My 1st atempt at recording/mixing - Bash Away!

[Thetrance]

This is a recording I did of my Flip Hop band using Cubase. It's a mix between live hip hop and light rock. Give me all you got I can take it.

01 Layer Cake.mp3

[jjb]

Flip hop is new to me, but I like the sound! Nice performance and good job recording. The only part that made me wince a bit was that "bling bling" thing on the right channel. A bit too shrill and too far to one side for my taste. The recording is a bit "hot"; sounds like if you added any more volume you'd start distorting (if you're not using compression on the output, I'd consider it). Other than that, I enjoyed listening. Welcome to the forum.

jjb

[Thetrance]

Thanks for the input JJB... We couldn't figure out how to define our style so we decided to create the genre "Flip-Hop". Could you please tell me the time where the "bling bling" that made your skin crawl is? I did run an over all compression on the track but I tried to max out the levels with out running it into the red. If I pull it down 1 or 2 DB do you think that would fix the problem? By the way, what is a good DB level to aim for on final output?

Thanks for bashing my track,
Thetrance

[jjb]

It starts around 24 or 25 seconds. When I listened again on computer speakers, it was much less pronounced. Sometimes the headphones magnify certain aspects (that's why its hard to mixdown with headphones only). When mixing down, I try to shoot for 0 db average with peaks no greater than 3 db.

jjb

[dsangree]

Wow, impressive. I would buy this CD as is. But you wanted suggestions, so here goes.

1) the "piano" flub at 0:18 must be fixed. It takes me out of the rhythm. (its hard to guess the best way to edit this without seeing the multitrack, but you could maybe take out a note or 2 and give a cool pause effect? who knows? [watch the reverb tails though])

2) I think the vocals on the whole track should be boosted by .5-1dB. I don't think that it is ever a problem that they are unclear, but you would get more of an "in your head" sound. In addition, you sculpted the vocals so well that I think you should show them off just a tiny bit.

3) There is a slight mastering issue. The piano at the beginning is distorting. You make have to back down a tiny bit on your gain boosting. I hear distortion later in the track, but it sounds "musical/artistic" so I would only worry about fixing the opening piano segment.

4) The claps at 3:12ish start out on beat, but the band rushes/speeds up depending on the way you look at it. Now I think the speeding up actually sounds really cool, but the claps aren't exactly with the beat by the end of the clapping section. Now believe me, this problem/suggestion is very minor, but you could shift the last couple of clap measures earlier in time by .01-.03 sec. I think it would allow the song to drive the listener a little more with that speed up that is going on. Again, this one is very minor and maybe not worth your time, but in case you wanted to know I think it would improve the track.

All in all, excellent work. Really. I would actually like to review more of your work.

[Thetrance]

Thanks For Bashing my Mix... I'll look into all your suggestions... I appreciate the kind words as well, this really is my first attempt at recording and mixing I just hope its not just beginners luck. I guess it also helps that I have really great musicians to work with.

Once I have more tracks ready to review I'll let you know.

[musiclovesryan]

you got to start somewhere,

[pablo.station]

Sounds great!