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Old 01-28-2020, 04:57 PM   #1
g4greg
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Default The first track from our new album.. Does it sound OK?

Hi there, a while ago, I started a duo with cellist/vocalist Kelly Kratz.

For once, I'm not the main singer, and it feels quite nice She has a nice sweet tone, and our shtick is to indulge into vocal harmonies and never let go.. We worked really hard to make unique harmonies that stick out of the crowd,

Here is our first recording,"The mother". An environmentalist friendly song comparing the human kind to cancer. here's still a few loose hairs here and there in the mix, but is it on the right track?

How is the mix? How are the lyrics? Are the harmonies well balanced, and are the vocals too in front? (im way too biased on her voice lol)

please be considerate and don't share the song, as it's still in its infancy:

-EDIT-

Sorry for the wrong link.. Here is the link to what I wanted to share:


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jW2...ew?usp=sharing


EDIT 2

here is what I think a much more balanced mix... But is it really better?


https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Gw...Mk8l07GuYy4ByG


EDIT 3

I hope this one is the good one

EDIT 4

will this ever end? LOL

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TGn...ew?usp=sharing




https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ky2...ew?usp=sharing
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Last edited by g4greg; 01-31-2020 at 10:40 PM.
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Old 01-28-2020, 05:12 PM   #2
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Are you sure you posted the right track, there are no vocals. Everything sounds good so far but no vocals.
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Old 01-28-2020, 05:28 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by g4greg View Post
Hi there, a while ago, I started a duo with cellist/vocalist Kelly Kratz.

For once, I'm not the main singer, and it feels quite nice She has a nice sweet tone, and our shtick is to indulge into vocal harmonies and never let go.. We worked really hard to make unique harmonies that stick out of the crowd,

Here is our first recording,"The mother". An environmentalist friendly song comparing the human kind to cancer. here's still a few loose hairs here and there in the mix, but is it on the right track?

How is the mix? How are the lyrics? Are the harmonies well balanced, and are the vocals too in front? (im way too biased on her voice lol)

please be considerate and don't share the song, as it's still in its infancy:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=12T...GBLSyIxAnbMOZa
There were no vocals on this version. The bass was way to much for my rokit 8's with 10 sub so I remixed it here and will remove it after you check it out. I also pulled the highs down.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ZX...Fz8nnBw-ewi6fC
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Old 01-28-2020, 06:16 PM   #4
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Oh crap! Sorry guys.. I'll update the link asap
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Old 01-28-2020, 06:24 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by camerondye View Post
Are you sure you posted the right track, there are no vocals. Everything sounds good so far but no vocals.
Sorry!

Here is the right link..

I should really check my shit before posting it online lol

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jW2...ew?usp=sharing
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Old 01-28-2020, 06:30 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Coachz View Post
There were no vocals on this version. The bass was way to much for my rokit 8's with 10 sub so I remixed it here and will remove it after you check it out. I also pulled the highs down.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ZX...Fz8nnBw-ewi6fC
Yeah, that was just a mix I sent her for rehearsal. The levels are all over the place. Is the final product as messy?
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Old 01-29-2020, 05:38 AM   #7
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So, I've re-mixed it a bit ...

I found her vocals were a bit too loud and buried everything else, and the kick drum was.. way too loud.

So I tamed those a bit. How does this one sound?

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Gw...Mk8l07GuYy4ByG
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Old 01-29-2020, 10:14 AM   #8
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The vocal volume in the beginning is better in the first version.
There is a freq that make the vocal sharp that could be EQ'd maybe.
The first long oooooooh, ends badly. Cut the last bit.
Your vocals are way too low.
Nice song!
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Old 01-29-2020, 11:55 AM   #9
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Nice! Thanks.

Just as msundh says, the vocals get a bit sharp at some places, 0:49, 1:05 and around there, some other places too. I would try ReaXComp on that.

Else, I really like the sound.
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Old 01-29-2020, 02:51 PM   #10
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Version 2 does sounds much nicer, but as stated, the first that jumped at me was the sound of the lead vocals--mainly how it was eq'd. The instruments sound nice, though.
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Old 01-29-2020, 03:00 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by msundh View Post
The vocal volume in the beginning is better in the first version.
There is a freq that make the vocal sharp that could be EQ'd maybe.
The first long oooooooh, ends badly. Cut the last bit.
Your vocals are way too low.
Nice song!
Thanks for the feedback! Do you mean to fade her out when she runs out of breath? That's not a bad idea .

I think I know what's up with her vocals. I thought her vocals sounded a bit dull, so I slapped a short delay that has the bass and lower mids rolled off. It works wonders to make vocals pop out of a busy rock or metal song.. but it's out of place here.

As for my vocals being too low... She's the lead, and I didn't want to interfere with that.. But I guess I could bump my vocals a bit.

I'll also crank her vocals in the first verse.

