Need Mixing Advise-rough metal tune
This is the first track I have made with my 7 string and I am looking for some help - especially with the EQing. Everything sounds like mud and all clumped together.
Alibi---This is the first try with my LTD M207 7 string- which sounds like mud anyway. This is just a working/writing draft. I played all the parts to the click track and them did the drums afterwards and not much has been re-recorded afterwards so the rhythm is not exactly tight. The leads have not been worked out very well and need a little practice. I just wanted to get the gist of the idea. As for the bass- I did not work anything out and did the whole song in one take just to get an idea for how it will sound. Other that that -- let me know how you think the song fits together. I have some ideas for vocals, but that is not complete yet and I don't really sing so who knows how that will work out.
Here is the post
http://www.digitech.com/soundcomm/guitar_view_music.asp?productid=199&music_id=3223
The main things I need help on is the selection of the proper models for the rhythm guitars once I re-record everything and them how to EQ them to get a thick enough sound but still be able to get good definition on the base. Everything was done with GNX4 w/ Supermodels with PTP. I have very little recording experience so whatever you have to say will probably help.
Alibi---This is the first try with my LTD M207 7 string- which sounds like mud anyway. This is just a working/writing draft. I played all the parts to the click track and them did the drums afterwards and not much has been re-recorded afterwards so the rhythm is not exactly tight. The leads have not been worked out very well and need a little practice. I just wanted to get the gist of the idea. As for the bass- I did not work anything out and did the whole song in one take just to get an idea for how it will sound. Other that that -- let me know how you think the song fits together. I have some ideas for vocals, but that is not complete yet and I don't really sing so who knows how that will work out.
Here is the post
http://www.digitech.com/soundcomm/guitar_view_music.asp?productid=199&music_id=3223
The main things I need help on is the selection of the proper models for the rhythm guitars once I re-record everything and them how to EQ them to get a thick enough sound but still be able to get good definition on the base. Everything was done with GNX4 w/ Supermodels with PTP. I have very little recording experience so whatever you have to say will probably help.
Comments
About the clumped together thing... hhmmm well, are you using different tones for each guitar track? I have 3 different tones from 2 guitars on my rough track recording and I think it separated out well.
I used Audacity for my recording because it seemed that PTP liked to saturate my distorted tones a little too much for my liking, maybe the saturation effect is what is making it sound like mud to you.
I hope this helps, either way... excellent playing!!
Does PTP have a phase button (I've never used it)? I remember recording some stuff on the GNX in Sonar and multiple tracks seemed muddy until I set the phase for alternating tracks.
With that said, I really think a good mix would being this piece to a whole new level. Even with the muddiness, I thought it was pretty good. I'm really not into \"over the top\" distorted sounds, but I listened to the entire thing. That's says something about the piece in itself.
I have read that some tricks used by the pros include using spectrum analysis of the freqs used by your guitar(s) and making sure that there is no overlap in freqs. That alone may reduce your \"mud\" sound. But, if you didn't use a bass track on your recording, it would seem that everything is coming from your 7 string. Maybe you can apply some kind of low end filter on the track to knock out those lower end freqs.
The little recording I have done has taught me that when laying down rhythm tracks on the guitar, I felt I got a better recording using only the high end strings on the rhythm track and left the bass guitar for the bottom. Then I had some good separation in sound, if that makes sense.
But, that kind of defeats the purpose of having a 7 string guitar, I guess. I thought part of the allure of the 7 string was that low end sound, but maybe it sounds better to you live than on the recording.
Still, I thought you had a great track and when you add vocals that may distract the listener from the low end \"mud\" that you currently don't like. I wish I had your talent. It sounded pretty killer to me. How did you lay down the drum track? The drum track sounded really good to me, too.
There are some real experts on this forum and I hope they have time to comment on your track. I would like to see how they would suggest any improvement(s).
I play bass guitar in two different bands. I am no expert, by any means, but I have learned that the bass guitar cannot just follow the guitar part. It just gets too \"muddy\" when everyone is hitting the same bottom note together. So, while keeping the root alive, I have learned to either hit the bass note between the rhythm or to sustain the note through a progression. I don't know if that makes sense to you, but playing live, I quickly learned that bass guitar and rhythm guitar are different instruments and serve different functions in the music we play. Playing the bass guitar like a rhythm guitar and following the rhythm line, just doesn't work for me.
And, by the way, I only started playing the bass guitar this past year but had played rhythm guitar for about 20+ years and a very small amount of lead guitar. When I first started playing bass guitar, I thought it would pretty easy because there are only 4 or 5 strings. I quickly learned that playing bass guitar well is alot more challenging than I thought. My hats off to the real bass players now that I can understand and appreciate their contribution to the music. Bass players = small ego + big heart!
Since I am about ready to start programming the drum tracks again this fall, I was really impressed with your drum track and I thank you for sharing how you built the track. You really have alot of talent. This forum is great in that so many people are willing to share their knowledge and experience with recording/playing/etc... Best wishes.
OK, here are my questions. What would you recommend for panning of the instruments? I assume that lead vocal should be centered, and harmonies or chorus vocals should be just slightly off center both left and right. How would you pan the guitars? Slightly off center, full left or right? Also, with many GNX4 effects being in stereo, would it be best to leave that guitar track(s) centered? Bass guitar is usually mono for us, would you pan that track? The GNX4 drums are in stereo to begin with. Would you leave them centered?
Wow, too many questions! Perhaps I just should ask if anyone knows of a good website that addresses these issues and teaches you how to record at home with the hardware and software equipment we have. I don't mind experimenting, but I hate reinventing the wheel.