Recording & mixing & prodiucing a bands EP

[Zombie1965]

[font="verdana, geneva, lucida, lucida grande, arial, helvetica, sans-serif"][color="#141414"][size=3]Well just let me start by saying Its been a few years since I have done a serious recording and mix for any other band than my own. I used to work in a local studio and regularly produce other bands material, however its been a while. I am usually happy with my own recordings and productions with my own band, but doing it for another band has me doubting my ears, especially without a dedicated live room.[/size][/color][/font]

[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]lacking a studio, I recorded the track in a small reception room at a village hall, used my previous experiences to chose good spots to record each instrument and close mic'd everything. I used rolls of pyramid foam to form enclosures around amps and a screen around the drum kit and recorded the tracks all in one hit. then we did a few overdubs. then I mixed the tracks in my home studio on Adobe Audition.[/font][/color]

[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Just looking for a few people to listen and give some feedback on production really.[/font][/color]

[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]I'm not looking for perfection, just a strong mix that clearly represents the band, who perform with a good energy and a generally Lo-Fi sound. They class them selves as Alternative/Grunge/Lofi, and wanted a "nevermind" ish sound.[/font][/color]

[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Alesis 16 track usb 2 interface/mixing desk[/font][/color]
[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Tascam 2 track + midi interface / DI box[/font][/color]
[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]AT2020 vocal mic, [/font][/color]
[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Set of 8 samson drum mics.[/font][/color]
[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Some sm57's and 58's and stands etc[/font][/color]
[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]TL Audio 5021 compressor, [/font][/color]
[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Digitech TSR24S reverb + Effects[/font][/color]
[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Apple Mac G5 (a bit temperamental)[/font][/color]
[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Core i7 PC 16GB ram and SSD's setup for audio recording[/font][/color]
[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Logic, Protools, Audition, Ozone[/font][/color]
[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]Sh1t tons of plug ins - waves, Nomad, Superior drummer. [/font][/color]

[color=#141414][font=verdana, geneva, lucida,]So, comments / criticism welcome. Just be gentle.[/font][/color]

[Dad3353]

[quote name='Zombie1965' timestamp='1465331526' post='3067323']...
[color=#141414]So, comments / criticism welcome. Just be gentle.[/color]
[/quote]

I'll take you at your word. Gentle..? You may want to skip to the next post now...

...

Still here..? OK, firstly, a disclaimer; this is not my genre de predilection. I'm not a 'grunge' specialist at all, despite listening to (and, on occasion, playing...) some Nirvana stuff. That being said...
If you're aiming at a LoFi, grunge, garage sound, you're not far off, and maybe too far gone is some respects. In general, and as a broad brush statement, the mix is not so bad; all the principal elements come through, we can hear the singer (not always a good thing, of course...), although I couldn't transcribe all of her lyrics, and the overall 'beat' and 'drive' show enthusiasm. Clean, it ain't, though. Most distracting is an almost constant extraneous parasite drone panned left. Especially at the start, after the count-in; strangely absent (or much less prominent during the 'hush' section, it sound to me something like wind in the telegraph wires, or an open guitar leaning against the wall. Is it intentional..? Maybe. There is also a fair dose of tinkling, discordant guitar plicks and plocks. I used to get this sort of effect when recording on a tape reel that had been badly erased, allowing leakage from a preceding tune-up session. As I don't think you're using tape (yes, I'm even older than that..!), I can only imagine that someone in the room (a guitarist..? Surely not..?) is making these sounds. Again, is it part of the composition..? Maybe. I'd chuck the bland organ chord drone, which added nothing, I found, and get the guitarist's pedal mended, as it sounds more like a broken lead more than a convincing bitcrusher.
Still here..? Sorry; I shan't prolong the agony much further. On a positive note (yes, there is yet hope...), the raw nature of the performance comes across, there is a certain projection of energy; that's a Good Thing. The drumming not bad at all; extra marks for not trying to fit 'blast beats' in there. The bass, too, fulfils its purpose. I don't think much of my comments concern the recording environment (unless there's a UFO factory working on the floor below..?), it's down to the sounds produced by the group. Don't ask me for a note out of ten, please, as I'm not clued up enough with any current trends which may take this as the next Mozart, or something.
I'll definitely heartily and sincerely congratulate all involved for their sterling effort (yes, even the plinky guitarist has merit, and some nerve...). The concept needs work, I'd say, but there's matter to be worked on.
Gentle enough..? Maybe not; sorry.

