What do you think of this mix...???

[kid-surf]

As well, what do you think of the writing? Did I F' something up? If so, what?

http://www.lofinksound.com/Fireworks_On_The_Lake_page.html

BTW-- this is pretty different "for me"... the style that is...


KID-

[FredProgGH]

Cool!! I like the glissando effect you have going on the strings a lot. It gives it a slightly oriental flavor.

As for the mix, I'd say nothing is obviously wrong with it, like in the sense of being F'ed up :D. As a matter of personal taste I think it could stand to have a little cut in the mids, say around 800hz or something. High end is good. The snare could be a little crisper for my taste. And maybe the panning on the strings is a little too hard. Like I said that's all just personal taste stuff. I like!!

What all are we hearing on this??

[jkerr]

Hey Kid,

I thought it sounded really good. I couldn't hear the cellos that well though. It left a little emptiness between the violins and the basses. Other than that, it was excellent.


Jonathan

[Lux]

Kid,

Its an original comp, nice ideas.

I'll tell you my personal thoughts, take them not so seriously and ...please dont ban me ;) :

- Mix: the first thing that comes out is that many percussions are more close than strings, and this is a bit unnatural to me. Percs are far on the stage. Try cutting freqs on mid-low and on highs at about 8K to send them back, and apply a little more reverb than strings.

- Mix: overall the sound is more "large" than " in depth". did you use some stereo enhancer? I mean, the mix can be so large, but somehow I prefer it more back, so to give the impression of listening as in a theatre, so to attenuate the panning effect and have a more dark and realistic result.

- Strings: I feel you need some legato and attack adjusting on strings at the beginning and on counterpoint staccato lines. Also you can try to obtain a more rounded sound with eq. A way sometimes i use is to add a parametric eq, take one freq slot, turn high the gain (+6/+8) and move the freq wheel until I find the freq that contain the more unnatural synth-sounding feel. Then, starting with a low Q, turn the gain wheel under the zero starting from small decrements (-1.5/-2) or more. If needed I increase the Q value.

- Bassoon: the attack is really hard on almost all notes. Its a matter of samples? if that try adding some linear attack in increments of 10ms at time until you reach an more sweet attack.

As always they are just personal impressions, so...

keep on it, I like your ideas.

Luca

[kid-surf]

Thanks for the feedback guys....!

So we have 1 crisper snare, and 1 duller move it back snare??? Huh? :D

J/K


Fred --- Mid cut... oh yeah? I already cut it a lot.. maybe I should cut it more. Wide panning? I can see that, although I think wide works better for film. Maybe not a regular mix.

I'm using QLSO, VSL, and SISS on this.


Jonathan --- Maybe I just need more cello... ;)



Luca--- thanks, but you're now banned. :D [joke]

First, I have to ask this question to qualify your comment: Are you a film composer or concert composer?

So anyway. Yeah, I know what you mean with the percussion, it's not "correct". But I like it closer sounding. Well, I generally don't like the hall / theater sound, I like a closer "in your face" mix. But your point is taken... (I figured some people wouldn't like that about this mix)


Nope, no use of a stereo enhancer.


I feel you need some legato and attack adjusting on strings at the beginning and on counterpoint staccato lines.

I don't understand what you mean there. You mean the attack is too "slow"? And what exactly is it about the staccato?


Also you can try to obtain a more rounded sound with eq.

I can sure "try". :D Are you referring to the entire mix there, or a specific element.


Bassoon: Yeah I can see that. Maybe I rushed it a bit...


Luca, where can I hear one of your mixes. Just wanna 'hear' where you're coming from.

Thanks guys!


KID-

[kid-surf]

Oh crap, just listened again... I did need a 'drastic' cut at around 800 Hz (actually -4.7 db at 959Hz).... you know why? My mastering plug was set to "inactive". Oops!!! that was to be the cut I was referring to... :D

I thought it sounded "different" than I remembered... ;)

I may as well fix some other stuff too... ;)




KID-

[Lux]

Hey Kid,

after you banned me...http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

well, please I dont want to be misunderstood. I never said I'm a mix master, I'm a mix dummie, really. I just talked about my personal likes.
About your question, about how i qualify myself, I have some trouble just to qualify myself as a simple composer....go figure film or concert composer http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif

About listening my music, i never had the time to setup a single page with pieces. Most of older stuff can be reached in my previous posts. There are, after a while i didnt, a few very small pieces in a new post, to avoid hijacking your post.

http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/showthread.php?p=216777#post216777

Ciao
Luca

[kid-surf]

Luca,

You're still here, I thought I banned you? Ok, fine, you can stay... :D :p

Yes, I knew you were just giving your opinion. (and no hard feelings on my end about that). I was just trying to get a feel for what you like in 'your' mixes (besides, I like hearing people's work anyway :) ). I tend to notice some Euro composers like more of the Hall/Theater type sound (pretty far back), where I like it a little more dry and up front. Although, i don't wanna go too dry... :D trying to find a balance is all.



