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Hey everybody,

I'm at the last stage of an album and am working on mastering.  Here are some snippets.  I welcome feedback if you'd like to share.

 

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audiokid Fri, 09/17/2021 - 19:03

Welcome aboard/or back ;).

Love the first track, especially the acoustic guitar! 

You are definitely close for mastering. The snare on all 3 tracks could use a bit more snap. Not sure how to help get it there other than maybe a different snare, less compression but hope that suggestion helps.

Second track vocals are a bit in the back which I would try and get them more in front.

Lets see what others have to say.

kmetal Fri, 09/17/2021 - 19:15

welcome!!

Good overall.

On track 1 I’d add more top end to the snare it’s a bit dull and could use more life.

On track 2 I’d watch out for excessive top end on the vocals/sibilance and ch consonants. And Possibly automate the snare since it seems to fade back and forth in level, and maybe EQ a little low mids into it.

track 3 maybe vocals up a hair. And check the sibilance, and maybe reduce the top end boost just a hair 

I’d consider adding a bit of bottom or low mids to all the lead vocals on all the tracks for a bit more fullness, warmth and immediacy. And also see if slightly less top end works.

you may want to consider some automaton to make the transitions between vets chorus ect more dramatic.

 

popechop Sat, 09/18/2021 - 06:50

Great comments, thank you!

I've gone back and forth with adding some high boost to the snare and then it goes too far and sounds tinny.  I actually have another snare dubbed in with that and an electric one layered on as well.  I'll keep at it.  Considering you both mentioned that first thing, I know it needs more attention still.

And I will work on filling up the vocals as well.  Yes the sibilance has been tricky... such a fine line

paulears Sat, 09/18/2021 - 08:42

I'm not going to comment at all on improvements because I really like it, and it sounds fresh and polished - so we really are making tiny subtle stuff into comments. In honesty - we're talking about personal preference tweaks aren't we? Like - if I mixed it I'd do X and Y, but I really liked it - and if it was on Spotify it would be in my playlist. Usually we c comment on mistakes, or obvious stuff. Here it's different. The only question I have is what would you call it? As the style?  electro-acoustic something? I've lost track of the pigeon holes for genres?

popechop Sat, 09/18/2021 - 21:26

In reply to by paulears

That's a good question.  Acoustic rock?  I can't really tell if it's alternative or just rock.

Glad you like it!  I have listened to it and remixed so many times that I have listening bias now.  So if something seems deficient in the EQ spectrum I'm worried that I've overlooked it.  If nothing problematic stands out to you, that's a good sign for me.

Boswell Sun, 09/19/2021 - 06:41

These three track excerpts sound very good on the whole.

Strangely, the vocals are at roughly the correct volume relative to the backing when listening on headphones, but appear to sink back a few dB on monitors. It could be just due to the bold panning on the instruments. What were your mixing conditions and monitoring arrangements?

The only real thing I felt was not quite right with the tracks is that there is a mismatch between the acoustic space of the vocals and the instruments. I find the vocal reverb as overdone, especially when the backing does not share it. Maybe that's the intended style, and you designed it that way

Overall - well done!

popechop Sun, 09/19/2021 - 17:56

In reply to by Boswell

I am using Yamaha HS8s for monitoring.  They are about 5 feet apart, at ear level, and I sit about 5 feet back.  Room is acoustically treated.

I agree that the vocals appear to be at a different level in headphones vs. listening on speakers.  I keep going back and forth on it.  And you're right, there is a lot of extreme panning.  On song 3, the vocals are doubled and panned about 70% to each side.  Guitars are panned a bit farther out than that.

Thank you for the input.  I will continue to tweak the amount of reverb, to get things to match up.