Constructive criticism on this mix please

[guitarjunkie01]

This is a production I did for someone who wrote a song for her nephew's birthday.
She came to me with the words and melody, I recorded the demo and then fleshed it out from there.
I played all the instruments and programmed the drums with BFD2.

I'd really like to hear what others have to say and hear what they may change or have done differently.
I used external sends to outboard gear which is something I haven't really dabbled with much before.

I've never done the file sharing thing so i hope that I've done it right....I may be needing constructive criticism on that as well!
Thanks

http://rapidshare.com/files/349329847/Jacob_Master_3.mp3.html

I think there's only 10 downloads available for this

[seaneldon]

yousendit.com allows for 100 downloads.

[guitarjunkie01]

here's the link to 'you send it' as well:

http://www.yousendit.com/download/S1VEa3NjNnlCMTdIRGc9PQ

[Mixwell]

GJ01; let me criticize you - peacefully, with all helpful intentions -

I think this mix is an excellent effort, considering you had to create, what you created, around what you were given.

Firstly, all the programming is really cool, the synth loops etc.....but maybe try and "relax" the drums a bit, so they "tuck" in behind the mix and the "pad" stuff. Especially the snare. Its seems a bit "squashed", which I gather is compensation for "punch", so maybe its a slight EQ thing with the low mid rather than more compression.

Maybe layering it in with other different "cleverly filtered" snares, could work, [with samples] but try and lay off the squash on the direct sound, and try for a more natural sound there. With the drums more even, maybe bring the bass line up louder to push the 1,3 "up" a bit more. The rest of the kit sounds right up the alley for the song I think.

The Electric GTR's seem a bit shaved on the bottom, upper mid forward, so see where the body is on those suckers are and bring it back. The panning is cool, but maybe bring the drums out more towards left and right, so they resemble a kit in action.

Sometimes, I like panning the snare a bit to right when doing audience style positioning. The vocal is good, but gets a bit compressed in sections, so maybe there is a balance there to, sitting back a bit like the drums. It might be a bit too forward, so maybe a vocal "down" print is in order.

As a side note, on a production thought, maybe automate some really interesting filter modulation, flanger effects with the pad synth loop, so it has some diversity through the song and changes with the vocal parts.

Hope this helps

[Sandyrb]

Hi Casey.

I'd really like to hear what others have to say and hear what they may change or have done differently.

This is an enjoyable song and not unpleasant sounding at all. I like it. In particular the bass tone is very warm and 'pure'.

Things I would have done differently: I'd certainly have used a different snare sample. I'd have backed her off from the mic because the proximity doesn't suit her vocal tone OR I'd have used a very different mic. As for that nice bass sound, I'd have crept a layer of gentle distortion in behind it, emphasizing the lower mids to give it more 'authority', but this is a minor, minor thing. Finally I'd have used a lot less ambience on the drums; I find it a little distracting.

My wife (who doesn't know her ear from her elbow about recording and therefore has a highly valuable opinion) just left for work commenting that the vocal sounds "tinny". For whatever that's worth. :)

Some of the guitar playing is great; there are a couple of licks which really lift the track for me. That's awesome. :)

Thanks for sharing your work. Great job. Hope the above helps. :)

Cheers,

[guitarjunkie01]

Thank you guys for your responses. It's great to be able to get the constructive criticism!
I was hoping for some more feedback from others, but maybe in the future. I may post a rock tune that I have to mix for a band this week. Tracking finished and gonna start on it very soon.

thanks again

[SonoPhotoStudios.com]

File Gone, so sad :( I wanted to hear the cool guitar!