Mixdown Practicing & Learning

Magghy Ji

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Hans Mulders
Dec 27, 2020
Boatride
Hey guys, I joined in on the fun again ;)
I switched from Cubase to Protools some weeks ago and am trying to find my workflow as I had it in Cubase. I'm getting there ;) Also I bought some outboard equiptment (Warm Audio Buss Compressor and the Warm Audio WA76) to get more into the basics of compression. Somehow this is how my brain learns.
Anyway nice track.
Challenging is the fact that the number of tracks keep piling up during the song. Organs, backings etc. I used the 'alternative drum and bass track'.
Some functional compression on most tracks. Paralel compression on drums and bass. Room mic is blown up with compression and reverb to make a big sound. I used the Console 1 SSL4k emu on all tracks and I cranked the 'Drive' button up to a considerable point on all tracks, thus introducing quite some distortion.
I had the Warm Audio Buss compressor on the masterbus. That is pretty much it. No automation/riding.
https://soundcloud.com/hans-mulders/boatride01/s-ptpzDt8HKfm
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Mark Opfer
Dec 27, 2020
Hi Hans,
Lots of tracks for sure. I Just removed some of the weeds, a couple gitar tracks, one backing I think, Just to make it more managable.
I also used the alt drum and alt bass. Didnt like how the regular bass was Just playing the guitar Line.
On your mix, i like the space and depth you created. Vox could be more upfront. Feels like it is receiding a bit between the guitar. Still, every word is understandable, so it might just be taste.
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Klaus Ferretti
Dec 27, 2020
nice mix, only one thing I like to mention, I wonder if the bass is a little bit too loud.
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Thomas Moehlman
Dec 27, 2020
I found the same challenge with so many guitar tracks. I ended up not using several of them. My overall impression was that the drums seemed to dominate over the vocals. Maybe bring the Vox out a bit more. Otherwise, the mix was nice.
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Hans Mulders (author)
Dec 27, 2020
I hear you guys on the vocals.
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Colin Aiken
Dec 28, 2020
Yes, bump up the vocals.
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Leigh #111
Dec 28, 2020
Well... not so fast on the vocal volume. I think your fine. Rock n Roll doesn't cater to loud vocals primarily because loud vocals diminish the power of the band. Plus this guys voice is in that harsh range on the Fletcher Munson curve. Those vocal cut through just about anything no matter how low they're set. lol Play the track semi loud and leave the room. You'll see that they are plenty loud in Han's track.
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Alexander Rambow
Dec 29, 2020
Hi Hans:)
Nice groovy drums:) I dont feel like the vocal are two quit. But that the guitars are too loud for my taste.
Also there is always something highish fizzy weirdnesses happing with mixes on soundcloud?!
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Mark Milbourne
Dec 29, 2020
Hey @Hans Mulders, I agree with @Leigh #60. The vocals are in a good spot. The ride towards the end feels disconnected from the drum kit. I think it's because of the panning to the left. It's nice and clear though.
Overall the mix is sitting nicely. Maybe a little more prominence on the backing vocals since they gave us so many of them.
Soundcloud is doing some lossy bitrate compression (using the computer science meaning of compression) on your track.
I see you're going to the darkside with Protools.
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Hans Mulders (author)
Dec 30, 2020
Thanks all. @Alexander Rambow I think the whole mix could do with a little less 3 to 4 k. And a little more lows. That will probably make those guitars more ear friendly.
@Mark Milbourne , the ride is loud indeed. The paralel compression and the pumped up room mic are not doing it any favours either I guess.