Lend Us Your Ears?

[Hendrix]

Hey Guys,

Basically, for the end of this year at uni I've been asked to write a song in the style of Amy Winhouse's 'Back To Black' album. Currently it has no lyrics recorded but I have some written out, however what I do currently have is the full instrumentation behind it. I'm also going for the same production sound; dry yet effected; very Motown.

This is the link; files.me.com/tomkentmusic/n2kmjf.mp3

The current frequencies may be a bit.. top end.. alas if they are tell me and I'll note to wack some top off my EQ.

Any help with this would be brilliant as I can only make this so good without other peoples opinion.

Cheers

Edited July 5, 2010 by Hendrix

[kevlarorc]

The snare seemed really loud in comparison to the other instruments to me. I'm far from a musical expert, though.

[Hendrix]

The snare seemed really loud in comparison to the other instruments to me. I'm far from a musical expert, though.

It's highly probable; did a bit of make shift analog compression which appears to have been to harsh for the track. Cheers!

[PeanuckleJive]

I don't think the snare is actually that loud, I think the other instrument that accents with it (horns?) makes it sound a lot higher in the mix than it really is, maybe try dropping them down a bit as they really really cut and dominate to some degree

I reckon a boomier kick might suit it better too, something more akin to old school blues recordings or (for lack of a better comparison) John Bonham's kick in Kashmir by Led Zepplin. The kick is really tight sounding and everything else isn't quite as quick, if you get me?

[Muel]

Sounds like it has a tad too much high end to me to be honest, but only it's only the jingle bells IMO. I just knocked the 14k and 16k down a bit on my EQ and it sounded perfect to me. Very clear recording btw, it was clearer than most music I have!

[Hendrix]

New version here; http://files.me.com/tomkentmusic/tspahq.mp3

If it's jumpy, let me know; Logic may suddenly have got crap at output..

Edited July 6, 2010 by Hendrix

[MadManMike]

Got my mixer completely flat listening on Sennheiser HD25's, sounds good - the snare sounds a little muffled to me, but my ears are pretty fooked.

Bass is nice and balanced and the high end is nicely EQ'd mate, just the snare seems a little weak compared.

By no means a criticism though, good effort

[Hendrix]

Got my mixer completely flat listening on Sennheiser HD25's, sounds good - the snare sounds a little muffled to me, but my ears are pretty fooked.

Bass is nice and balanced and the high end is nicely EQ'd mate, just the snare seems a little weak compared.

By no means a criticism though, good effort

It's funny, I basically cut the velocity on every snare by under 10% and it seems to have had a MASSIVE impact on it. I've acquired usage of a 1963 mixing desk for mixing purposes a week Sunday; so this is going to get about as vintage as I like!

Cheers for the comment dude!

[Danny Metcalfe]

Kick sounds abit better with a little compression

a lil reverb on the tambo/hats?

I Do Like the overall composition though

Edited July 8, 2010 by Danny Metcalfe

[aener]

I have no idea what the music you have to sound like sounds like - but the sound you have made is good, and I've heard things similar to it - so I guess that's a winner

That second mix had everything I would've mentioned done - except the snare. Man is it annoying.

Maybe it's just preference, but I'd pitch shift it up a bit - piccolo snares sound so much cleaner, I think - but also drop it down in the mix a bit more.

Pretty mint other than that

[Hendrix]

Cheers dudes. I'm not so sure that the snare is really loud in the mix anymore, but I've got guitars and pianos mimicking the snare pattern. I'll bring them down a bit and see what difference it makes.