Mix Critiques

Christian Labeck
Sep 24, 2021

I finished a mix for a local band today that I had recorded a while back. It’s a cover of a Michael Jackson song, mixed to match the live-sound style of the band.

I am more or less happy with it - but I fear I might have lost perspective after spending hours editing the backing vocal track (It is a comp of multiple lead vocal takes that didn‘t make it into the lead vocal track).

Would you listen to it and let me know if there is anything disturbing left in the mix in general and specifically if the backing vocals are OK ?

Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VUDzmRq7hY_IokSmqUnFKK_XHOhoVi4b/view?usp=drivesdk

Thanks a bunch,
Chris

4 props

Kérim S
Sep 25, 2021

Sounds really well balanced 🙂

I might be imagining this but it feels like the kick is bouncing/pulsing round my headphones. Gets more pronounced as the band builds up the intensity of the song from 2:40. Might be some weird streaming issue, might be my ears are shot from being out last night (don't drink and mix kids - soundgym has taught me that).

0 props

Ziggy Shpakovsky
Sep 25, 2021

first, I must warn about my not high qualifications (yet) as a sound engineer :)
so, let the older boys correct if any of the thoughts are wrong
- it seemed to me that the vocals would become even better if you add a little BODY to it. or perhaps it is just enough to slightly reduce the harshness of it.
- sometimes it seemed that I wanted to hear more lowend
- it would not hurt to add drama to the mix. increasing the difference in the sound of different parts of the song. it could be more expressive. and for this song, it would be in favor

0 props

Arthur Reich
Sep 25, 2021

actually it's barely hearable that there are backing vocals. (Btw this is totally not my genre, but i want to make sure everyone has some feedback) You could try panning the backing vocals a bit. And something like a reverb athmosphere from the vocal in the background could be cool (delayed reverb or sth). Generally i dont hear something odd tho, great job at that!

0 props

Matt Middleton
Sep 25, 2021

Agreed, the backup vocals are almost completely lost. I wouldn't mind hearing more of them. Maybe pan them wide, increase the level and crank up the reverb to push them back in the mix.

Also, I think it would help to nudge the instruments and vocals a little to line them up better. Feels like the the vocals esp are ahead/behind at various times throughout. Nothing sounds like it shouldn't be there though. Nice job!

0 props

Christian Labeck
Sep 25, 2021

Thanks guys, I appreciate your feedback a lot. I am travelling this weekend but will do a revision next week based on it! Cheers, Chris

0 props

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