Thanks a lot, it's very helpful!

And yeah, we worked hard on that song. It took me like a month to get the lyrics and vocal melodies right.
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Old 01-29-2020, 03:03 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by sammydix View Post
Version 2 does sounds much nicer, but as stated, the first that jumped at me was the sound of the lead vocals--mainly how it was eq'd. The instruments sound nice, though.
Thanks! Coming from someone who pays as much attention to vocals as I do, this is very precious advice. I'll just re-do her EQ from scratch.

I basically EQed her voice like I usually do mine... As we used the same mic, but yeah, our voices are totally different.
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Old 01-31-2020, 05:14 AM   #13
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Is this one better?

I messed around with the vocal EQs, as well as volume.. I made our voices a hair louder.

She definitely sounds a lot warmer.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ky2...ew?usp=sharing
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Old 01-31-2020, 06:14 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by g4greg View Post
Is this one better?

I messed around with the vocal EQs, as well as volume.. I made our voices a hair louder.

She definitely sounds a lot warmer.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ky2...ew?usp=sharing
For me, too much low bass, vocal is too distant and should sound more intimate/close miced. The vocals sound like a cheap mic to me lacking fidelity. The volume climbs as the song goes forcing me to turn it down.

The breakdown dies for me and should have a light guitar slowly strumming to keep some context of the song.

I hope it helps. Monitored on rokit 8s with 10 sub
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Old 01-31-2020, 06:48 AM   #15
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I agree with bringing her vocal up front - it's buried too much for my taste.

I also would like to hear the guitar strum attack softened a bit. I really like the style/approach. I'm suggesting a very gentle touch.

Overall I think the tune/performance/mix are excellent. I had to resist the urge to turn it up

Monitored with Event PS8s and separately with a set of 10" powered speakers (Alto).
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Old 01-31-2020, 08:13 PM   #16
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I agree with bringing her vocal up front - it's buried too much for my taste.

I also would like to hear the guitar strum attack softened a bit. I really like the style/approach. I'm suggesting a very gentle touch.

Overall I think the tune/performance/mix are excellent. I had to resist the urge to turn it up

Monitored with Event PS8s and separately with a set of 10" powered speakers (Alto).
So.. put a really fast attack compressor to tame those peaks? or a transient killer?

I'd be careful with those toys, as they mess up your sound in a hurry, but I'll give them a try.

I'll raise her voice a bit.. If it was only for me, she'd be twice as loud, as I love her voice.. But I have to keep my bias in check, Maybe it was too much in check

As for the bass, that's voluntary. I just like to fill the room. I'm not sure I'd want to mess with that. It's an acquired taste though.
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Old 01-31-2020, 10:26 PM   #17
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OK, I really hope I'm in the ballpark, as I think I'm starting to get mixing fatigue.

I sped up the attack/release on my compressor to tame the pick attack of my guitar, and I quite like how it sounds.. Nice call BobF!.

I basically put her voice where I like it.. LOUD! I was trying to control my urge to put her in front of everything, but the hell with it. I also threw in a smidge of top end on her voice, to make her sound a pit more "sparkly and clean", but hopefully not too much, as that was my mistake in the first mix.



https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TGn...ew?usp=sharing
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Old 02-01-2020, 03:07 AM   #18
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Sounds really nice on my phones.

Great work.
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Old 02-01-2020, 07:58 AM   #19
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Nice.

I really like the overall feel of this.
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Old 02-01-2020, 09:26 AM   #20
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Is that your composition? There is a really nice melody in there, particular on the second part.
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Old 02-01-2020, 05:18 PM   #21
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Is that your composition? There is a really nice melody in there, particular on the second part.
Yes, it is and thanks! Kelly and I have been playing live together for a bit more than 2 years now... Mostly covers, sprinkled with some of my older originals.

We really, really connect well when it comes down to harmonies.

Anyhow, I wrote the lyrics, guitars and all the other goodies.. She helped me with the cello and gave me the main topic to write about. Then we jammed vocal harmonies for quite a while until something stuck.


Thanks to everyone who helped me with the mix. I think I have a winner
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Old 02-05-2020, 06:50 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by g4greg View Post
OK, I really hope I'm in the ballpark, as I think I'm starting to get mixing fatigue.

I sped up the attack/release on my compressor to tame the pick attack of my guitar, and I quite like how it sounds.. Nice call BobF!.

I basically put her voice where I like it.. LOUD! I was trying to control my urge to put her in front of everything, but the hell with it. I also threw in a smidge of top end on her voice, to make her sound a pit more "sparkly and clean", but hopefully not too much, as that was my mistake in the first mix.



https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TGn...ew?usp=sharing
This was beautiful dood. I really like the lyrics too. Made the hair on my arms stand up around the last chorus where you guys are harmonizing together.powerful. nice mixing as well,very balanced.
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