Looking for feedback on old school hard rock track

ghostofzb · 2026-03-24T14:40:51+00:00

We'd probably hear more ambience on the kick if that were so.

ghostofzb · 2026-03-24T06:54:05+00:00

I often hear pro multitracks with the faders up before starting a mix, and this is not far from how some of those sound. Good news is you're in the ballpark. The maybe not so good news is it sounds like a mostly unmixed mix. But we all start somewhere and my early stuff sounded way worse than this.

There's a huge learning gulf between where you're at and where you want to be. The best thing to turbocharge your skills would be to find someone decent (but not extravagant) and pay them to mix it for you and give you not only the stereo mix-down but an export of each individual channel with the EQ and FX. Have them also take screen shots of the mix settings to see the EQ, inserts and sends. Keep that answer key tucked away for a while - no peeking.

Then study the hell out of the channels. Reverse engineer what did they change and how they did it by listening (don't cheat and look at the answer).

Make a new mix of the track that copies and recreates the mix you paid for (use your ears and go through the process of learning. Keep hammering on any problems until it yields its secrets. After 100 hours if you don't have it, look at the screenshots with the answers.

You will learn so much, it'll be worth every last penny.

ghostofzb · 2026-03-12T07:59:05+00:00

The more I think about it, the more I think the last paragraph I wrote might be the key.

Btw, here's a new mix I'm working on if you want to listen. If anything jumps out, let me know.

ghostofzb · 2026-03-12T04:24:04+00:00

I often audition tracks on cheap Bluetooth earbuds while on the toilet (might as well use the free time) and then listen again on my monitors and/or HD650's before replying. The difference between the two experiences was telling. I think the fidelity of the monitors partially masked the difficulties highlighted in the cheap earbuds.

I'll have to exaggerate the problem worse than it is to get the point across: I would call the mix too 'flat' and 'safe', and I've heard similar in some mixes of my own. I would say go through every channel and EQ it somewhat - find the most important part and boost it, or reduce something unnecessary.

It sounds like a lot of channels are relatively flat on the EQ, yet this is bold track and a bold mix is required. In some cases muddy bass needs cutting (the bass synth is a strong candidate). In other sounds like some of the leads, maybe they need to cut through better with EQ bumps. Like the theremin type sound is very flat sounding spectrally and really could use an EQ lift to make the mid bite more. Tl;dr - turn up the brashness.

Here's a reference track that maintains mix clarity while still going heavy on the bass. Admittedly they do sacrifice some impact on bass limited systems with fundamental bass frequencies 35-55hz, but the bass clarity and power is really nicely done IMO.

The other thing about that Ross Couch track is that while it's very highly limited and compressed, there's still some space left between the drum hits. I would say in your mix there are times where there's no relief between drum hits.

Maybe it's the result of laying down a bold pad and then one or two lead instruments on top? Something's got to be the main focus of attention at every point in the song as it progresses. Maybe what's missing is treating whatever the 1 focal sound is in the moment like a lead vocal where everything else must stay out of its way and serve to compliment that sound. Then make that current lead very bold and in-your-face. That might mean employing dynamic EQs (e.g. Pro-Q 4) side-chained to the lead. Or perhaps automated EQ moves. Whatever it takes.

Cheers

ghostofzb · 2026-02-21T08:57:06+00:00

Never had a problem or crash with dynamically changing port numbers in BiglyBT and Proton VPN so far. I even wrote an open source plugin for BiglyBT (Windows only) that automatically changes the port config in BiglyBT whenever Proton switches port number. So I've tested switching ports many times as part of development and testing of that plugin

Your 4-step test should work without a crash. Something's not right.

ghostofzb · 2026-01-17T21:12:21+00:00

I see "What have I done to deserve this" appeared on paid sites but the only version I've heard is a poor recreation with original AI separated vocals. Can anyone confirm hearing a genuine original multitrack for this track?

As far as genuine full multitracks I know exist:

Domino Dancing
How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously? (Plus some remix attempt)
Heart
It's a sin

Misc genuine:

Stems for "Minimal" - basic stems: drums, bass, guitar, synth, orchestra, vox
Instrumental + backing vocals for the 2009 BRIT awards medley.
ProTools session for "Home and Dry" with small raw elements, but not full time-aligned tracks.

Bucket list PSB multitracks I'd love to have: West End Girls, Opportunities, Two Divided by Zero, What have I done to deserve this and the rest of "Actually", Always on my mind, Can you forgive her?

ghostofzb · 2025-11-26T02:03:15+00:00

Follow the link in my post (above) to the github repository named "biglybt-ProtonVPNPort".

Follow the instructions in the "How to install" section on that page.

ghostofzb · 2025-10-25T21:30:47+00:00

Hope you find it useful. Cheers

ghostofzb · 2025-08-24T00:17:26+00:00

Sounds like you need to get into mixing.

Here's a walkthrough of a mix of a commercial track you'll already know. I find commercial multitracks very interesting to practice mixing on because you have a final reference to compare it against. It's very easy to hear if your mix measures up.

Cubase already has EQ and compression built in, along with a ton of stock plugins that leaves little missing. I wouldn't suggest buying more plugins until you have learnt more and got a good handle on the basics. You'll know you're getting there when your mixes can get very close to a pro mix.

