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So i put together this small piece, and wanted to know what people thought it (honesty is appreciated!) - because i'm putting together some more similar pieces and want to know what direction i should head.

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pcrecord Wed, 10/23/2013 - 03:43

I just did a quick listen through my cheap laptop's speakers. It has very good potencial.
The first thing I notice is that the vocalist tries to force his voice to the throat which is not natural. Plus it's a bit shaking and sometime out of pitch.
most signers don't like their own voice and try to change it. For me, it's the biggest mistake. The part I liked the best was the soft part where the vocal was more relax and natural sounding.

For the rest I can't comment on mixing until I listen to it on my studio monitors..

pcrecord Sun, 10/27/2013 - 05:57

Instead of giving you how to make the vocal be a better fit, I'll give you an advice valid to any songs and any tracks.

The first thing to do is capture the most natural sounding track. Choosing the best mic and mic placement for the instrument. Placing it in a room that will not disturb that natural sounding by modifying the frequency response or add a bad reverb or delay..

Second listen to your song without any effect and ajust only the volumes. If the recording is perfect, chances are there's nothing much to do at the mix !!
So you listen your volume only mix, try to figure out things that are wrong. And only act on those.

If an instrument come and go, try to automate volume changes. If this is not enough, use a compressor or check if another instrument is masking this one..
Make room for fighting instruments by cutting different frequencies in each. (ex : cut a bit of 100 hz on the bassdrum, and cut a bit of 80hz on the bass)
Also try to pan instruments like guitars and keyboard. You shoud keep centered, the bass drum, snare, bass and lead vocal.

Third, before you go on, deactivate all effects and compare.. It's easy to overdo any changes.

Fourth, time to be creative. Put the band in a common room with a reverb. add a delay to vocal or guitar.. Everything you do or don't do, should enhance the song within it's giving style.

At all steps of mixing, you need to know what you are looking for.. if you need to compare to a commercial CD every 2 moves, do it.. It's part of learning how your monitoring system sounds and what to expect. Train you ears to recognise if your room is giving you too much 2k and make sure your song has it too..
Then, listen to many sound system, your car is a good start cause you are used to how your favorite CD sounds.

For your voice, just sing natural, don't force it to be anything else that it is. Have a professional orient you on a good technic if you need. But don't try to sound like anyone else but yourself !!

audiokid Sun, 10/27/2013 - 12:11

pcrecord, post: 407955 wrote: I just did a quick listen through my cheap laptop's speakers. It has very good potencial.
The first thing I notice is that the vocalist tries to force his voice to the throat which is not natural. Plus it's a bit shaking and sometime out of pitch.
most signers don't like their own voice and try to change it. For me, it's the biggest mistake. The part I liked the best was the soft part where the vocal was more relax and natural sounding.

For the rest I can't comment on mixing until I listen to it on my studio monitors..

Agree with pcrecord

To add , but then there is ACDC, Nickleback etc. The angry sound is all part of Rock and distortion. The key is, if you try and sound angry, but you aren't, you need to be good at it.
Practice helps but majority blow out their voice trying or doing it too loud.
There is a fine line between pretending and ernest and keeping control. I often say, sing softer when you are trying to get that effect. Get the voice to open up via relaxation and then get pissed off. Angry is tight cords but then the area between Falsetto and your natural voice has to be able to crossover smooth. This is the secret.

That being said, not sure this vox texture fits the song or the singer at this point. All because it sounds "put on" un natural.

pcrecord Sun, 10/27/2013 - 14:40

You're right audiokid, being a singer is kind a being an actor for the blinds. You need to act the song's emotions but nobody see you.
I suggested to sing natural but forgot to say it's a starting point.

For sounding rock, David Bowie, Freddy Mercury, Jon Anderson and many more have rocked the planet without a rasping voice. I don't have a rasping voice and I know it. When I try to do one, I sound horrible. Even if I wanted I can't do it. Of course, I could start to smoke 6 packs a day and 3 bottles of pure rhum.. but I won't. I accepted how I sound. ;) (It's not a big lost I'm a drummer anyway:wink:)

My guess is, sing a lot, train yourself with some good exercices and you'll find many ways to perform well...

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