New song-bass buried in the mix?

bass4u · #1 02-26-2011, 09:32 AM

Here is the first song from one of my band's CD in progress. To me and the singer the bass is buried and muddy in the mix. The engineer, drummer and guitar player think it's ok. Looking for other's opinions. TIA

Blind Monk-Sister Ex.mp3

Bassdirty · #2 02-26-2011, 09:36 AM

Bad link?

bass4u · #3 02-26-2011, 09:39 AM

Sorry, fixed it.

MNAirHead · #4 02-26-2011, 09:44 AM

no you didn't

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Why is foundation bass bad? IT's kind of the trend with better gear to run bass to sub level.. this opens up spectrum for other stuff.....

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Dumb question.. is your recording final mastered.. if not this is the phase you really become interested in a final mix... Please tell me that you're going to pop a few hundred bucks to have a true pro master your recordings... this is a huge talent all on it's own.. few of us own the $$$$$$$$$$$$$ gear and GodGiven ears to do it correctly.

I'd love to hear your recording.

bass4u · #5 02-26-2011, 09:53 AM

It hasn't been mastered yet. The engineer wanted everyone comfortable with the mix before mastering. The link is working for me. It takes a few seconds before the song plays, be patient.

Febs · #6 02-26-2011, 10:02 AM

The link is still bad.

"Access denied.
The file is not available because you are either not logged in or do not have the owner's permission to view it."

MuzikMan · #7 02-26-2011, 10:11 AM

None of us can view it, only you can.

MNAirHead · #8 02-26-2011, 10:12 AM

Mastering...

This is a totally different skill set than an engineer... different gear.. different focus.

I was once told by a VERY good producer NEVER to have the engineer do a final master.. one's job is to focus on the detaills --- other's is to focus on the end large scope.

It's kind of like asking your blonde bubbly girlfriend to sometimes authetically act like an bookworm nerd. (or vice versa)

When in the mastering phase, it helps to find a VERY qualified (and equipped) person. Chances are you won't like this talented folk as they're normally very egotistical and arrogant about what they do (they normally have a stellar portfolio to back it)

You then give them 3-4 recordings that you like the final product of (entire band agrees)...

Then leave the mastering alone to do what they do...

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Out of all the recording projects I"ve been hired to do, the ones that had the recording engineer produce and master were shelved and never were as good as the ones they spent the money on Producers & Engineers

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At this phase of the process, letting you hear samples, may be inhibiting your final product --- you should be focused on VERY tight and VERY clean individual tracks.

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To your "not cutting through" quest... go back and listen to anything Lee Sklar or Sade have been involved with... IF either had bass that was in your face, it would not let the focal point shine.

For an example.. search youtube for classic James Taylor or Suzy Bogguss recordings... if you play bass, you are VERY aware that he's on it and NEVER makes a mistake... if you're an average listener you "feel" a very comfortable foundation.

Seriously.. many times "in your face bass" is to cover up a talentless band. It may be possible your vocals and/or primary instrumentation is high quality and bumping you up would be only for your ego.

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Hope this makes sense and that I'm helping more than ticking you off.

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metallicafan18 · #9 02-26-2011, 10:14 AM

It works fine for me. Its a sweet sounding song. I wouldn't say the bass is buried, but it is slightly on the muddy side. Not horrible by any standards though. Awesome song!

bass4u · #10 02-26-2011, 10:16 AM

Forgot to check the box to make the file public. The website www.upload-mp3.com is decent. It's free and you can host up to
250MB of mp3 files.

funk generator · #11 02-26-2011, 10:22 AM

i think the singer is fine, bass is ok, it could go up just a hair. And PM me where to buy the CD.

Edit: lack of bass could be my laptop speakers.

bass4u · #12 02-26-2011, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metallicafan18

It works fine for me. Its a sweet sounding song. I wouldn't say the bass is buried, but it is slightly on the muddy side. Not horrible by any standards though. Awesome song!

Thanks! What I'm not happy with is that during tracking the engineer commented on how well the bass recorded using a VT Deluxe. He was so impressed he told me he went and bought a VT Deluxe for his studio the next day. He had an SVT rig to use at the studio but after listening to one of the sounds I had stored in the VT, he said he liked it better than the SVT and it was dead quiet. It seems like he completely cut most of the high mid out of the original bass track.

MNAirHead · #13 02-26-2011, 10:25 AM

Howdy.

I dig it ..

The backline kind of reminds me of classic Cure..

I REALLY like what you're doing.

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Opinion (you can get your money back)

Your activity levels make it necessary to not have any tracks "in your face" it's missing padding......

There are tons of Pretenders type bands that have this sound and do very well... now ... you guys are a bit tougher to master as in arranging bass and rhythem guitar are almost playing 2 different songs.

There are techniques to make you and the rhythem guitar more prominent... unsure if you want the tricks.

When I listened to it... it was eveident that it was a progress recording and not final.

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My guess is that the one recording may not have (or know about) gizmos that help with spectrum, balance, slotting and pan.

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I'd love to hear the final... nice work.

MNAirHead · #14 02-26-2011, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bass4u

Thanks! What I'm not happy with is that during tracking the engineer commented on how well the bass recorded using a VT Deluxe. He was so impressed he told me he went and bought a VT Deluxe for his studio the next day. He had an SVT rig to use at the studio but after listening to one of the sounds I had stored in the VT, he said he liked it better than the SVT and it was dead quiet. It seems like he completely cut most of the high mid out of the original bass track.

To master against your guitars it may have been necessary.

Heck I've had studios buy a bunch of junk I own.. it doesnt' mean it fits the project

Ric5 · #15 02-26-2011, 10:31 AM

Sounds ok to me when I changed the eq to boost a little bass.

MonkeyBass · #16 02-26-2011, 10:41 AM

Cool tune!

The bass and kick don't agree mix wise. The kick is overpowering the bass. I'd certainly bring the bass line up more and clean it up a tad in the 250Hz area. Especially since you're playing such cool stuff. What you're doing is far more interesting than anything the guitarist doing.

NEVER EVER say "we'll fix it in mastering". That's not how mastering works. Do your research.

paganjack · #17 02-26-2011, 10:42 AM

I wouldn't say that the bass is buried in the mix at all. It's quite audible.

It sounds like that may not be the tone that you are looking for though. It's a tiny bit tubby which IMO clashes with how busy the bassline is.

bass4u · #18 02-26-2011, 10:56 AM

Thanks to everyone for the responses. I just got sent an MP3 of the second song mixed. Same thing to me, bass is being killed by the kick drum and there isn't enough high mid in the bass tone.

Die Today-Sister Ex.mp3

pudgychef · #19 02-26-2011, 10:59 AM

I like the tune and your playing very much.

I am listening through very mediocre computer speakers with an even more mediocre 'sub'

I don't think the bass is too low in the mix...BUT I thought it dipped in level during the first transition and robbed that change of its beef...the second time through it seemed more present.

I would be tempted to drop the rhythm guit a hair at the start...and to de-tubbify the bass tone a hair to open up what you are playing....but hey just my 2 cents

EDIT: above comments posted based on first track

Track 2: also seems to be at a good level - but a tad to muffled and (I think) there is an EQ clash going on there with the guit.....

do the drums sound 'papery' compared to the 1st track or am I hearing things?

electracoyote · #20 02-26-2011, 11:04 AM

I have a decent set of computer speakers and a sub, I thought the mix was pretty good and the bass and singer were in there about right. The singer was on top, I could hear every word without straining, and the bass was sitting where it should be. If the bass got much higher in the mix it would be obtrusive.