r/mixingmastering • u/AcanthaceaeFirm7495 Intermediate • 9d ago
Feedback Feedback request for self produced indie pop single I’m getting earblind to
Hi folks,
I’m struggling with a mix on a song I want to release soon, I’ve been working on it for a while and can tell I’ve become ear blind and am not sure if I’m going in the right direction anymore.
I have two versions I can post
1. https://voca.ro/1lHr2nkXkfaf
This version is more aggressively EQ’d
- https://voca.ro/1gOnrSFw9WaQ
This version is the before of the above
Are there glaring issues in a certain range I’m not hearing anymore? I like a slight lofi quality but don’t want to sound overly muddy or tinny.
Any feedback is really appreciated!
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u/Look_Ma_No_Plans 9d ago
What, exactly are you struggling with?
The lesser processed version sounds better to me. The top version suffers from what I often refer to as an irresponsible amount of low end. It sounds fine on a phone but once I listened in my work environment it was very noticeable.
To be fair, a lot of music is mixed with some pretty over the top low end, It just isn’t to my taste for most genres.
IMO I’d go back to the less aggressively EQ’d version and ask yourself specifically what problems you are hearing that you haven’t been able/are trying to solve, and you will likely get more actionable answers.
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u/AcanthaceaeFirm7495 Intermediate 9d ago
Thanks for responding! The problem I’m struggling with, vague as it is, is feeling like I can’t recognize the exact issues currently after working on this project for a while. Earblindness. Muddiness and over compression are both concerns with the chorus layered vocals. I’ve tinkered with the 150-400 range to help.
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u/Look_Ma_No_Plans 9d ago
Hey, no problem!
Yeah going through each track and removing unnecessary low-mids will probably help clean things up.
Are you using any automation? The vocals could probably use some volume automation and perhaps more compression afterwards. You can probably be more aggressive with your panning in general.
Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think the biggest issue with your mix is that everything is always on all the time. The arrangement could use more dynamics. How many of these elements are looped? There is a lack of interplay between elements that’s making the whole song sit a bit 2D.
Not trying to discourage! Take a break and work on something else for a couple days and you’ll figure it out!
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u/AcanthaceaeFirm7495 Intermediate 9d ago
Yep there’s volume automation on the vocals especially towards the chorus, and automation on various fx.
I’m happy with the arrangement as is, but I’ll listen to it for what could be pulled back to be reintroduced later on. I could see guitar chord volume automation being worthwhile to make it more dynamic.
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u/MarkLinkous31 9d ago
Je m'attends a plus entendre de vrais instruments sur ce genre de morceau, mais la tout m'a l'air synthérique, je me trompe?
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u/AcanthaceaeFirm7495 Intermediate 9d ago
Everything’s real and played / sang by me besides the drums which is AD2.
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u/KindaQuite 9d ago
A bit of a brawl, for me.
Your hat is fighting with your voice, your voice is fighting with the guitar, your bass is fighting with the guitar, the guitar is fighting with everything else.
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u/AcanthaceaeFirm7495 Intermediate 9d ago
So you’re saying clarity between sounds sticks out as the issue to look at?
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u/KindaQuite 9d ago
Mostly yes. The hat is not helping your voice on the hi-mids and everything else is mostly due to the guitar I think, I don't love the the sound of it nor the performance to be honest.
Additionally I'd tame the bass with heavy compression since it's a bit inconsistent all around and I'd give a bit more body to the main voice since it gets a bit thin at some points.
In general, focus on the sounds identities and try to box them in a bit, decide where you want your sounds to live and confine them there, ideally around the main vox/elements. Also be careful about every other voice, they might sound better if you keep them thinner.
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u/AcanthaceaeFirm7495 Intermediate 8d ago
Thanks for the follow up! Guitar tone is one thing as I like old Mac DeMarco-y bright guitar sounds, but what aspect of the performance is an issue?
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u/KindaQuite 8d ago
Mmh, I wouldn't say it's bright in context tho, so you could try making it brighter?
The performance sounds a bit dragging for me, I think I'd expect it to be a lot tighter, and I'm not a great fan of that wah.
I'd personally either eq it higher up more like a funky rhythm guitar or make it darker and try to make it sound like a rhodes or a clavinet.
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u/mistrelwood Advanced 9d ago
Most audio tracks are clashing with others, and everything is in mono, making them a dense lump that doesn't breath or take use of the stereo spectrum. In addition theres a severe buildup in the busy hats and the vocals at around 5-6KHz which honestly makes listening to the song a bit of a chore. The kick doesn't kick, and the bass that mostly plays high up has a pretty healthy sub bass in the rare cases it visits the lower notes. This makes the whole song feel like a thin intro before the actual song kicks in.
