Marilyn Susan: Destroyer of Worlds

[vomitHatSteve]

Ok! Back to my regular recording schedule!
I'm working on a song about Dragonball Z fan-fiction. There's supposed to be a lead guitar, but I'm still waiting on the teenager that I'm hiring for that to send me the part.

Meanwhile, how is the mix shaping up?

Mix 1

MarilynSusan.mp3

Mix 2

MarilynSusan.mp3

Mix 3

MarilynSusan.mp3

Unmastered Flac

[rayc]

It was odd waiting a minute before the full tilt VHS ensemble kicked in.
1st thing I notes was a fair bit of sibilant activity.
After all these years I still read Dragonball Zed.
The band sounds good - tight too.
I look forward to the teen solo.

[Armistice]

On my craptop with a circular saw going on in the background as the interminable house build next door continues it sounds pretty good to me.

How much are you paying your teenager?

[vomitHatSteve]

I'll probably pitch him $25 if he wants it. That's my usual for a contributing musician doing one guest instrument.

Ray, i see what you're saying about sibilants. Honestly, all of my mixes are sounding super-bright to me today, and I'm not sure why.

[TripleM]

Generally things sound pretty good.

The vocal is pretty upfront until things kick in at 1:06.

When things kick in at 1:06 the bass is pretty muddy.

Rhythm section is pretty non-standard. But I thought it was great.

[liv_rong]

I think it sounds good! I really like the cadence once everything kicks in about halfway through.

[vomitHatSteve]

Thanks folks!

Updated mix in OP.
Tweaked the de-esser
Lowered vox through the first chorus
Modified bass tone after it kicks off for less mud.

[TripleM]

I still think it's muddy after 1:06.

I think you put in a highhat sample in the second version. It's a little loud and competing with the vocal in spots.

[JD01]

Yeah, Steve. When it all kicks in.
Its too dark, even by your standards. I know you like that fuzzy, weird guitar bass sound, but this is just sounds rumbly.
It took me a while to get used to your dark fuzzy, can't tell whether its bass or guitar tone, but I've started to like it. On this its like you've pushed it a bit far though.

[vomitHatSteve]

Thanks.

TripM. That weird crash is from the randomization. It'll be different in the next one. Not sure why it's so loud this time.

JD et al. I'll glance at the mastering chain to see if that's creating some of the darkness.

[WhiskeyJack]

Hmmm. I am listening on earbuds at work and i kind of like the first mix better out of the two. But that is on ear buds. Hardly an ideal listen. I'll give it a critical listen on my monitors at home tonight or tomorrow even maybe.

[vomitHatSteve]

Slightly tweaked in OP.

A little less compression in the lowest band on the master, and the drums are re-rolled.

[TripleM]

I think #3 is definitely the best mix.

The rhythm section on this is really cool.

The low end is, to me, still a bit strong. But I think we're at the point of quibbling.

The guitars aren't quite so dark, and I like them better.

There is something in the rhythm section - like a tambouring or something - that's a little sizzly. But that's another minor thing.

[rayc]

#3 is cool - a little muddy when everything, including vocals, is cranking but only a little.