Mixdown Practicing & Learning

Magghy Ji

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Ron Allen
Dec 29, 2024
Week 52 - Empty Nest
If my track sounds like it's from the 70s a little, it's because I used 'Moving' by Kate Bush as a reference. This was not an easy one and I know I could do more to get separation between the strings and the horns, but here it is. I did clean up those scratchy background vocals and used them. Those tracks confounded me. Feedback welcome and appreciated.
https://app.boombox.io/app/shares/cgw85yjAPo6MdmX9N
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Maurice Robinson
Dec 29, 2024
Hi Ron, I like you mix generally. Nice use of reverb, however like mine, and others I have listened to, this brings up a lot a sibilance. You seem to have gone for punchy with the drums in the loud section, wihch is a different approach to the one I took - I wanted to keep the song more gentle in nature despite the build. The kick for me is a little prominent in that part. I'm torn on the bass - what have you used here? I like this sort of bassline to flow, so it seems to take away from that for me, but there's still something about it that I do like - I used very very gentle chorus on mine but tried to keep it smooth. I think you've dealt with the inconsitent vocal performance better than most (if not all that I've heard so far) - they flow in volume throughout and are always in touch with the instruments. A fine achievement :)
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James Rosenthal
Dec 29, 2024
Nice balance, the vocal sounds a little thin to me.
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Ron Allen (author)
Dec 29, 2024
Maurice, I was matching my bass sound to the reference track and that entire Kate Bush album (The Kick Inside) has prominent, mid-rangy, sort of fuzzy bass. I think it was a thing back then. I liked it, but actually pushed it back a little more than the reference!. It has EQ with hi and low filters and a peak around 850Hz; tube saturation; and LA2A style compression -- pretty much a 70's bass rig.
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Jay Harper
Dec 29, 2024
Hi, Ron! Well done! I really like the balance you've achieved. Yes, cleaning up those BG's really took some time for me. Tedious.

I feel like there might be a bit much reverb on the lead vocal. It sits too far back in the sound stage for me. The snare drum sounds thin, like the bottom mic is out of polarity with the top mic.

Otherwise, I feel like you did a great job with the mix. Nice work!
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Antonio Hinojosa
Dec 29, 2024
Hi Ron! Your mix sounds great! I was surprised by the sound of your bass, it could be a good choice. The vocals may have some sibilance. Thanks for sharing your work! Greetings! 😊
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Maurice Robinson
Dec 30, 2024
Hi Ron, I remember buying The Kick Inside when it was released, but have not heard it in decades - maybe time for a revisit? She was the local celebrity, living just a few miles up the road from where I grew up. Maybe this (the distant album memory, not the celebrity!) is why there's something that I liked about it.
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Magghy Ji
Dec 30, 2024
Hey Ron, good job! I like the atmosphere in your mix, I agree with Jay on the reverb and with Antonio ;P