Need a little input

[rosleck]

Since switching from Sonar Pro to Reaper I have been learning and reteaching myself how to use the program. I have 3 songs completed since I started this and could use a little input on them.

The songs are Perfect Strangers, American band & El Dorado. Of the 3 Perfect strangers sounds the best to my ears. AB was a 1 take song so the playing isn't as good as it could of been. El Dorado took a long wile and I'm not over all happy with the way it sounds.

I think I am doing something wrong when i am recording them. I tried to get the recording levels low around -6 but I am having clipping issues.

All of the drum lines are midi exported from Guitar pro and into superior drummer 2.

If anyone one is willing to give these a listed and give me a few tips I would welcome them.

The songs on reverb nation : http://www.reverbnation.com/#/matthewrosleck

The songs on Sound click: http://www.soundclick.com/members/default.cfm?member=rosleck

Please be gentile with me....

[rosleck]

Ok 35 views and no comments, let me try this.....

I mixed these shooting to have each track recorded at -6 and final mixed to 0. Would I be better served recording to say -12 then mixing up?

[EvilDragon]

You should've posted this to Music Discussion subforum ;) Just a little tip.

Other than that, I'm currently on a laptop with no headphones nearby, so I can't really critically judge your mixes. But I hope people will chime in fast to do it in my stead. :)

[moliere]

I mixed these shooting to have each track recorded at -6 and final mixed to 0. Would I be better served recording to say -12 then mixing up?

Yes. Record in 24bit and aim for -18 to -13db. Heaps of headroom, you won't ever clip, and far above any noise floor.

[gofer]

Moved to Music/Collaboration forum, hopefully you get more resonance here :)

In a hurry, so no comments right now from me...

[rosleck]

Yes. Record in 24bit and aim for -18 to -13db. Heaps of headroom, you won't ever clip, and far above any noise floor.

This is what I was looking for thank you for the input!

[Mothers Bad Son]

I also switched from another name brand DAW to Reaper but for the song I am working on now I went back. I am not an expert on recording but I listened to a little of El Dorado and I would say that you are way over saturating your tracks.Also don't get so cute with the stereo separation, a little goes a long way (American Band).

You didn't say how you where getting the signal into Reaper but if the levels look good to you than your going in to hot.

Try and clean up the signal before reaper gets it. Reaper is only playing back what you fed it.

Do some searches for tips on EQ, every instrument (including voice) has a specific freq. range. The trick is to fit them all in nice and tight and give them all room to move in and out as you need them. You have quite a bit of "mud" which comes from frequencies crossing over into each others spaces.

I give you a hearty "Good Job" on getting as far as you did, you have passed most basement producers already. I went through the same learning curve you did and I know how much frustration Audio and MIDI can be.

Re-track your songs and mix each instrument like it was a beautiful cake layer by layer. I look forward to hearing more from you. Feel free to check out some of my tunes, they where all tracked one instrument at a time with MIDI drums and lots of VSTi's

Rick
a.k.a. Mothers Bad Son
http://www.soundclick.com/mothersbadson

[SteveMac]

Matt:

I give you a lot of credit for putting your music out for review. Takes guts. <G>

However, a piece of advice from a "long timer": Never say "be gentle" when requesting reviews. Either stand up for your music or don't put it out there. Actually, if you want to improve it, say (with real balls) "give me your best shot." And then be prepared to hear a real review.

If you're willing to hear that, say so and this group will give you some of the best advice you'll get anywhere. I'm willing to take the risk that you'll get pi****d off, so here's something: In American Band, the organ/synth in the verse sounds out of tune and not in time. I know it's a "one off" but the song sounds anemic. I would start over -- particularly since the iconic drum opening of the original song is not matched close enough by your version.

Perfect Strangers is better, as you thought, but the mix needs to be seriously adjusted and the drums need some variation. Specific advice can come later. I don't want to waste your time if you were more looking for just supportive responses. But I did want to say good for you for going public with your music!

Good luck,

Steve

[rosleck]

Matt:

I give you a lot of credit for putting your music out for review. Takes guts. <G>

However, a piece of advice from a "long timer": Never say "be gentle" when requesting reviews. Either stand up for your music or don't put it out there. Actually, if you want to improve it, say (with real balls) "give me your best shot." And then be prepared to hear a real review.

If you're willing to hear that, say so and this group will give you some of the best advice you'll get anywhere. I'm willing to take the risk that you'll get pi****d off, so here's something: In American Band, the organ/synth in the verse sounds out of tune and not in time. I know it's a "one off" but the song sounds anemic. I would start over -- particularly since the iconic drum opening of the original song is not matched close enough by your version.

Perfect Strangers is better, as you thought, but the mix needs to be seriously adjusted and the drums need some variation. Specific advice can come later. I don't want to waste your time if you were more looking for just supportive responses. But I did want to say good for you for going public with your music!

Good luck,

Steve

Thanks for your input. The please be gentle comment comes from a old joke...how many guitarists does it take to change a light bulb? 10. 1 to change the bulb and 9 to say they could of done it better =D I have found in the past when posting ( not here ) and looking for advise on mixing a lot of folk like to make comments like " learn to play better". I'm more interested in bettering my mixing ability.

I am not just looking for supportive advise and I appreciate your input. Thanks!

[Sheppola]

There's a lot of EQ work needed I think to get the separation in the stereo field and the sounds less harsh and,"fizzy" and to balance up the mixes.

I've found this a great resource over the years,

http://www.benvesco.com/blog/

and then once you get a hang of some of those a more intense place,

http://www.digido.com/audiofaq.html

It takes a lot of time and a lot of reading and messing around to get somewhere decent IMHO.
Sometimes I'll spend a several hours on and off in a song just say a verse section looping with just the drums and bass and try and get a good rhythm section sound.Then bring in each instrument one at a time and see how each affects the mix of the drums and bass and then EQ/Adjust to suit.
Remember that when you add something sonically it can and usually does affect something else.

This took a lot of doing and it's still not perfect or ,"Pro" but it's getting there,

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_2192320

[Mothers Bad Son]

this site on the table..
http://audio.tutsplus.com/

and for a free composing tool this one...

http://www.jamstudio.com/Studio/index.htm

Rick