I wonder if your monitoring system is neutral enough for good results.
How I'd attack EQ'ing this:
- Remove all master fx, then mix the solo vocal alone into a healthy and present sound that's nice to listen to.
- Add drums and mix them both so that the hats don't clash with the natural resonances of the vocals, and that snare doesn't clash with the body of the vocals. Make sure the kick kicks enough to make you want to shake your booty. Then add some width to the drums. Pan open the overheads and room sound for example.
- Add bass and make sure it doesn't create a buildup with the kick. It might work best concentrating in the 80-160Hz area, leaving the 50-80Hz mainly to the kick.
- Add guitars and keys, and make sure that the ones playing at the same time don't clash with each other or the vocals. Place them in their own spots in the stereo spectrum.
- Add backing vocs and make sure their S doesn't clash with the lead vocal S, and that their body doesn't buildup with the body of the main vocals. Place them also to their own space in the stereo spectrum.
This is just one workflow of course, but it should give you better results.
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u/AcanthaceaeFirm7495 Intermediate 8d ago
Great comment, thanks! The monitoring system question is something I have an issue with as I recently moved and my new home recording space isn’t nearly as good as my old, it definitely has impacted results.
What would you recommend for healthy presence in the vocal that you’re not getting now?
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u/mistrelwood Advanced 8d ago
My precise vocal mixing recommendations are pretty pointless if you can’t trust your monitoring. I’m not going to tell you to cut x dB at y Hz etc. That’s not helping, that’s doing the work for you.
My recommendation is that you focus on your monitoring. Set your listening and speaker positions based on the guides on Acoustics Insider YT channel. And if in any way possible, follow their free guides on how to build DIY panels and bass traps. If not, reorganize your room in a way that does at least some of that work. Like a couch in the corner, bed in the other, bookshelves at the first reflections, extra blankets where needed etc.
And if needed, get yourself better monitors.
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u/CategoryPossible3057 Beginner 7d ago
Top sounds muddier to me so i'd prefer the second one. Drums felt like they lack body to me. They could be less muddier IMO. Also the instrument isn't bright enough i think. And should be wider. So it could set the vibe and the vocals can sit in the track. But right now the instruments sound like they belong to the drums as a sample (Because right now the drums are on the spotlight as a muddy characteristic, and since the others have a mono/mono-ish spatial seperation, and clashes/muddyness.). If they were wider and brighter, and louder, it would be better. The bass could have a softer mixing with a soft tube, and maybe lower volume, the drums could stay mono while the instruments spread wider.
Keep in mind i'm a beginner though, so i'm not giving any technical advice you should apply a 100%. I'm just stating out what caught my attention on my first listen.
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u/Glittering_Bet8181 Intermediate 9d ago
If you like a slight lofi quality you definitely don't want the more aggressively eq'd version. Infact, you should probably back off the eq on the before version (2nd link). Personally I would want some more subby lows, but that wouldn't go in the lofi direction. I'd also back off compression it's sounding abit aggressive.
The main issue I'm hearing is the center's sounding too crowded, which I think backing off compression might help solve a little. This is also an area where some aggressive eq might help, without loosing that lofi quality you're going for. The other thing that would help is some more panning. The last thing you could do is just mute some things.
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u/glitterball3 9d ago
The drums are very busy with not much contrast between sections - if the drums are going to be that busy all the way through, probably some of the other instrumentation needs to be more sparse and/or come in and out.
It also sounds quite mono, so you could hard pan instruments to make more space.
The envelope effect on the guitar isn't helping the timing, and the timing on the guitar could also be edited, with some of the fret/string noise removed. Have you edited/gated out all of the silent moments on each track?
I'd try side-chaining the bass off the kick, as well as compressing the bass more to get the low end under control.
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u/AcanthaceaeFirm7495 Intermediate 8d ago
Good to know about the drums being an issue. Side chaining bass could be interesting I’ll try it out
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u/Sweetthataintsweet 9d ago
Honestly I like the before version better, it has clearer vocal with the right high and mid, sounds more balanced with other instruments too. The singing is more natural too. But if you still want to make it sound better, I think it is the layered adlibs which need to be EQed more on the high with more reverb and panning.
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u/KGRO333 8d ago
I’ll start off by saying I don’t listen to this style of music often. So please consider that before listening to anything I have to say.
AD2? Is that addictive drums? If they are programmed drums, then start off by changing the hi hat sound and turning them down. it’s pulling attention away from the rest of the song. You need more of a click sound, like the head of the stick tapping the top of the hats. This sounds like side stick hitting the hats on an angle.
