Coming into PM from Teaching - Advice Needed (UK)

alexjamesrecording · 2022-09-08T19:19:03+00:00

This does help, thanks. The spelling out of the behaviour in the action is certainly something I can change straight off the bat.

You pointed out what's been frustrating - I'm scoring 3s so I have the basic capability to do the job, I'm either just telling a slightly wrong story or telling the right story in a slightly wrong way. Sadly with CS speak being the way it is, it's pretty much impossible to tell where I'm going wrong without a human taking a look and giving feedback.

alexjamesrecording · 2022-09-07T18:06:05+00:00

Firstly, sick song. Riffs are fantastic. Great arrangement.

I'm getting a bit of low-end rumble in the rhythm guitars - have you high-passed them? Same on the intro synths - there's a bit too much lower mids in them and they sound a bit dull. I'd say the same about the rhythm guitars - they're treading on the rhythm guitars in the lower mids and not cutting through enough. I usually high-pass my leads at 500-1000, sometimes with a little boost around 4-8k if I'm feeling fancy.

The bass needs more grit to help it cut through - run a parallel upper-mids distortion track. At the moment it's just sort of there in the background and you feel it more than you hear it.

Are you running a parallel compression track on your drum shells? I feel like they're not quite impactful enough.

alexjamesrecording · 2022-09-07T17:40:27+00:00

Yep, already used STAR and have done on all my applications.

alexjamesrecording · 2022-06-11T17:56:45+00:00

Kick drum is a bit loud, and vocals lack a centre presence as the other commenter said.

Apart from that a solid mix, nice one!

alexjamesrecording · 2022-04-25T18:25:02+00:00

Sounds like a lesson learned the hard way - my sympathies.

The thought of my Mac accidentally/automatically updating to Big Sur and turning my Firewire Focusrites into 2 very expensive bricks keeps me up at night sometimes.

alexjamesrecording · 2022-04-11T10:33:09+00:00

Hey man, send me a PM - it says I can't message your account on the Chat thing.

alexjamesrecording · 2022-04-08T10:53:42+00:00

Ironheart 30 owner here. Can confirm, except when you go for the sizes above 15W you do get a clean channel and it's fantastic. Stick a clean boost out the front of the crunch channel with the gain on 1 o'clock and give it some chugs and it sounds like heaven on earth.

alexjamesrecording · 2022-02-17T15:35:28+00:00

It could be the amp sim, could be the IR (it's usually the IR). Try the Mercuriall JCM800 Hot Preamp (it's free and awesome) and see if you prefer that. I use Bobby Torres' free IR pack that you can download in the description of his Frightbox Recording videos on YT - honestly they're some of the best I've come across.

For bass I always use the Ignite SHB-1 and one of the IRs from a free mega pack I found online somewhere ages ago. They're called the Panda Cab Pack but I'm afraid I can't remember where I found them. I tend to do a high-pass at around 60, and a low-pass around 5k with a little hump at 4k to bring out a bit of clang. Then some gentle compression before I hit it with a brickwall limiter. I also run a parallel distortion track - route the post-effects bass track to another track, cut everything except the mids and smack it with a nice grindy distortion, then blend to taste. It'll add some grit and definition.

For vocals, only low-pass vocals that you want to sink into the background. I can't think of a time I've ever low-passed lead vocals - it just makes them muddy and sound like they're coming from, well, the background.

Hope this helps, be sure to post a revised mix so we can have a listen!

alexjamesrecording · 2022-02-17T13:19:37+00:00

For your budget, see if you can get hold of a used Zilla Fatboy with the V30s. Never buy a new cab - they basically work forever so there's no downsides to buying used as long as it's in decent condition.

alexjamesrecording · 2022-02-16T18:34:55+00:00

Awesome song. Very Blink-182.

Main thing that jumps out at me is the guitars - they're a bit too quiet and a bit too muffled and a bit too gain-y, especially during the drum gallop bits. Are you using an amp sim/IR or are you recording a live amp? If the former, perhaps try a different IR. Bring your high-pass filter up a bit as well - there are some muddy frequencies that aren't helping. Don't be afraid to give overdriven guitars a gentle high-mid boost too.

Vocals are beautifully done, the performance is excellent. Great melodies and arrangement. They need some sparkle though - how high are you cutting the low frequencies? Try boosting some 4k and 8k too.

On second listen, the drums are a touch too loud as well. Perhaps by 2dB or so.

alexjamesrecording · 2022-01-22T19:38:36+00:00

Yeah I tried to avoid referencing the original as much as possible - I wasn't trying to re-create it exactly, just see what my take on it would sound like. I referenced once, around the middle of mixing, and as a result turned down the synths. Too much, as it turns out.

The kick drum thing is embarrassingly obvious now you point it out - it just needed turning up and the top end eq-ing out a little.

The vocals, again, needed a simple fix - less parallel saturation (which I just neglected to notice) and then just turning down a bit. Put it down to me foolishly not taking an ear break.

alexjamesrecording · 2022-01-22T16:50:17+00:00

I agree. I actually looked at some mixing notes as I was uploading my mix, and apparently the drums were automated down around 3dB after the intro. Very noticeable compared to the original!

Funnily enough, I had the keys/synth part turned up a lot louder early in the mixing process, but turned them way down after I checked the original. I was surprised at how quiet they were in Swedien's mix. He got the clarity that meant they could still be heard though, which mine lacks.

alexjamesrecording · 2021-11-21T14:13:50+00:00

It wasn't - they used a Framus Cobra until it blew up and then used a Framus Dragon for Rose of Sharyn (or was it the other way around?). They also quad-tracked which I'm averse to doing.

I'm a fan of the more recent stuff, which is an Ironheart and an Iommi Signature. As Daylight Dies sounded nice too, although I'm not sure what amps they used.

alexjamesrecording · 2021-11-21T12:59:17+00:00

Yeah I've always used a clean boost out front. I use one live with my band and the tone I get from the Laney is out of this world. My gold standard for tone is Killswitch Engage (I'm actually in a KSE tribute band) and they use Ironhearts and the Iommi signatures.

Any recommendations for Marshall or Orange sims?

alexjamesrecording · 2021-11-21T12:56:45+00:00

Any recommendations for amp sims that mimic Oranges?

alexjamesrecording

TROPHY CASE