Welcome To Lud

[JD01]

Its a metal song (sorry) but its also short!

Welcome To Lud Mix 1.mp3

Ray, Bubba and MMM first comments addressed.

Welcome To Lud Mix 2.mp3

Greg's EQ suggestions addressed and generally made the mix a bit brighter. I also tried to "de-plastic" the toms.

Welcome To Lud Mix 3.mp3

[TripleM]

I thought things sound really good.

The vocal is a little back in the mix. Backing vocals are pretty loud. Lead vocal is a little dry.

Not sure I'd change the rhythm guitars, but I wonder what they'd sound like if you'd pull down the low end just a small amount. Like a low shelf pulling down everything below 200 by a db.

Bass sounds good to me.

And it's 3:37. That's short?

These are just suggestions. It sounds really good just like it is.

[rayc]

The only thing that struck me as the phrasing of machine.
And the bvox being a little loud.
Otherwise metallic!

[JD01]

Cheers, the combination of lead vocal and b vocal levels were up and down like a yoyo.

[Bubba]

You did good.

The verse that starts at 2:11 is rather too quiet at the beginning. I'm not a fan of automation envelopes cluttering my screen, but this would be a perfect place to use one.

[JD01]

You did good.

The verse that starts at 2:11 is rather too quiet at the beginning. I'm not a fan of automation envelopes cluttering my screen, but this would be a perfect place to use one.

I couldn't get that lead guitar quiet enough. I could do with re-playing the lead line prior to that really. I hadn't been playing much prior to recording it so I struggled with it a bit.

Cheers though, mate.

[Bubba]

You did good.

The verse that starts at 2:11 is rather too quiet at the beginning. I'm not a fan of automation envelopes cluttering my screen, but this would be a perfect place to use one.

I couldn't get that lead guitar quiet enough. I could do with re-playing the lead line prior to that really. I hadn't been playing much prior to recording it so I struggled with it a bit.

Cheers though, mate.

I meant the vocal, by the way.

[JD01]

I couldn't get that lead guitar quiet enough. I could do with re-playing the lead line prior to that really. I hadn't been playing much prior to recording it so I struggled with it a bit.

Cheers though, mate.

I meant the vocal, by the way.

Yeah, I think it's cos the fade of the lead is too loud over it. It sounds similar to the first verse without the lead there.

[JD01]

Listening to this again now the BVs in the chorus were indeed a bit loud and the lead vocal was a bit dry.
I've also made that lead line going into verse 2 a bit quieter.
I've put the new mix in the OP

Cheers,

[Armistice]

Mix 2 definitely sounds more together.

I get a sense that, although the instrumental performances, rhythm wise, are all perfectly in lockstep the vocals aren't quite matching. Especially in the first verse, where you're rushing a little on the first word in each line. If it bothers you you could probably fix it in edit rather than retracking.

Apart from that, all good!

Also, what's "lud"?

[JD01]

Mix 2 definitely sounds more together.

I get a sense that, although the instrumental performances, rhythm wise, are all perfectly in lockstep the vocals aren't quite matching. Especially in the first verse, where you're rushing a little on the first word in each line. If it bothers you you could probably fix it in edit rather than retracking.

Apart from that, all good!

Also, what's "lud"?

Lud is a fictional city in a Stephen King novel called The Waste Lands. Kind of imagined as if the historical Luddites had been successful.

I didn't name the song until I was about to press the render button and had to call it something.

Cheers though, as I listen more I'll probably start to hear those timing errors.

[Tadpui]

This is just a really cool song. I like the arrangement overall and the guitars sound great.

I feel like things are darkly voiced overall. I'm not sure which elements could use the high or upper-mid frequency boost though. I don't think that everything needs it. The drums might sound too harsh if they got boosted, but it'd be worth a try. Maybe the rhythm guitars?

I think that the vocals could come up a bit, at least in that first few lines before you start laying into it a little more. And they could come up overall anyways, just a dB or two. Is that your new dynamic mic that you're singing into? It fits your voice nicely.

Nitpicks aside, this was a good listen!