Edited June 7, 2016 by Dad3353

[Zombie1965]

Thankyou!

Ok, this is exactly what I was after..... (There is definitely a UFO factory, but it's in the cellar below. I had them stop work for a few hours while recording took place)

ill address all of the above in order.

[font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][color=#282828]Almost constant extraneous parasite drone panned left; Yes this was indeed intended by the band, this was apparently the sound they have live. achieved by some dodgy cheep single coils, a "mold spore" pedal set on the "O" vowel setting and a digitech grunge pedal. I was against the "O" sound but the band insisted it was part of the sound for this track. as well as a "wobbly" guitar sound on the other side[/color][/font]

[font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][color=#282828]discordant guitar plicks and plocks: Was again part of the track and intended by the band. This is apparently a nod towards the nirvana track "milk it" (I don't like it ether) that they decided to put in as an overdub and wanted to keep it . I recommended he keep in key but.......[/color][/font]

[font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][color=#282828]Drums I was happy with, considering the room. The drummer was good to work with and quite talented! some nice fills and high hat work.[/color][/font]
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I was happy also [/font][/color][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][color=#282828]with the slightly fuzzy bass, Bassist took advice on sound and turned the fuzz down a bit and ended up with a usable sound, no dramas.[/color][/font]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I kinda liked the [s]singer[/s] front woman, not a huge talent but fit the genre, and boy could she scream ha ha. I refused to melodine her vocal for fear that it would loose its grunge feeling and attitude[/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]. [/font][/color]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I'm guessing my to-ing and fro-ing with this track isn'[/font][/color][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][color=#282828]t my ears then, its just the bands sound isn't my taste and some of their ideas to me just dont work well (but who am i to judge?) as my concerns were that same as the things you pointed out, plus one other thing and that was a harsh sounding cymbals. [/color][/font]



[font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][color=#282828]Again thanks a lot, I may suggest that they drop by and overdub a few different guitar parts and try and lessen that drone sound in the mix, in favor of something better. I'm betting they wont budge though.[/color][/font]

Edited June 7, 2016 by Zombie1965

[cheddatom]

I like it! I even like the droning and random guitar noises

I would say the drums sound a bit too "washy". There's some high frequency reflections going on that sound like badly applied reverb - particularly obvious on the stick hits right at the start.

The snare is not powerful enough - listen to nevermind. If you're using triggers you should be able to get a very powerful and loud snare. Basically copy the snare off nevermind and the whole thing should start to make sense.

The toms could do with some low end or something, they're just a bit weak at the moment.

Is there a lot of compression on the drum bus? Or overheads? I'd say it's over done as it makes the cymbals fatiguing.

Backing vocals could be panned wide (If you doubled them?) - a bit louder too I think

Edited June 8, 2016 by cheddatom

[Zombie1965]

Well I had a chat with the BL and he is absolutely not budging with what is recorded. so the UFO's stay as do the random guitar noises.

However....
I had another play today taking into account the things you people have pointed out, that I can actually do something about and here is the final result. I feel Happier with it now, The vocals are better/ clearer, and the whole mix is less shrill. It really was a few minor tweaks and then mastered slightly less aggressively . I am actually looking forward to trying the bands other two tracks in a few weeks. They seem to have better ideas with those production wise.

I have a few sessions with other bands scheduled and hope to get beck to doing recording and mixing more regularly. I am not charging anything for this EP its kinda a way for me to get back into production, All be it just at an indie level.

Thanks for the input!

Greatly appreciated.

Finished mix below!

Edited June 8, 2016 by Zombie1965

[cheddatom]

It is better, but I still think that super bright reverb is too much on the cymbals, and the snare really doesn't have much power. Seriously, compare it to "smells like teen spirit" or anything off that album

Anyway, it's certainly a great quality recording and I really am nit-picking.

[Zombie1965]

Thanks, but I'm afraid that I have come to the end with this one, I know its not perfect but what is left is pretty inherent in the actual recording. If i bring the snare up i can here other badness. and the reverb mainly what was picked up in the room. Next time I'm sure ill do better. I am recording them again in a few weeks... Ill pop up them here and we will see what they end up like.

I did manage to record my own band since and had an hour free today so gave it a mix. This was recorded in our rehearsal space, its far more forgiving than that village hall. I might record them there next time.
[attachment=221132:My Prototype.mp3.]

Edited June 9, 2016 by Zombie1965