Live mix

[vomitHatSteve]

Hi folks!

I'm doing a short "live" performance for Dragon*Con's online event next weekend. We pre-recorded it earlier this week, and I'm ironing out the mix now.

It's 3 songs, but they're fundamentally the same instrumentation ("guit", "bass", vocal, drums, synth), so no need to listen to all 3 if you don't want.

Any feedback is appreciated.

https://test.regdarandthefighters.com/t ... oncon.flac

[Lt. Bob]

don't see a file.

I just saw a commercial for Dragon Con to day.
What's that about? ..... it looks interesting

[rayc]

LINK?

[vomitHatSteve]

don't see a file.

I just saw a commercial for Dragon Con to day.
What's that about? ..... it looks interesting

LINK?

Doh!
https://test.regdarandthefighters.com/t ... oncon.flac

Edit: Dragon*Con is one of the largest geek conventions. They take over basically all of downtown Atlanta thursday through monday and have a giant costume party with vendors, presenters taking about video games and sci fi, music, etc.
In a normal year, it's a very important marketing event for nerd musicians of all stripes. Of course... not a normal year, but hey it's still good to get my toe in the door for next year.

[Lt. Bob]

sounds awesome ....... I've always wanted to go to one of those.
only one I knew of was Comicon

like the stuff ..... really liked the synth parts ...... I do find it a bit 'dark' sounding ..... to my ears it could use just a little 'sparkle' on top to make the words (which I like BTW ) easier to understand ...... they have to be the focus right?
"they've released the spider pets?" ...... that's awesome but I'm not totally sure I got it all right.
They're loud enough and I could understand them but I find them slightly muffled.

You do say "thanks for watching" so I'm assuming there's a vid that goes with it?

Full disclosure: just finished a weekend of gigs and perhaps my highs are MIA in my hearing but that's what it sounds like to me right now.

This is cool man ...... good for you getting in on this.
I imagine it wasn't easy to get in so I hope something good comes out of it for ya'.

[vomitHatSteve]

Thanks!

The lyric is "if they'd released / the Snyder cut", a reference to the fact that there's apparently a Batman v. Superman poster in the background of Will Smith's I Am Legend at one point. And the fans have been whining for a director's cut of that film which would apparently fix all it's problems.
I'll see if I can get the lyrics clearer.

Comicon is a very similar concept, yes. D-con is basically the south east's equivalent.
There is a video. I'm editing it now.

Edit: New mix at the original link. A touch less 'verb on the vox. Turned down the high end on the guits to make a little more room for it on the vox

[Lt. Bob]

The lyric is "if they'd released / the Snyder cut",

ah!

Ya' know ...... I did think it said Snyder at first but I went, Nah, that can't be right.
lol

[CrowsofFritz]

Sounds good. Is it just one guitar?

[vomitHatSteve]

If you hear one of my lyrics as esoteric and nerdy, it's probably safe to assume that's the correct interpretation!

Yes, it's just the one stringed instrument. The Abomination shortscale bass with one D2 string routed to one channel and the other three (D3, A3, D4) split stereo for fuller sound.

[rayc]

LIVE with Battery Backup
The lyrics are pretty clear and even occasionally having to listen a little harder is fine..a human and it's laptop feeding the willing nerdosphere with sounds and references they enjoy is good and the fun challenges, like the fascism thing, in the 2nd song are culturally appropriate.
The IAL song is particularly fun given I'm more aware of the topic.
I look forward to the vid.

[vomitHatSteve]

Thanks, Ray!

I'll probably post it sometime next week after the debut at d-con

[TripleM]

I thought it all sounded good. I like the stuff in between songs.

Maybe nudge the vocal up a db on starship troopers after song kicks in.

[vomitHatSteve]

Thanks, trip.

[JD01]

Steve, I think this mix is really good actually. Probably easier listening that your usual studio mixes.

Team Science: The weird thing that sounds like a robot with a xylophone is too loud and right over the vocal.
Your vocal is excellent.
Starship Troopers: Same with this one, maybe shift that thing back turn it down or stick it off to one side.
Generally your vocal is darker than you normally go, maybe you could brighten this up to make it cut through more.
I Am Legend: The Pink Floyd rip off is a bit dry - move that back a bit.
Abomination sounds great on this. Actually sounds like a guitar in the intro.
Same comment with the robot Xylophone.

Is this gonna be a video?

Could you do something weird with the panning to space this out a bit? Like hard pan the guitar one side with its reverb panned the other side? And then do the opposite with your robot xylophone?

[vomitHatSteve]

Yeah, it'll be a video. (Debuting sometime this weekend)

Robot xylophone is a good word for it!

I don't think I like the idea of hard panning. I may try it as an experiment at some point, but I suspect the verses will be too sparse on one side

I don't actually have any 'verb on the guitar or synths, so I'd definitely have to experiment with that too.

[JD01]

Yeah, it'll be a video. (Debuting sometime this weekend)

Robot xylophone is a good word for it!

I don't think I like the idea of hard panning. I may try it as an experiment at some point, but I suspect the verses will be too sparse on one side

I don't actually have any 'verb on the guitar or synths, so I'd definitely have to experiment with that too.

I've only tried it once on a Carly Simon cover that I did with my niece. I think they were doing it on the original. Acoustic on the left with its reverb on the right and electric on the right with its reverb on the left.

[TripleM]

Wait. JD01 did a Carly Simon cover? I hope it was a speed metal version of Anticipation.

[vomitHatSteve]

My timeline is off. The actual event is still labor day weekend as normal.

They're doing a preview event this weekend.

[WhiskeyJack]

you had me at "Team Science" !!!

As for the mix i got nothing wrong with it. I quite like it actually. If anything it has a bit more of a 3D feel to it than your usual mixes and that is pretty friggin cool.

[vomitHatSteve]

If anything it has a bit more of a 3D feel to it than your usual mixes and that is pretty friggin cool.

Probably because there's so few instruments. Putting them into relative spaces actually makes sense!