http://soundcloud.com/evilevoix

Please check out some of my tracks and let me know what you think. I am still learning a lot about recording and mixing. The "songs" are ideas more than anything and they give me something to practice mixing with.

There's some death metal, pop/rock,a jazzy tune...even a trance/chant song. Looking for feedback on the production values more than the song content itself though I appreciate any feedback. thank you!

 

Ok... I gave them a rough listen. You've got some fair mixes. There seems to be a good recording, good playing and they have a kinda wide sound. I like the reverb, it sounds pretty natural. Some are better than others but overall I think they could use more EQ and compression. Maybe bring the bass down a bit and get the guitars and drums a bit more forward and balance the frequencies a bit better. These are mastered, aren't they? A bit louder would be better too. General notice (for me): Make it a tad brighter and punchier, it lacks some power and feels a bit lost in space. Finally, try to use filters to get rid of some of the noise (there's a fair amount of it in some of the tracks) and get rid of some frequencies so that the instruments don't clog up.

Up and down: Decent but all of the above applies
Sweedy: Sounds pretty weak, especially for metal - Drums need to be more wet and loud, bass is a bit weird. Move the guitar anywhere, double it, make it left and right. I'd say get it out of the middle if anything
Supergrind: Better drums than previous but still lack definition, guitars and bass are a bit too bassy
Lil' Diddie: This one's actually pretty good, just control the bass more
Ubergrind: Something like supergrind (a bit clearer)
Trytone?: Ok, but needs some taming (mostly bass field again)
What's her name: Ok, needs some cleaning
Jazzy Interlewd: Ok, maybe the bass again and the drums (especially hats) would be better off more in the back for me
Joel's Gong Song: So and so, the noise should be more in the back and maybe everything else a bit more spread out

I edited the first one for you to hear what I'm talking about: ~Removed~ (Edit)

Hope you don't mind. I'm not really good myself, just want to give you an idea. The music itself is pretty cool. Cheers.

 

Holy cow THANK YOU so much for your response! I have posted these elsewhere and no one has ever taken the time to give me this kind of feedback, let alone do soem editing to show me an example.

Unfortunately I am not able to download the edited version for some reason but I'd love to hear it.
Any advice on how to accomplish some of what you have suggested? Mixing bass has been the hardest for me so far. I am using quite a bit of compression on the busses but perhaps not enough or not correctly. I did run these all through a Mastering process using Ozone 5 but I am just starting to understand that process. As you can see, it seems (hopefully) that I am getting better as the newer songs are sounding a bit better in production.

What do you mean be "cleaning"? Are there things like string noises, etc... or are you suggesting eq fixes?

THANKS AGAIN!

 

Hey!

I answer your question about my guitar here. So this is quite funny. Guitar I recorded this mix test was made looong time ago, about 30 years I can said that I found it in garbage I put stock pickup from polish guitar Flame exg-6. But probably the bigest mystery behind guitar sound is my POD XT Live and amp simulation Big Bottom. You can check rest of my songs on this profiles:

http://www.facebook.com/pureinception
http://soundcloud.com/pureinception
http://soundcloud.com/lotnique

All songs I made using Pod xt Live and different but cheap guitars.

About your mixes: great start! I hear you need proper compresion. Use some vst to expand panorama, I often using MSED from voxengo. Try it, its for free. And keep listening and working!
CHEERS!

 

The hell...? Blocked for violation? Anyway, I hope it works now: http://jumbofiles.com/uzaz7ou5xlke

Well, I can't tell you exactly how to do it but you'll have to master these tools (since you also have ozone):
- EQ (it's better to have one with high/low filters, notches, shelves, fft filter): A trick you can do with Ozone is to use the mid/side option (this pretty much can apply to anything but I use it only for EQ) and not the stereo one. Edit some of the highs in the middle to make room and also shape and tighten the kick and bass (use narrow Qs), then focus on the highs at the left & right. Could be a good pair with a frequency analyser (pairing with ears always). MEqualizer from Melda Production has most of these handy tools packed in. A 'trick' is to boost on one where you cut the other, so you fill 'gaps' and provide space for the sounds.
- Compression: Meh, I really can't tell you that. Compression can be an effect as much as a mixing tool. So mostly trust your ears again and the genre you're working on. What I can say is, don't use too much during mixing, just try to balance the sound a bit. Play with attack/release, not just ratio and gain. A multiband compressor is a must for me (Ozone has one too).
- Reverb: I'd say not use the same (or at least the same settings) on everything. Try to make it natural (if that's what you're going after) - a convolution one (like TrueVerb from Waves) should do. Again matter of taste. Utilize the Mastering Reverb of Ozone (can isolate it to see what it does).
- Filters can be used both on the mixed track and each instrument separately (the latter is better ofc but it depends). De-essers can get rid of some hiss, other filters sweep frequencies (along with the noise). And still, can be used as an effect except just a correction tool. Just try them, nothing more to say. Just be careful about what and how much you take out.
- Try to utilize harmonic exciters (again can be found in Ozone). Play with the delay times and gains, presence. They can really breathe life to your track.
- Stereo expanders are ok, but keep an ear for peaking. I like them on pianos and low mids the most. I actually tend to tighten the bass and kick.
- Yeah, the bass is the hardest it appears. I find the reverb hard at times too, especially with orchestral stuff. I've heard some producers say that the first thing they hear for in a mix is whether it has a non-existent or improperly edited bass. The only thing I can say is filters, eq mid & subbass, compress very little. Adjust the gain. I've also heard that mastering engineers oftentimes have a hard time trying to cut/lower/fix the hats so pay attention to them too (yours were pretty good).
Oh and having said that, make sure you adjust the individual gains and volumes' faders before you apply anything else and re-adjust after (peaking and back/forth positions).

That'd be it. You're welcome, but I think sharing stuff like this is essential so everyone gets better. As I said, I'm far from a pro myself but I try to look for tips and learn. You can improve, it just takes time and experience. And listen, listen, listen and mix, mix, mix...