pop rock 70/80's

[neurodrive]

hello

mixing practice.

critique is welcome.

mp3
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1zf...GrTQIWyIY69W2q
wav
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jE...HrFUZIZ3e3odPq

[msundh]

Well that was the 70's alright.
Nice song. regarding the mix I there's too much reverb at the end.
Arrangement there was too little happening in the verse.
Vocal seems to be at your limit. Maybe lower the key so it feels more relaxed?
Liked the song.

[neurodrive]

Originally Posted by msundh

Well that was the 70's alright.
Nice song. regarding the mix I there's too much reverb at the end.
Arrangement there was too little happening in the verse.
Vocal seems to be at your limit. Maybe lower the key so it feels more relaxed?
Liked the song.

song really nice. but it is the merit of the musicians and the songwriter.

thanks for feedback.

[ErBird]

I quite like the song. Strong Gerry Rafferty vibes. The greatness of the chorus is let down a little by the verses. Those solos, though.

Mix-wise, everything could use more presence (3-5K).

The snare sticks out too much. Needs less tonal pop.

How did you do the compression? I feel like the whole mix is pumping at times.

[neurodrive]

Originally Posted by ErBird

I quite like the song. Strong Gerry Rafferty vibes. The greatness of the chorus is let down a little by the verses. Those solos, though.

Mix-wise, everything could use more presence (3-5K).

The snare sticks out too much. Needs less tonal pop.

How did you do the compression? I feel like the whole mix is pumping at times.

many people - many opinions. were feedbacks about - need more snare)

i dont hear any pumping...
may be some dynamic fluctuation, but it is not bad, i think... mix is breathing )
static mixes not my cup of tea.

[ErBird]

Originally Posted by neurodrive

many people - many opinions. were feedbacks about - need more snare)

I don't know what that means.

[juan_r]

Everything is obviously prefixed by "In my opinion." Not meaning to come across as arrogant, just trying to keep it to the point.

The song is good! Yes, Gerry Rafferty is probably listening from above with a smile on his face. The arrangement is OK for me. The verse/chorus contrast is a bit on the "more than usual" side, but all that happens is that the verse ends up sounding a bit like a bridge. Uncommon all right, but not an issue. It's not modern pop anyway is it? I guess a little more latitude is one of the defining features of the late 70s, so that could be filed under style.

I agree the snare pokes out a bit too much, but to me it's more a matter of volume than tonal pop (if it means "ringing", there's no annoying ringing for me). Also, a bit of presence can't hurt, agreed as well. Too much reverb, specifically on the sax. Maybe pulling it back or some hipassing? Also the sax sounds a little more hi-fi than the rest. It does seem to have all the presence it needs; maybe because it's a few dB louder than the rest. The guitar solo is perfect.

The vocals don't seem strained to me - rather, they're sometimes a bit out of tune in the verses, especially on some line endings ("not alone", "in the dark"), so they can give the "I'm not at ease" feeling. The back vox are good and mixed well. I like them tight but not surgical, well done!

Lastly, I don't feel ErBird was complaining about the pumping. To me, it sounded like he just wanted to know how you did it. I personally find the compression is just right and pleasing. How did you do it? :-P

[ErBird]

I didn't realize the song is a mix challenge.
https://mix-challenge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=332

I thought maybe it would help to do my own mix so you know where I'm coming from.
So here's my shot at mixing it:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Uf...A319-mwQYQg-EZ

[ErBird]

Originally Posted by juan_r

Everything is obviously prefixed by "In my opinion." Not meaning to come across as arrogant, just trying to keep it to the point.

Me too. All I can offer is advice in line with my taste and what I think suits the song.
The songwriting strongly suggests a certain era. I would make the mix reflect that.

Originally Posted by juan_r

I agree the snare pokes out a bit too much, but to me it's more a matter of volume than tonal pop (if it means "ringing", there's no annoying ringing for me).

I was referring to the tonal part of the snare around 170 hz. It sounds too prominent in the snare attack, though I think the snare has bigger problems.

[juan_r]

Oops, I missed the mix competition bit, too

@ErBird, Motown vibes? I'd like it a tiny little bit mushier. The sax is really sweet.

It just occurred to me that maybe the competition judges are expecting a fadeout.

Edit - Checked on the competition page. I haven't listened to all the entries, but I like the one in Post #17. Smart editing gets pitchy distractions out of the way.

Personally I'd try for a fadeout before the rhythm section pulls out.

[ErBird]

Originally Posted by juan_r

@ErBird, Motown vibes?

Maybe I overshot the time period a little, haha. I do adore that Motown sound.

Originally Posted by juan_r

I'd like it a tiny little bit mushier.

As a whole or do certain elements stand out? I used quite a bit of compression, just not on the master.

[juan_r]

Originally Posted by ErBird

Maybe I overshot the time period a little, haha. I do adore that Motown sound.

The time period is in the ballpark. It's just the wrong continent ;-)

Originally Posted by ErBird

As a whole or do certain elements stand out? I used quite a bit of compression, just not on the master.

I meant on the master, as if it had to go to vinyl. Of course it's a matter of (historical) taste, your version has a nice clarity to it.

While we're on taste, a thing that could work well with this tune is panning the two solos slightly more apart, so the sax comes "from the other side" after the guitar.

And maybe the songwriter was expecting a fadeout before the rhythm section pulls out? There isn't much time, right...