in it, and I can really hear that buildup in the low mid, most notably on the "sometimes I feel like" part. Some more high passing or notch eqing to get rid of that is necessary. The vox as a whole are on the low side (except the first verse), especially for this type of song, bring those up a couple of db. The virus synth at 1:50 is filtered heavily then when the tone swings up again I feel you left it a touch too late, I would like to hear the brightness come back fully just as the synth stops. But Ian I am being fairly picky here mainly because there isn't a lot to pick apart. The kick, snare, bass and all the instruments play very nice together, have a very nice width to them. Solid job!!

[IMF OnSite Recording]

T

he vox as a whole are on the low side (except the first verse), especially for this type of song, bring those up a couple of db

I agree with you on the vox bobby, I spent a fraction of the time on them as I did with the music elements, and as I said before, kinda pushed it out sooner than I wanted to. The same things I was very doubtful about are the same things people are noticing.. so thats a big lesson for me there .

The virus synth at 1:50 is filtered heavily then when the tone swings up again I feel you left it a touch too late, I would like to hear the brightness come back fully just as the synth stops.

I guess I would call that a taste thing. I listened to that part several times and was careful with my movement on it, but I appreciate the attention to detail that you are picking up on.

The vox in the chorus is bugging me a bit. You chose to use the vox track with the most low end in it, and I can really hear that buildup in the low mid, most notably on the "sometimes I feel like" part.

I didn't notice enough offense lows on the first chorus.. that must be the one you were talking about.. Ill have to investigate that. I felt it needed the lower vocals there because there were so many vocal tracks for the chorus that if I always used high ones, each chorus would sound the same and to me that would be very boring. I was building dynamics in the vocals as the song progressed. I did automation but my levels got all messed up and I didn't spend the extra time I should have to make it right. Best thing about it is that I learned .

I also felt that all vocals after the first chorus on my mix were way off level wise... I am saying this from the perspective of someone giving a critique.

Thanks for the insight, it makes me stronger every time!

[wireman957]

Nice width and control over most of the upper mid synth "ouch" stuff. My first general impression is that the kick is a little loud and missing some subs - the kick is very prominent, but the overall low end is not really satisfying me. Trying to listen as if I were hearing it on the radio or in a club, and I think the song just wants a little more "oomph" down low. There was a little sibilance in the vocals, mostly during the choruses, that distracted me (probably a by-product of compression as much as anything) - other than that your vocals sound great.

A very nice mix, though, overall. Well done!

[IMF OnSite Recording]

There was a little sibilance in the vocals, mostly during the choruses, that distracted me (probably a by-product of compression as much as anything)

It was a by-product of only deessing maybe one track other than the ALL VOX bus. So many vocal tones, one setting couldn't possibly remove all sibilance, and my mix is proof of that. Bad move and laziness on my part, not good to cut corners on that kinda stuff. Another lesson learned!

My first general impression is that the kick is a little loud and missing some subs - the kick is very prominent, but the overall low end is not really satisfying me.

Im sure the bass is up high enough on the DJ's EQ at the club to compensate for it. Most songs have the ear damaging, chest smashing lows in the kick.. and I am not a fan of that, but rather a fan of clarity and presence. The best route for me would probably be bring down the parallel kick bus a couple db and bring my 808 sample up a couple db... since that was the foundation of the low end. I'll definitely try that out! Thanks

[kakeux]

Hi,

Definitely a cool one. It is funny to see how you used the vocals track gives a really different feel to the song, good point.

Everything seems correctly balanced. Maybe the kick during the verses could be a tad too loud, but not that much. I like the fact that it is not a low kick but a punchy one.

Good job for me!

[lucccien]

My first impression is that this is a very good approach. I'm biased but I think the highs could have used just a little bit of taming. The mix isn't harsh or anything, but it's almost seems like it's about to get that way even though it doesn't. The highs in my mix were just a touch not enough, so it's all subjective I suppose, and my mix is far from perfect and not as crafty (though I am happy with it ). I noticed a lot of tasteful automation and fx going on throughout your mix. Excellent work!

[garageband]

Since I typically listen to only one of these monthly tunes, I'm sure glad I picked this. This just great. I loved it all. This is ready for Radio 1 now. Killer. Just can't say enough good about this. This goes in my itunes right now.

[Chromaphonic]

Very Cool Mix! I love the dynamics and automation you used. only thing I really noticed is the low frequencies of that kick are a tiny bit much, reducing this may also help the bass poke out a bit more than it is. But overall really cool stuff!

[Egavas]

Nice Mix Dude!!

Hhmmm....... Vox up a touch in places, kick down a touch in places
What can I say that hasn't already been said......

Right at the start the word 'Try' can be heard a bar early, as if the singer came in to soon and thought better of it
I've had things like that happen sometimes when demuteing a delay with automation so tend automate the send volume instead. Although that might just be my crappy plugin

Good job, I look forward to hearing more from you

Edd

[jerze]

Very wide mix. Nice use of effects just a great sounding mix. And this is your only (3rd or 4th full mix I've ever done) nice. Its personal taste but may be a little less verb on the hi hat Very nice job

[pkv2010]

A great sounding smooth mix - congrats. Vocals sound great, and their placement is great too. Drums sound great – clean and powerful. Tone and placement of synths and cello were lovely. The vocals in the verses are a bit low in mix, and especially in the ‘This heart’s…’ lines (2 dB increase). Overall, the mix seemed to travel with a similar energy all the way through – I would have liked to hear some arrangement tweaking that gave it more dramatic ‘light and shade’ in places. Also, was the vocal reverb ‘timed’ with the song tempo? It didn’t sound like it, and for a song like this (with such strict tempo) it would have made a better impact. The last ‘mine’ effect: it was a good to hear a dramatic change, though I am not sure about that combination of effects as I wasn’t left feeling excited or surprised. However, overall a great mix.