By hearing your music I may know more about what you are referring to... (so that wasn't a challenge of some sort, not that you thought it was, just say'n :) )


As far as hijacking the thread... hey, no one else is in here but you and I, so hijack away!!! :D

I'll have a listen to your stuff after dinner...

Oh, I did a quick re-mix of my cue... I think that's gonna be the best I can get it to sound. It may be better, or may not. But I don't like spending too long. I'd rather move on and do better next time. :)

http://www.lofinksound.com/Fireworks_On_The_Lake_page.html


^re-mix^


thanks Luca!

KID-

[Mark Trainer]

Heck I'm just a simpleton but I thought it sounded pretty good, close up percussion and all.

Mark

[kid-surf]

Thanks Sharmy...!

Depth -- you mean push the whole thing back, or just the percussion?

Panning -- the left side mostly, correct?

I'll take one more swipe at it...




Thanks Mark!

KID-

[kid-surf]

BTW--- is it that you hear so many problems that it's hard to know where to start?

Honesty please... ;) :D

KID-

[mathis]

Can you post a link? The integrated media player here in my machine always crashes my Internet Explorer (not only on your website.)

[EricWatkins]

Wow Kid. I like it alot. THe ambience is nice. Software or hardware? Just as impressive is your arsenal with which you write and record. For some reason, with the word "kid" in your name and all, I wasnt really thinking "pro studio". I guess I was wrong. So tell me what your opinions are on EWQL vs Vienna in the "It's a pleasure to listen to" catagory"? I mean, which one do you just love to hear as you record it. I'm just using GPO with a bit of hardware and there are times where I have to tell myself, "dont worry, it'll all sound good when it comes together". I love GPO but it lacks the instant appeal to me that even some of my hardware provides. I especially like that "hollywood" type of sound. What do you think?

Eric

[PolarBear]

I really like it, especially when everyone is playing his bit ;) That thing does have a great sound to it! I hope you can keep that when fixing panning and depth! Personally I think the strings part in the beginning sound more real, meaning the first three notes figure, e.g. using a marcato for the first and legato for the second and thrid. Also I'm not sure if the violins number get's doubled at times due to hold notes by mistake.

Don't get me wrong, the vibe really catched my ear. I'm still wondering how you could have achieved that big flowing sound - it must be the hall, ain't it? :)

PolarBear

[kid-surf]

Mathis--

Here's a direct link. Sorry bout that. :)

http://www.lofinksound.com/Fireworks_On_The_Lake.mp3


Eric-- Thanks! The verb on that is software mostly. The main one is from my D8B. Although, I just got a G5 2.5 and a Lexicon PCM-91, so I'll be using Altiverb and the PCM a lot.

The "Kid" thing is just a spoof on Kid-Rock. I'm probably around the same age as kid rock, maybe a couple years younger?. So, I'm Kid-Surf because I'm an avid surfer... meaning, in the ocean. ;)


EWQL vs Vienna -- Honestly, they both sound as good as each other to me, just "different". If I had to pick just one, I'd pick VSL. But I like both.... For me, they are both 'as' difficult to get working in a mix, because I find sometimes EWQL sounds too 'spacious', or just not the space I'm going for, and VSL has a little smidge of ambiance but not much (similar to a close miced guitar). Outta the box EWQL might be sightly easier to work with, and probably is more exciting "initially". (just this guys opinion).

Do not forget about VSL's performance tool though...! ;)

As far as instant gratification... it's hard for me to answer that because I don't think it's necessarily that hard to make VSL sound 'pretty good' with some initial verb. Although, EWQL does (to me) sound more "Hollywood" in the stereotypical sense.

But it's like -- Who's hotter, this hot blond or this hot brunette? They're booth hot. ;)

Polar Bear-- Thanks!

I'm gonna give it one more mix when I have time. I'm not gonna drastically change the panning, just a lil' bit. ;)


Also I'm not sure if the violins number get's doubled at times due to hold notes by mistake.

Yeah, could be? Or maybe it's just bad orchestration.... :D


I'm still wondering how you could have achieved that big flowing sound - it must be the hall, ain't it? :)

That and verb... the hall sure doesn't hurt. :)

Thanks guys!

KID-