Just dropped a grand in the studio, would like opinion on music

Timbo · #1 12-11-2008, 01:02 AM

EDIT: FINAL VERSIONS UP!!!

Hey guys,
My band just spent about a grand, 20 hours or so, in the studio recording our 6 song EP and mastering it. We put it up on our page and I'd like a reaction from you guys on it. Criticisms/levels/etc. Song is "Reaction"

www.myspace.com/technicolorwolves

Oh, and that's a 2008 American Standard Fender Jazz with old stock strings.. just the way I like it! Incase you guys wanted to hear the new Fenders in action. They sound awesome! The song "Ceiling Cracks" is a home recording we did so that's not from the studio.

Buddah999 · #2 12-11-2008, 04:21 AM

The music is pretty groovy. To my ears the bass is overpowering your mix. It makes the drums sound thin. But on the upside every instrument sounds good, and the mastering is damn good.

Thats 1k well spent, sir!

Stingray_EB · #3 12-11-2008, 04:25 AM

Yea I have to agree with Buddha the bass is slightly to high in the mix, I would say louder than the vocals tbh.

DWBass · #4 12-11-2008, 06:07 AM

Drums are totally lost in the first tune and yes, the bass is strong in the mix on that one. The second tune is a bit better but the vocals could be a bit more upfront in the mix.

The bass playing is good albeit a bit on the busy side. I'm a fan of the drums and bass locking and groovin' with less notes.

Overall, good job. I like the songwriting.

slackinatthebas · #5 12-11-2008, 06:22 AM

the snare needs more pop and the kick needs more punch. you can get that in the mixing. make em sound a smidge thicker. nice bass grooves, but it needs to come down very slightly. it needs to be a little more level with the guitars. maybe cut back a slightly teeny weeny bit. other than that very good. toe tapping.

jmac · #6 12-11-2008, 06:33 AM

While I liked both songs, I really liked ceiling cracks. I agree with the rest of the comments on the recording.

Timbo · #7 12-11-2008, 10:20 AM

I really appreciate the input guys. We'll do another hour or two in the studio doing final mixes in a week or so after we've listened to it plenty of times. My bass playing tends to be a busy it's something I'm working on. It's a lot easier to play busy and make it sound good then the whole "less is more thing." I listened to TONS of Sublime as a kid, hell I am a kid still only 17 haha, and Eric Wilson is notorious for being busy.

Oh and the Charisma we kinda "wrote" the night before we recorded. We jammed on it and didn't write any cuts or anything and decided to go for it in the studio. We did it in one take just feeling all the breakdowns. We still haven't really written it! haha

Joe Kyle · #8 12-11-2008, 10:30 AM

Once reaction gets into it, its catchy as all hell.

Nice work.

the_thriller · #9 12-11-2008, 10:38 AM

I like it. I know it's not 100% mixed yet so I'm just looking at it as a whole. Sounds great! Now you guys should come up to northern Canada and play a show.... Maybe?... ?....

Philbiker · #10 12-11-2008, 10:39 AM

Nice.

Kraken · #11 12-11-2008, 10:52 AM

sounds good, but I agree that the drums are just too low in the mix, bring them up a bit and Reaction will be an awesome song

Mark Olson · #12 12-11-2008, 03:05 PM

You guys have a nice sound! And if anything should be too loud it's the bass! Having a nice prominent bass line as well as your playing style that's "busy" (shows character) helps give you guys your own sound, I think it's great.

How did you record the bass on these songs? What bass and other equipment are you using?

Mr_Sore_Fingerz · #13 12-11-2008, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timbo

Hey guys,
My band just spent about a grand, 20 hours or so, in the studio recording our 6 song EP and mastering it. We put it up on our page and I'd like a reaction from you guys on it. Criticisms/levels/etc. Song is "Reaction"

www.myspace.com/technicolorwolves

Oh, and that's a 2008 American Standard Fender Jazz with old stock strings.. just the way I like it! Incase you guys wanted to hear the new Fenders in action. They sound awesome! The song "Ceiling Cracks" is a home recording we did so thats not form the studio.

recording doesn't sound too bad

Timbo · #14 12-11-2008, 05:23 PM

Bass: 2008 American Standard Fender Jazz bass. Both pickups open all the way and tone knob probably about 1/2 - 3/4 open so more treble can leak out because the strings are so dead.

Strings: Stock Fender strings that are very very very well worn in. I really like em fat and warm. Well worn strings + open tone knob = tone heaven for me.

Input: Direct in. He had me running through a really nice tube pre-amp. There was compression on the pre-amp but the EQ was flat. I think he did some EQ'ing after the fact but not too much. That's pretty much just what the bass sounds like.

It's funny, that's the first song we wrote as a band and we all kinda started to hate it. But I think it turned out real nice on the recording. We changed up a couple parts of it. The synth part the singer redid on the fly in about 10 minutes. I personally think that makes the song.

Check out the other two I posted! I'd like as much feed back on all of our tunes as possible so I can give opinions on final mixdown. I'll post a couple more every couple days.

Frederickbass · #15 12-11-2008, 05:35 PM

I agree with everyone about the bass being to loud in the mix. Your band sounds amazing =)

VroomVroom · #16 12-11-2008, 05:38 PM

Good song, although an 'NSFW' warning would be nice for those who are listening at work. That first f-bomb caught me by surprise.

Honest thoughts... On the intro, some chords from the synth might help the singer a bit - his pitch issues are otherwise bare naked. Bass...I thought you were fine in the mix, although I'd agree that some of the fills didn't seem to fit within the spirit of the song. Great tone, and the groove playing anchored the tune - a good thing since, to my ears, the drummer's time wavers a bit...possibly a function of his hi-hat playing.

No offense with any of this. Just gut-level reaction and thoughts based on the assumption you'd want to hear the good and the bad. Good luck with this - I hope the effort helps you reach your goals.

Smallmouth_Bass · #17 12-11-2008, 05:47 PM

Great shot:

I agree, the drums are too low.

Timbo · #18 12-11-2008, 05:53 PM

Yeah guys as much as I love hearing "It's good!" in the long run its better for the straight to the point criticisms so keep 'em coming. I want it sounding as good as it can be at the end.

Oh, and yeah we like to rock out when we play! If you aren't having the time of your life when you play the crowd won't have the time of their lives.

PoundinThunder · #19 12-11-2008, 05:54 PM

reaction sounded a bit like a digital ho-down at some parts. bass is a tad strong in the mix. or the guitar and drums is too weak. guitar tone really draws me away from it the most tho. good job tho. not my style but that doesnt make it bad

wdinc01 · #20 12-11-2008, 05:54 PM

I honestly didn't realize that there were drums in the first song until I read the comments on here. It's pretty low in the mix, so that should be brought up. And yeah, the bass is kind of high, although personally that's the way I like it. Just bring everything up a little more.

And as for the bass being busy, don't worry about it. That's the way you play it. It's your own personal style. Personally, I dig it.