[JD01]

This is just a really cool song. I like the arrangement overall and the guitars sound great.

I feel like things are darkly voiced overall. I'm not sure which elements could use the high or upper-mid frequency boost though. I don't think that everything needs it. The drums might sound too harsh if they got boosted, but it'd be worth a try. Maybe the rhythm guitars?

I think that the vocals could come up a bit, at least in that first few lines before you start laying into it a little more. And they could come up overall anyways, just a dB or two. Is that your new dynamic mic that you're singing into? It fits your voice nicely.

Nitpicks aside, this was a good listen!

Yeah, relatively cheap AKG dynamic.
I'll have a few listens and maybe brighten the guitars a bit.

[Lt. Bob]

First off I really like the song and I'm not a metal guy.
this is way cool!

But the vox is too buried ..... I know metal generally doesn't put the vox front and center but I really feel this should come up ..... it's just buried beneath everything to my ears.

Which leads to this:

I couldn't get that lead guitar quiet enough.

Isn't that just a matter of turning it down some more?
I can turn things down until they're not even there.

But I don't feel the problem is the lead being too loud ..... i feel it's the vox being too low.

[vomitHatSteve]

Maaaan! Rude forum made Lt Bob's post eat mine!

I think the instrumental balance on this is good.

I'm noticing your production is reminiscent of CKY's. Tho I feel like their vocals feel more melodic.
I listened to a couple of their songs to figure out why. I think it's because they process their vocals a lot more than you do. The go-to option seems to be to have a slightly gritty, hyped "lead" vocal and several clean, melodic octave down takes.

[JD01]

Maaaan! Rude forum made Lt Bob's post eat mine!

I think the instrumental balance on this is good.

I'm noticing your production is reminiscent of CKY's. Tho I feel like their vocals feel more melodic.
I listened to a couple of their songs to figure out why. I think it's because they process their vocals a lot more than you do. The go-to option seems to be to have a slightly gritty, hyped "lead" vocal and several clean, melodic octave down takes.

Who's CKY? I'll look them up. More melodic vocals would be lovely - I'm just not a singer though.

[JD01]

First off I really like the song and I'm not a metal guy.
this is way cool!

But the vox is too buried ..... I know metal generally doesn't put the vox front and center but I really feel this should come up ..... it's just buried beneath everything to my ears.

Which leads to this:

I couldn't get that lead guitar quiet enough.

Isn't that just a matter of turning it down some more?
I can turn things down until they're not even there.

But I don't feel the problem is the lead being too loud ..... i feel it's the vox being too low.

I'll see if I can stomach bringing them up a bit. You're a way more comfortable singer than me though, Bob!

[Lt. Bob]

I'll see if I can stomach bringing them up a bit. You're a way more comfortable singer than me though, Bob!

naturally ..... that's basically how I earn my living.

But I wasn't comfortable with it until I moved to Florida and had to be.

I don't think you need to be that self-conscious ...... i didn't hear anything questionable about those vocals.

[JD01]

i didn't hear anything questionable about those vocals.

LOL - that may be true, doesn't mean I've got to like them!

[WhiskeyJack]

JD, i listened to this in the hammock on my phone yesterday but didn't comment because it was my phone and it sounded like a decent mix on it. But it is a pretty rad song dude. Love the guitar tone here for heavy sounds. I like that it isn't that shitty metal mid scooped sound.

On my cans here this morning for a critical listen and I don't really have many nits on this one JD. I feel like the whole think has a wee bit of a dark veil over the whole thing compared to your normal offerings. I suspect that is just adjusting to your new KRK's and that will get sorted out a bit as you tweak this mix. I don't think the darkness is anyone thing it is laying over the whole mix.

I couldn't get that lead guitar quiet enough.

that lead is hella annoying after you start singing. no need of those sustained notes trailing off full bore into the verse. use a volume envelope to trail it off or just a simple fade out at the end of the wave form.

[BBvideo=560,315]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl9X3CVkdLQ[/BBvideo]

I'm noticing your production is reminiscent of CKY's.

Yes! The production, writing and arrangements on this song smacks of CKY in their prime.