Hard Rock Song Critique please

[jlt73]

https://soundcloud.com/jlt73/metals-edge-1

Can you please critique the song, but more importantly the mix?

Drums are Superior Drummer 3
Guitars and bass are helix.

[Tom Toms]

Originally Posted by jlt73

https://soundcloud.com/jlt73/metals-edge-1

Can you please critique the song, but more importantly the mix?

Drums are Superior Drummer 3
Guitars and bass are helix.

Good stuff. Driving. I like how the drums sit in the mix, but I am having a little trouble hearing the bass behind the guitars.

[jlt73]

Originally Posted by Tom Toms

Good stuff. Driving. I like how the drums sit in the mix, but I am having a little trouble hearing the bass behind the guitars.

Thanks for listening!

I am really struggling with getting the bass into its own space and to sit right.

[Coachz]

crank the bass up and add balls to the kick

https://youtu.be/cuovvQ-7SNI?t=1215

[dug dog]

Originally Posted by jlt73

I am really struggling with getting the bass into its own space and to sit right.

If the bass is pretty much following the rhythm guitar part, one could argue that it doesn't really have its own space and is just filling out the rhythm part, which sounds pretty good to me.

Do you notice that the bass is gone when you mute the bass track?

I'd agree with the suggestion that the kick drum could use a bit more impact. Not sure exactly how I'd achieve that without playing around with it. Maybe just turn it up? Maybe add a bit more click? The video that Coach linked might be a good place to start.

[sammydix]

The song itself sounds cool, but there's a slight "muddled" sound to the whole. I'd shoot for a little more distinction between the instruments. Your Softly Loud song sounds far superior in comparison.

[Dream Of Sleeping]

I'm not sure if it's muddy in a good way or not. On these little speakers it actually sounds really good. I like a warm mix although how this will sound speakers with a lot of bass I don't know. I think Smashing Pumpkins had a similar kind of sound on Mellon Collie in their heavy songs. At least it doesn't sound too computery, it sounds gritty.

The riff is simple but catchy. I would have liked the bass to play a little riff in the bit where the guitar chords just ring out. Just jamming on my guitar now I thought the notes A DEF A DEF would sound pretty cool. (spacing rough indication of timing!

[sammydix]

Not "muddy" as in eq, but "muddled" as in lacking distinction.

[Dream Of Sleeping]

Originally Posted by sammydix

Not "muddy" as in eq, but "muddled" as in lacking distinction.

I'm not sure if this in response to my comment. But just to be clear my comment wasnt in response to yours. I had not read anyone elses comments.

[sammydix]

Originally Posted by Dream Of Sleeping

I'm not sure if this in response to my comment. But just to be clear my comment wasnt in response to yours. I had not read anyone elses comments.

My mistake.

[jlt73]

Originally Posted by dug dog

If the bass is pretty much following the rhythm guitar part, one could argue that it doesn't really have its own space and is just filling out the rhythm part, which sounds pretty good to me.

Do you notice that the bass is gone when you mute the bass track?

I'd agree with the suggestion that the kick drum could use a bit more impact. Not sure exactly how I'd achieve that without playing around with it. Maybe just turn it up? Maybe add a bit more click? The video that Coach linked might be a good place to start.

the bass is following the rhythym tracks. When I mute the bass track i noticed a difference.

One thing I just tried was lowering the volume of all the tracks and now I am hearing the bass a lot more clearly. I think half my problem is running all the tracks near clipping instead of bringing some back.

Thanks!

[jlt73]

Originally Posted by sammydix

The song itself sounds cool, but there's a slight "muddled" sound to the whole. I'd shoot for a little more distinction between the instruments. Your Softly Loud song sounds far superior in comparison.

I hear what you're saying about the comparison between the two tracks. I agree that there isnt much "breathing" room between the instruments.

thank you for the critique!

[tonybeepbeep]

I'm listening on my phone headphones and the first impression was of a more mellow Pantera meets Led Zep. There's a thick groove to the sound and in echoing the others, I'd say the kit needs a bit more separation and attack. The bass could do with some DI'd gnarly tones blended in too.

I'll post more when I listen at home.

I'm currently wrestling with a new drum library and it sounds like a drunken blind guy has been locked in an Amazon distribution centre and can't find the exit.

When I dare, I'll post a mix for critique too

[benf]

This is not a song. Song implies lyrics, even if you just shout 'F..K' once and call it 'My sleeping beauty'.

[HugoRibeiroDotCom]

I agree pretty much on what the other guys said so I'm just gonna say that I enjoyed the riffage!!!

cheers

[Coachz]

Originally Posted by benf

This is not a song. Song implies lyrics, even if you just shout 'F..K' once and call it 'My sleeping beauty'.

Song does not imply lyrics. Steve Via and Spyro Gyda say hi.

[boydwgrossii]

You can bus the bass track to another track and then do some additional mixing on there. Then, on the bus track, you add something that adds gain but don't make it sound to gritty and then slowly blend that into the mix to where you can just barely hear it. That gives some beef to your bass tracks.

I got that from the Slate mixing course.

[jlt73]

Originally Posted by boydwgrossii

You can bus the bass track to another track and then do some additional mixing on there. Then, on the bus track, you add something that adds gain but don't make it sound to gritty and then slowly blend that into the mix to where you can just barely hear it. That gives some beef to your bass tracks.

I got that from the Slate mixing course.

nice! Thanks for the tip!