Mix Critiques

https://soundcloud.com/nick-revel/godspeed/s-2XtTGI4Po95

Tried my hand at a synthwave-inspired track. Could use your feedback on the mix! I wrote this in Ableton, about probably 20 audio/midi tracks and 5 return tracks. "Mixed" as I wrote and then bounced groups and return tracks out a stems, which i then mixed in Logic. Still pretty new to digital instruments and get confused where the "writing" stops and the "mixing" starts. Any feedback welcome. Overall, pretty happy with it, but sometimes at the peak the sound gets squashed a bit much? also maybe a little muddy low mids?? can't tell anymore. thanks!

4 props

Thomas Redmond
Sep 15

The mixing on any track starts from when you record or input your first instrument! i like some of the lo-fi elements, and the arpeggiation. Yes i think there is lots going on in the low mids this can cause some clashing at times. Overall nice vibe! especially towards the end.

1 props

Ben Sinclair
Sep 21

Hey Nick, really liked this track, awesome vibe you achieved! Yeah I don't know what that crackling/popping/rustling sound is but it's really noticeable in the softer parts of the song and a bit distracting. I'd try to figure out what that is and fix it, it takes away from the chill ambience you got going on. Nice work!

1 props

Spike Mann
Sep 21

I think the line between writing, arranging and mixing is a lot more blurred with electronic music than with acoustic. IMHO mixing with acoustic is much more about blending the sound you’ve been given and bringing out the purity of the instruments, whereas with electronic you’re still very much shaping the sound when you mix.

1 props

Nick Revel
Sep 23

@Ben Sinclair Good to know and thanks for the feedback! I was trying out izotope vinyl...it's intentional, but maybe not the right vibe for the song. I do like the warping of pitch and the warming/saturation effect but that stutter is a bit annoying and I don't think you can take it off of the plugin...unless I'm an idiot and am missing the button...which is possible haha. Do you recommend any good tape plugins that aren't a bajillion monies?

1 props

Nick Revel
Sep 23

@Spike Mann Thanks for checking out the tune! Yeah based on my pretty limited electronic writing I'm in agreement with you. Which for me...is a potential disaster when i get to the stems mix and I'm like "Well what if i just tweak the 2k range in the lead a bit" then i have to go back to the original session, bounce out, load in mix session etc...anyway i'll figure out my flow eventually. Do you have a specific process or moment when you know you're ready to move to bouncing midi to audio?

0 props

Ben Sinclair
Sep 23

@Nick Revel The Virtual Tape Machine in the Slate bundle is my go to. There's also Hornet Tape https://www.hornetplugins.com/plugins/hornet-tape/ which goes onsale periodically for like 7-8 Euros, it's a pretty good tape emulation that will get the track warmed up. One thing to note though tape hiss is automatically selected so you have to turn that off.

1 props

Niklas Huber
Sep 23

awesome track and mix

1 props

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