3 Way Street: "Next In Command

[superpete]

Hi All.
This is my first recording that i have made with my firestudio...Ill give you a quick rundown of the process and attach my current mix to the bottom.

The mix is finished yet, and needs some bashing, i want this thing to be as good as possible, im doing everything for free at the moment and need to get experience to start charging!

Anyways....

Day 1: Conditions = Far Less Than Perfect, I took my rig over to the drummer house and recorded in his loungeroom, Drummer recorded to a click, with no other band members helping with the structure etc, and was spot on!. .

Kick - Beta 52 [The kick is a Mix of sample and original
Snare - SM57
Tom1/2 & 3/4 - SM57
Overheads - Axis1 SDCs

Day 2: Guitar -
SM57 on a Marshall MG100DFX into my mini guitarfort thing i made up for the occasion.
Also recorded a D.I. Track.
Guitars are 50/50 recorded amp and amp sim

Day 3: Bass and Vocals
I believe i used a '57 on vocals for this one. Let me know how you think it sounds. IMO its not terrible. couldnt do much better with what i have.

Bass, Di + amp sim

Day 4: Vocals/..again
The vocalist forgot some lyrics the first time round so i got him back and redid it, same mic etc.

Well Here the current mix......

[superpete]

If you like the band, check out there website, can give some feedback on that too if you like,
3 Way Street Website

They have changed a LOT since there last album but still some pretty good stuff.

[PeterSimonRussell]

Random thoughts

I didn't really get this track when it started, the drums were being over-powered by the guitar riff. I sort of think that's what was intended now.

The drummer is good but his drums (esp. toms) sound cheap.

Is the bass too distorted?

Sorry I only have a short attention span these days and 4:25 is a bit long.

Perhaps the vocals need to be a bit wetter?

Overall it sounds like a live mix - given that it was done a bit at a time that's quite an achievement. Unfortunately it also has the rawness of a live mix, and I guess that's not what was required.

If people are going to pay you then you need to cut the hiss off the front and good basic studio practice stuff like that.

[BillyO]

Really liked the song. That break at about 3:20 was just beggin for a guitar solo though.

[fHumble fHingaz]

Guitar riff & sound is quite cool, vocals are perhaps too "out front" & dry for a rock tune - they need to integrate more. I'm hearing some flamming occurring, possibly between the recorded kick & the sample... Not keen at all on the snare sound - sounds like it's coming from the next room - possibly there are some tuning issues with it too, but I'm not a drummer so I don't say that with any authority - just a hunch.

[superpete]

Originally Posted by BillyO

Really liked the song. That break at about 3:20 was just beggin for a guitar solo though.

I agree 100% oin that one, ill talk to the band...

The drummer is good but his drums (esp. toms) sound cheap.

It was a gretch Drum kit, i think it cost close to 2 grand, It sounds great live IMO, ill see if it was just a engineering error that made them sound cheap

Perhaps the vocals need to be a bit wetter?

i Agree

Sorry I only have a short attention span these days and 4:25 is a bit long.

Thats far enough, Thanks for listening

vocals are perhaps too "out front" & dry for a rock tune - they need to integrate more

The vocal level changes dramtically throughout so i have to automate them and havnt done that yet, that why theyre too loud in sme part and too soft in others..

Anyway,Thanks for all you input ill have a fiddle and get back to you with a new mix.

[ssdolbey]

Sup,

You're right the drummer was spot on!

The vox doubling (maybe a plugin?) is too much IMO. It can be good used sparingly.

There was a high FQ that was coming off the right side cymbal that could be tamed a bit.

And yes please drop a solo in there around 3:20

~skidder

[superpete]

You're right the drummer was spot on!

He's not a bad drummer, i wish we had more time when tracking cos there are few drum bits id like to improve on..

The vox doubling (maybe a plugin?) is too much IMO. It can be good used sparingly.

The vocals were tracked twice, straight after each other, i thought id give it a go and try make the vocals seem more powerful... Ill try a mix with only one vocal take

There was a high FQ that was coming off the right side cymbal that could be tamed a bit.

Ill try find it and fix it up

And yes please drop a solo in there around 3:20

I wil do my best!

Thanks

[ssdolbey]

Originally Posted by superpete

The vocals were tracked twice, straight after each other, i thought id give it a go and try make the vocals seem more powerful... Ill try a mix with only one vocal

Pete,

If you just want to thicken up the vox you can use the second take just bring it down far enough in the mix that you can't distinguish the dictation.

You will undoubtedly have to use automation for this.

It can work with the right amount of effort. I will use this technique in the chorus (or bridge) sometimes just to give a different vocal presence.
I use a slightly different eq and effect on each vox. Then I choose the best vox to be up front and present. The second vox will usually run between 5-10 db lower than the main vox and may possibly be panned a little off center depending on what the song calls for.

Good luck mixing.

~skidder

[superpete]

Thanks for the tip, ill give it a try.