Mix critiques & advices - reach your mixing goals!

Ruud Reiher

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Andreas Kaufmann
Sep 22, 2021
https://soundcloud.com/andik-music/master-12-tie-your-shoes/s-lsknYUS9Bd8
Hi there,
i just worked on a new song and I'm now finished with the first mixed version. It would be so kind if I could get some feedback regarding mix/master/song itself. I need some of your fresh ears because I've lived with the song too long now to hear clearly.
Thank you so much for helping out!!
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Raymond RUTJES
Sep 22, 2021
Damn that sounds good!

Love the sound of the drums and everything else as well.

The only very small thing that bothered me at around 17' was the pads kind of getting a little too much attention compared to the vocal. Maybe a little EQ or half a db reduction there could be enough. Otherwise everything sounds perfect to my little ears, everything has it's carved out out place, and love the song :) Damn, there is a lot happening in there in the stereo field but everything sounds right, I love it!

I'm curious, did you compose the song, and if so what was the process? Did you stack things on the go? Did you do all instruments?
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Joey Sabat
Sep 23, 2021
This sounds pretty much done to me. Truly superb!
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Darryl Wood
Sep 23, 2021
I agree. Done!
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Rachael Scott
Sep 23, 2021
soooooo good
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Andreas Kaufmann
Sep 23, 2021
Thank you @Raymond RUTJES RUTJES @Joey Sabat @Darryl Wood @Rachael Scott . Cool, that you liked the mix! I'm always a bit nervous when people listen to a new song the first time.
@Raymond RUTJES Thanks for the Feedback. I give it a listen again. And yes, I composed the song and did all the instruments/vocals. While jamming around the intro was finished first. From there on I built the song from part to part. Usually I implement the vocal early on with some mumbling and later write the lyrics. For that song it was important to me to try a modern take on the "Dry 70s" (Steely Dan, Todd Rundgren, Don Henley). So every sound I chose I thought about if it could fit in that world/era. (except the Juno Synth) Hope that helps!
Thanks again!
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Raymond RUTJES
Sep 23, 2021
Thanks for the details! Amazing song!
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Joel Nicell
Sep 23, 2021
this is a fantastic mix. Love your vocal mixing especially. balance is brilliant. everything is very clear, indicates a great master. nice job
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Nikolaus Böll
Sep 23, 2021
I wouldn't change a think really good stuff !!!
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Andreas Kaufmann
Sep 23, 2021
Thanks a lot @Joel Nicell @Nikolaus Böll ! This really motivates me!
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Ben Sinclair
Sep 23, 2021
Great mix and a fantastic track @Andreas Kaufmann! Was definitely getting some of those 70s vibes, especially with those dry funky drums. Really loved the bass tone too!
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Enric Granollers
Sep 23, 2021
Sounds very good. I love the muffled sound of drums and calm atmosphere that is breathed in the whole song. Very nice guitar details with diverse effects (tremolo, wah, etc) and open wide vocals. Just for testing, maybe it lacks a little bit of brightness at frequencies above 10k and up. I notice some saturation in the highs especially in the voice, snare and hihat, I suppose it is intentional but, I don't know, maybe with a little less sounding fresher. In any case, I really like it, it is a great song and the atmosphere you have created is not easy to achieve. congratulations
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Totonno Nevone
Sep 23, 2021
wow really nice song, cool vibes and very good mix/production! Congrats
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Nick Smarto
Sep 23, 2021
Really vibey Andreas, awesome work!

Sounds great on my main monitors/sub but when I switch to my Avantones, bass gets really buried (but high-end heavy). Think you could add some low-mid harmonics/eq to the bass to make it translate better to small speakers.

Kick transient is really punchy, sometimes a bit untamed. Could use some limiting. Just on a few hits. The drums are vibey a.f., well done

LOVE the spaciousness and reverb blends, whole sound stage is delicious.

The synth that comes in hot at 1:47 is a little grating, almost like it could use a de-esser/MB around 4-6khz.

Increasing the overall mix compression might serve you to hold the groove through the spaces, and make it sit better on the 'radio'.
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Денис Белов
Sep 23, 2021
Весёлая песенка, но басс в середине песни начал раздражать. Мало низа в бассе, хочется вайба, широты и гулкости. А так молодец.
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Kérim S
Sep 24, 2021
Great stuff, lovely warm mix! Thought I heard a click at 0:32ish and in an odd other place. Didn't sound bad in context like a record crackle? But if it's a concern maybe check your cross fades.
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Andreas Kaufmann
Sep 24, 2021
Thanks for all your critiques and comments! I definitely look into it again, now.
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Cuantas Vacas
Sep 24, 2021
One late comment! Though not even close to a proficient mixer yet, I'll dare to say yours seems very well balanced and definitely helps keeping the mood throughout the whole song. And what a song!! It's a very nice and round composition, specially in the chosen chord progressions that hold the voice perfectly in place.
The only thing that made my ears and brain wake suddenly from the seamless flow of the song is everytime your verse chord progression ends on V (major). That perfect cadence seems too big a step for me, specially the Major-minor change. I think you have substituted the V for other chords further in the song, and they definitely sit more softly.
But, you know, these are such subjective details to create and to listen, and there's never a right or wrong way!
Congrats!!👌
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Andreas Kaufmann
Sep 24, 2021
Thank you for your feedback !! @Cuantas Vacas
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Aaron Calhoun
Sep 25, 2021
First off you sound a lot like, well...you. It's a really great song. None of the parts are stepping on each other. The EQ'ing is solid. The keys volume seemed to stand out a bit too much for my taste. I thought that they competed with your vocals a bit. Overall A+. A few minor tweaks you're looking at a solid A++.
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Ziggy Shpakovsky
Sep 25, 2021
I would love to criticize.
but I do not hear flaws (but do not flatter yourself - this does not mean that they are definitely not there))))).

ps I just call to say 'I liked the song'
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Susan Shoobert
Sep 25, 2021
Sounding great!
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Andreas Kaufmann
Sep 25, 2021
Thank you so much for your comments! @Aaron Calhoun @Ziggy Shpakovsky @Susan Shoobert . Means a lot to me! @ Aaron: do you mean the piano keys? Or the synth from the beginning?
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Aaron Calhoun
Sep 25, 2021
Andreas, it would be the piano/key parts similar to the part (mixed left) at 2min 30 sec. I think this particular part stood out a little more because I want it to have more body. Everything sits so well together in the mix that changing it may mess with your vision. Maybe more body, tape simulation...something to warm it up and make it less stabby.
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Andreas Kaufmann
Sep 26, 2021
Ok thanks Aaron! Ill look into it again tomorrow!