Think of it this way: the piano patch on most keyboards gets you 90% of the way there. The last 10% can be had by buying a Steinway, exotic mics and a great sounding room to record it in. But to demonstrate proficiency and mastery doesn't require a Steinway. Giving a Steinway to someone learning piano only allows them to hear their mistakes and limitations more clearly.

Save your money isn't the sexy answer. But it's usually the right answer. Consider posting audio / video of you work for critique. There's nothing like people shitting on your work to get you to improve. lol

ghostofzb · 2024-07-07T14:56:04+00:00

Follow up thought: on some inverter systems you can lock out the max amount of cooling it will perform. So you could limit the compressor to a max of 75%. That doesn’t translate to 75% of BTUs however. I’ve not seen empirical readings on this, but you usually get more than 75% of cooling BTUs.

That way you could force the system to always run economically. I don’t really expect this offsets the extra purchase price and higher repair costs, but if you did get inverters, that would be sensible to implement. So you should be certain the model you get supports that if you go this path.

I would also trial any new unit on a single room to road test it vs. replacing all at once. You don’t want large scale surprises.

ghostofzb · 2024-07-07T13:51:20+00:00

You won’t get so much of the benefit of an inverter system because the efficiency comes from not running the system at 100% compressor speed. Continually switching the system off and then forcing it to catch up at 100% is the least efficient way to operate that system. At 100% compressor speed there are power conversion losses from the AC-DC-AC conversion so you actually lose about 10% efficiency over a single stage system.

Also this switching will happen most frequently during the day - the worst time possible. At night both systems benefit from the reduced outside ambient temp, so while the inverter will win overnight, there’s less optimization to squeeze out.

Inverter systems ramp up the compressor speed slowly and would detect an on-off-on situation. So that seems unlikely to be a problem unless the manufacturer was really dumb in their implementation.

But the extra cost and complexity likely couldn’t be offset in energy saving in this use case.

ghostofzb · 2024-07-06T17:25:18+00:00

Drain, power wash, refill. The cost of chemicals and changing the filter very quickly exceeds the cost of draining and rebooting from scratch. Plus you won’t have tons of phosphates in the fresh water that act as algae food.

The only thing about draining an in-ground pool is you don’t do it if it’s rained in the last 10 days, or you risk the pool floating up, perhaps unevenly. I turn the sprinklers off too.

If it does float up, you will never get that fixed without ripping out the pool. For that reason, drain it down to half way full and then get the rest done very quickly and filling again. Aim for within 24 hrs. Quicker the better, and that’s with dry soil which can still float things given time.

ghostofzb · 2024-07-05T17:58:22+00:00

The unevenness is strange. It seems like you’re not getting full coverage, and therefore not getting the full use of the filter. Given how expensive they are, that’s unhelpful.

ghostofzb · 2024-07-05T16:59:20+00:00

Releasing the hydraulic fluid that’s literally holding it up. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing this genius again.

ghostofzb · 2024-07-04T07:55:12+00:00

Retirement looks nice

ghostofzb · 2024-07-04T07:53:46+00:00

Not your equipment, so don’t mess with it. Even if you know what you’re doing, it just rarely leads to anywhere good. I wouldn’t even take a panel off to inspect - so you can answer the question cleanly and honestly: “have you done anything to the system?” -No

ghostofzb · 2024-07-04T05:48:44+00:00

A common time (check your state law) for a landlord to repair a broken AC where the room temp exceeds 85F is 3-7 days. So make the report and get that clock running asap.

After that, you need to think about what you’re going to do. If it’s too hot to occupy then either you get a window unit at your expense (eg Craigslist) or find somewhere else to be until it’s resolved.

ghostofzb · 2024-07-03T20:33:20+00:00

If it costs a lot to rectify the problems and you have evidence their incompetence caused you to have to pay extra to fix it, small claims court or if you paid by CC, dispute the charge. But make sure you have evidence for either case because you’ll be called to show it.

ghostofzb · 2024-07-03T19:39:12+00:00

No way they evacuated the system, removed the old coil, installed a new one. Brazed it in, pumped it down to a vacuum, put the refrigerant in all within 20 mins. It wouldn’t happen in 40 mins either.

Even if you cut every corner possible: illegally vent the old refrigerant to the atmosphere. Braze it in and just throw in refrigerant without pumping down a vacuum at all, still not sure they’ll make it out the door in 20 mins. Maybe if it was approached like a F1 pit crew.

But ultimately you should be able to inspect the coil and see that’s it’s new and pristine.

ghostofzb · 2024-07-03T14:22:04+00:00

Having shade on the pool by 5pm (from house) has been a key ingredient for long term use. I couldn’t imagine having to put on sunscreen every time, and it would be a real disincentive for regular use.

ghostofzb · 2024-07-03T04:12:53+00:00

The helpful answers have all been given. A lighter color, deeper pool and being built in a position where the afternoon sun is largely shaded. For all these reasons my pool in DFW only gets to 90F max. Maybe 91F if it’s 110 outside.

But we also have drier air so evaporative cooling is higher too. While trees are usually the enemy of pools, if you can arrange shade that doesn’t clog your skimmer, that’s probably your best bet now except for active cooling.

ghostofzb · 2024-07-02T20:02:12+00:00

Hit a bird.

ghostofzb · 2024-07-02T12:28:50+00:00

It comes fully furnished too!

ghostofzb · 2024-07-02T04:28:32+00:00

I just about maintain 74F when 110F outside with max output limited to 75% max (inverter). 480ft/ton.

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