Mixing advice/feedback.

[xgsjx]

I've started a 3 piece electronica band (me on synths/controllers/bass, a chap on edrums/synth, & a female vocalist).

Our first song to complete is more EDM than our other creations so far, but I'm not happy with my parts.  Just the overall sound/production to my ears sounds like it was mixed by someone who doesn't even know what a DAW is.

Would anyone be able to take a listen and let me know how to improve it, or recommend a good production course?  I've looked at a few courses, but not sure what I need to focus on.

This is the instrumental version with just my parts.  Vocals and another drum part are to be added.

https://on.soundcloud.com/TUX5bz62RXZmPCO1U2

[BigRedX]

It's very difficult to comment when it's only part of the mix especially when the vocals and drums which are going to be important features of the track are still to be added.

 

However there are a few things that would be worth looking at, once you start the full mix.

 

1. All the synths except the bass line sound a bit full and all dominating the same mid range that might clash with the vocals. I'd start by quite aggressively HP filtering them and also notching out any frequencies that clash with the vocals. Then add back the missing frequency ranges until just before you can hear them interfering with the bass and vocals.

 

2. Get a single solid bass sound. You have some moments where the bass sound does some interesting things tonally, but it is at the expense of the bottom end. Do these separately again with a HPF so that the sonic interest is overlayed on a solid bass sound.

 

When you come to do the complete mix, start with just the drums and vocals and get the track sounding good with just those. Then add the bass and finally the other synths.

 

Hopefully then you'll get a sense of space back in the track but it will still kick which is what you want for something dance-floor friendly.

[xgsjx]

Cheers BRX. That’s really helpful.

I met with the drummer yesterday & got a drum take as a wav. He’s going to redo it, as there’s some changes he want to make to his playing, but the kit remains the same. So I can use that to work with & then hopefully just replace the wav with his new take & it should sound the same. 
 

The only vocal take I have for now was recorded on my phone. We’re all meeting at the end of August (& more regularly from then), so that’s when I’ll get a good vocal take.

My goal here is to have a near finished sound with my parts for when we meet so we can get the best from her vocals. 
 

I’ve taken your advice & carved some mids out of the synth that does the intro & chorus sounds (& high passed down to about 2k for now) & it’s made a huge difference, so I’ll definitely be taking that approach with the other synths too. 
 

The bass sound is made up of 3 synths. 
Serum provides the sub 300hz sound which is constant throughout, Massive provides the acid like top bass sound at the start & in the chorus/break, which has heavy high & low pass filtering (all that gets through is 250-1100 hz), and Pigments provides the top bass sound for the verses (the more muted short decay synth).  Though I’ve just realised that both top synths do go below 300hz, so that could cause issues between 200-300hz with the sub.  I’ll play about with that, but might well end up using just  the 1 synth. 
 

I’ll take your advice on the mix. Like I say, I do have her vocal part, but not the greatest recording. However, I can use it to get the drums & bass sounding good with it, then bring in the synths. I can then do any tweaks when we meet up. 
 

Thanks for your feedback. It’ll be very helpful & is really appreciated. 😎