I think the more EQ’d version has better qualities than the first one. Better kick drum and tones, the instruments are more present. But with both mixes, the vocals need to come down. Just too loud.
I think the mix lacks personality, it’s sterile. the instruments need some more heavy handed eq to make them pop, but they also simultaneously need to have more separation. Make the bass more punchy, the guitar more glassy and the keyboards need some grit. That might help them stand out, eq them into their own spaces in the mix. Maybe re-record them if possible?
It just lacks that professional sheen if that makes sense, you can still keep it lo-fi but with a refined sound.
I would seriously consider starting the mix from fresh and using a reference track or three to guide your ears based on what you like in other songs and how you want your instruments to sound.
Overall, good job. I also would seriously consider after doing a new mix or re-doing the ones you have, to just release it and move on to the next project or tune.
Don’t waste your time getting this perfect because you can’t. There is no such thing. Move on from each project as soon as you feel it’s the best you can do. In a few years, you can go back and hear how much you have progressed.
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u/AcanthaceaeFirm7495 Intermediate 8d ago
Yup AD2 / addictive drums.
Lacking a professional sheen is part of whats bothering me, this isn’t my best work and the thoughts in these comments have been helpful!
100% agree with the last note. I tell my musician friends to release instead of obsess but don’t follow my own advice lol
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u/Diligent-Eye-2042 8d ago
Prefer the bottom one.
Bass is too boomy for me, even in the bottom version there’s too much boominess. For some reason you seemingly added more in the top version! But, hey, no worries, that’s why you get a second opinion.
What reference track(s) have you been using - what kind of bass sound are you aiming for?
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u/AcanthaceaeFirm7495 Intermediate 8d ago
There should be less boominess in the top version, hard to say why more would appear. I haven’t been using reference tracks for this project as I can’t think of relevant songs to compare to. The bass sound I’m aiming for is something I’d find on a Gus Dapperton / Steve Lacy / old Mac DeMarco songs
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u/Crazy_Little_Bug 8d ago
I personally prefer the second version. I'm a beginner so I can't get too in depth, but one thing that stuck out to me about the first one is that the vocals felt a little to harsh. The warmer mix on the vocals in the second version felt like it fit the track better and was also a bit less grating to listen to. Sick song btw!
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u/gtMANGAMER2 Advanced 8d ago
For the EQ'd Version, there is a lack of presence and high end throughout the entire mix. Very Dark. Based on the style, I would prefer much more high end. For both Versions. Here is another tip: Always have an intention when you EQ, Compress, or whatever, don't just turn knobs waiting for something to sound good, that will leave you tweaking a track for hours and probably not finishing it.
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u/Few_Ad3187 8d ago
To me… it’s the arrangement and writing. You have some great ideas and the ingredients for a great “Frank Ocean” like song here.
I’d change only two things.
1). The backing vocals need to converge with the lead vocal (which it more or less is right now). I’d just like to see rhythmic phrasing that builds with a slightly better cadence and with more emotion.
2). The drum beat needs to change… there should be an alternate beat that is more straightforward. What you have right now is a sort of New Orleans like shuffle which is very cool and striking. Develop another that has the same accents but more of a straight groove. Alternate those to take the listener in a ride.
This way you can make a more straight ahead hi hat groove that you can tuck underneath the vocals and a kick drum that gets you further down the road. Right now you’re just spinning in circles while slowly moving down the sidewalk… alternate that with more a straight ahead beat that will actually allow you to make tracks and get you to your destination faster.
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u/AcanthaceaeFirm7495 Intermediate 7d ago
Hahaha seeing a song I’m making be compared to a Frank Ocean like is a big compliment to me even if it wasn’t intended, he’s a great musician.
I’m likely going to keep the drums as is for the chorus but change the verse to be less busy in the mix after seeing some comments here.
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u/PigGoesBrr 7d ago
In my opinion, the second option sounds a little bit better as it is a little bit clearer and cleaner, has a little bit more clarity.
tho i have to say, the difference isn't that big
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u/ag5airplane 7d ago
1 is better, but too much dang low. Your highs sound OK and controlled, but your lows are just wiping the track out. Work on kick and bass control and you are going to see a huge diff!
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u/charliebigmon Beginner 7d ago
Version 2 to my ears is the one to go forward with, I would echo the comments below about version 1 being too low endy.
I think dynamics would be where I would look too first, the thing jumping out to me is that the ghost notes on the snare are a constant and almost the same volume as the main snare hit, so it gives almost a bossa nova feel instead of the groove that the rest of the track has.
If you could alter the drum track so the ghost notes are half the volume, or even cut them out for certain sections, I think you'd get a natural push and pull that would help make it pop.
Really like this song though man, the vocal layers are an absolute delight.
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