New recordings - Mixing advice please?

[kesslari]

I recorded these tonight with my duo Folk in A (say it out loud, yeah, childish maybe but fun...).

They're my first recordings with my fretless.
I think they came out pretty well, especially as they were first takes (and the instrumental was all in one take - no overdubs).
This was a quick mix right after we recorded, between watching election resullts and me having to leave to go train. So the leadins have some gratuitious talking...

Dryad (instrumental): http://www.folkina.com/mp3/beauty_turns_inward.mp3

Back to maria: http://www.folkina.com/mp3/back_to_maria.mp3

I've generally left mixing and editing to others, but in a duo, I'm half of the sound, so it's a good excuse to be more involved and to learn more about recorded sound.

I'd appreciate any tips, comments, or suggestions for a final mix - eq, effect (the bass is unaffected) or other. Other comments and suggestions to improve my playing and recording abilities are also welcome.

Thanks, bass cats and big recording dogs.

[kesslari]

wow, usually *everyone* is a critic...

[JAUQO III-X]

I listened to both tracks and I am not at all a critic and I rarely comment on recordings from TBer's.

But I would like to point out some things if you don't mind.

The lyricism in your playing is dead on and overall I think you expressed yourself very well. Your tone iv very organic but with a subtle dash of modernism. I liked what I heard. In all honesty I liked what you were bringing to the table and if I was producing a project that called for the type of playing that you delivered,I would definitely consider you coming in and playing some fretless,even though I play fretless a lot myself.

The mix on the second track wasn't the best and I respect that and I stand by my thoughts in regards to your tone even though the bass was a little lost in the mix from the second track.

[kraigo]

Have a boom box handy or something like a pair of Radio Shack Optimus speakers. Something that is shy in the low end. Also something with a sub. With the sub running walk around the room listening for spots where the bass gets overwhelming - note where that is and visit occasionally. Take mixes with you in the car.

When you like the sound of the mix on all of those systems you're getting close. My old mixing system was set up so I could solo the sub. It's nice to be able to check how much rumble and low end crud you have going on. It eats dynamic range but doesn't help you sound good. Consider rolling some of the lowest lows (e.g. start rolling off at 60 Hz). Try it, you might like it.

You'll probably have trouble getting your levels up to where a commercial release is. You'll probably be self-mastering, right? Multiple compressors of different brands/types with different settings is the effective way to get your average volume up.

Good luck.

KO

[kesslari]

First, thank you for the feedback, and for the positive words. Jauqo, I really appreciate your supportive comment on my playing. Kraigo, thanks for the tip about using compression to get the volume right.

The mix on the second track wasn't the best and I respect that and I stand by my thoughts in regards to your tone even though the bass was a little lost in the mix from the second track.

On some systems I've tried (especially in my Prius car stereo) the bass sounds really muddy. There's a nice quality to the lows (at least that I like) but on that system in particular the clarity is gone. Any suggestions as to a low frequency to cut that might improve clarity?

[kraigo]

I did a Google for "250 Hz mud" and came across this:

http://www.digitalprosound.com/2002/...g_excerpt1.htm

FWIW, I absolutely suck with EQ - when I A/B with the EQ bypassed I inevitably like the bypassed better. I guess that would suggest that light cutting is your best bet.

KO

[kesslari]

I just talked to my guitarist (his studio) and he cut a bit of 200K, says it took the mud right out of the bass sound. I'm looking forward to hearing it.

[kesslari]

2 new songs today recorded with my new Zon Sonus Special. Wow... another lovely sounding fretless bass
Still just rough working mixes...

Broken Hearts Rescue Society:
http://www.folkina.com/mp3/broken_hearts.mp3

Wisdom of a Kiss:
http://www.folkina.com/mp3/wisdom_of_a_kiss.mp3