Metal mix

[Razortalon]

For the record, this is on subpar gear. I'm using headphones as a microphone (which works better than I thought), because my interface hasn't gotten here yet, and im monitoring with iPod headphones (i'm getting either real monitors or monitor headphones this weekend.) Given that, what would you suggest? I've already had one person tell me they couldn't hear the bass, and another say it completely overpowered everything else, so I'm a bit confused on how to proceed. The second mix is my attempt to take into account what those other guys said.

EDIT: This is the song up intil the vocals come in. We don't have a vocalist yet, and what we do with the rest of the song will depend on what the vocalist sounds like.

[rdwbasser]

i think the main problemis the bass....i think it needs some eq. it sounds very reggae-mostly low lows less than 100 hz... i'd cut a ton of those out and maybe boost a bit around 200 or so.

[dannydesmond]

hi, not that that i have lots of experience, i would personnaly bring the drums up a bit louder in the mix. Or put some more stronger samples over the bass drum or something. Unless your going for something more natural.

Also the bass may have too much low end, you probably didnt hear that on your head phones since they couldnt spit out those frequencies but when you have a sub in your set up it really rumbles!

Song wise, i think it sounds pretty cool. im sure you will be able to fix the bass when you have monitors!

Cheers

[PeterSimonRussell]

1. You're overloading the inputs or the digits - too much level
2. Tune the lead guitar - its not hard if you have one of those tuner thingies
3. Actually all the relative mix levels are about right
4. Don't record anything else until you have something decent to monitor on
5. In the meantime, work on the material, performance and getting excellent guitar sounds

PS Phones are more cost effective - buy these and a good microphone or two rather than monitors if money is short. In the meantime, mix with the phones and check the result on a decent hi-fi.

[Razortalon]

I think the clipping is because the volume is too loud for the headphones to handle. I actually have real mics, and my interface just got here today, but I have nothing that can plug into a 1/4" jack to listen with, so I cant really do anything until I can get over to Guitar Center (Maybe not the best place to get stuff, but I have a $200 gift card for there.) Am I right in thinking that monitors in that price are not going to be very useful, and that monitoring headphones would be better? And I agree about the drums, I listened to it again and you can't hear much of anything besides the cymbals. Don't know how i missed that... When I try and EQ the bass the sound barely changes at all, even withlike 20 dB boosts. Is that just because of the iPod headphones?

[line6gigety1]

clipping is out of control, if this is for musical reference to show some of the other guys in the band or for them to practice to thats one thing but for recording purposes, get yourself a good interface with clip meters as well as some monitors because its all stuff that might seem to be overkill in the begining but you will be so much happier with everything in the end. Honestly recording like this will have no one wanting to listen to it because it fatigues the ear so fast and is just an unpleasent experience. once u have the right gear things will be much easier for you, good luck and i look forward to hearing something done after u get some gear
Cheers
A.J.

[cakewalkgg]

Originally Posted by Razortalon

I think the clipping is because the volume is too loud for the headphones to handle. I actually have real mics, and my interface just got here today, but I have nothing that can plug into a 1/4" jack to listen with, so I cant really do anything until I can get over to Guitar Center (Maybe not the best place to get stuff, but I have a $200 gift card for there.) Am I right in thinking that monitors in that price are not going to be very useful, and that monitoring headphones would be better? And I agree about the drums, I listened to it again and you can't hear much of anything besides the cymbals. Don't know how i missed that... When I try and EQ the bass the sound barely changes at all, even withlike 20 dB boosts. Is that just because of the iPod headphones?

YA I tried a bunch of monitors and I have a tight budget.. I ended up with the mackie mr5s and am satisfied but that's about the entry point for something useful (around $300-$325)