working on my metal sound

[j03]

So, I've been working on getting a decent metal sound and I "think" im getting close.

It would be awesome if some people with different monitoring situations could take a listen and let me know what you think.

Is there anything that stands out as way off that I'm not noticing?

Talking about EQ/processing and mix. Not really song composition.

[Sir. Witchback]

I dig it man, sounds better then most the shit ive done.

[Ross111]

Those sound really amazing, especially the first one. Any chance of sharing what gear you used?

[j03]

Thanks - no prob

1st clip:
Early 90's Ibanez S series w/ stock pickups going into the newish Ibanez tube king distortion pedal. That goes into a Peavey TG Raxx guitar tube pre pluged into a valve junior with a custom built 2x12 cab based on an avatar cab using emenence texas heat speakers.

Mic'd with a sm58 with the popfilter removed (still need a 57)

Bass - Crappy peavey with active EMG pickups - direct in

Drums - Superior 2.0 (played with a DIY e-kit)

Bass and guitar are going into a presonus FP10 into Sonar

The 2nd clip:
Everything the same accept using an Ibanez Artcore AFS75

[brandondrury]

Bass is big. Maybe a hair too big. I'd be tempted to pull it down 1dB or cut 150-200Hz by 1-2dB.

The guitars are big and in your face. Excellent!

The whole mix is pumping a bit, but kinda in a fun way. It makes the guitars sound bigger when the compressor sucks a bit everytime they hit. It works for this song (and a cool trick to memorize) but if the guitars were constant it may not be as pleasing.

The snare is my only real grip. It actually sounds good, but it's more along the lines of John Mayer natural snare. Because of the pumping nature of the mix and the outrageously huge guitars, it just makes sense to hyper compress it too.

Create 2 new aux sends.
One, use a compressor (I like URS 1980) with an attack of 0ms and a release of 75ms give or take. Use a 10:1 ratio and knock off 12dB from the snare. Blend that in.

Next, use either a compressor, even better, something like SPL Transient Designer to add a shit ton of attack on the front. (The Transient Designer can actually do the sustain thing we want in the first bus as well).

You need to use your ears when blending these in. If it sound overboard, it probably is. Too much of them and your mix will sound retarded. Not enough and you are closer to John Mayer land.

For metal, I personally like the sound of the snare hitting the 2bus a little hard. I want that. We don't want it to distort, we just want to cram down it back down in the mix.....kinda like cramming your boner back in your pants when you get caught jacking off.

The idea is to make it sound as if the drummer is hittin the drums WAY louder than he really is.

Brandon

Brandon

[j03]

Wow, thanks for the detailed breakdown.

When you say bass are you referring to the bass guitar only or the entire mix?

I see what you're saing about the snare - will give it my best shot.