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Post by svart on Jan 2, 2014 13:43:46 GMT -6
I think we need a new section for the forum: Mixing.
Anyway, I'm recording and mixing an EP for a new band. It's pretty decent stuff, however, it sort of sits right in between a number of genres. Therein lies my problem.
I'm not really sure which way to go with it. This is pretty much the first time I've truly felt like this when putting a mix together.
Each band member wants their part a certain way, but the ways they want their parts don't really fit together. Compounding the issue is that I can see the mix clearly going in certain directions and working out. The band is new and still feeling themselves out and I get the distinct feeling they aren't really sure which way to go either. The demo material they sent me is very laid back and generic.
So in a case like this, what would you do?
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Post by mobeach on Jan 3, 2014 19:04:35 GMT -6
I would ask them to choose a producer among the band, or you become the producer in order to give the project a direction, and some cohesion.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2014 13:57:01 GMT -6
Yupp.
The band members all see their part and have a vision of what it should be. But if they aren't experienced enough to see the whole, not only musically but also the sound, then it is time to give a direction.
Producer. The one who sees, what kind of sound they really already have and what can be done to polish it to a bands' "sound" and what fits the *music* best.
It is normal that in a new band they aren't clear or even conscious about that - especially if it is a genre mix.
And because it is - there is no rule how it *must* sound - catch what they really sound like and make it sound good...
Would be my approach.
Make the offer to do this and - then - discuss the result. Sometimes a band is thankful for someone with this kind of experince and adopts the sound that was created in a studio - because it is simply good. Also, sometimes it is problemtically if the have to name one band member responsible for this....someone outside is better to blame on ;-)
Just my 2 cent.
BR,
Martin
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2014 22:47:41 GMT -6
Go song by song and take each one in the direction you think it should go in.
I like uniformity across releases and once I have one song mixed I pretty much have a start place for all of them so it's consistent.
Do what you think is best, they hired you for that reason.
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Post by svart on Jan 6, 2014 15:02:07 GMT -6
Good thoughts everyone.
I'm just afraid.. Yep, afraid, that I might accidentally make something that might shoehorn them into a sound that doesn't define them. I'm afraid of this because of current talk about sound pretty much leads to band discussions on how each piece should sound, but it never gets 100% resolved and never really goes into the cohesive sound of the band, so I'm left to make things sound good, but without any kind of reference.
This also brings up the technical aspect of it..
"Sounds good" is something that I hear a lot, which makes me feel good about what I've done, but doesn't give me any direction.
Should the cymbals be loud and bright with a thin bass and heavy guitars like Chevelle? Or should the drums be airy but punchy with middy guitars and fluffy bass like Nirvana? Or should it be a wall of guitars, low-passed bass and thin drums like a shoegaze band?
These are the choices that I'm kinda faced with. I'm pretty sure I can make the music sound good no matter what genre I mix it like.
I'll talk with the band more and try to get them to settle on something.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2014 18:16:03 GMT -6
OK,
how do they sound in their rehearsal room? Many bands do have a distinct sound already and do think they have a buffet-like choice then in studio, which i think is not right...
How would or do they sound at live concerts?
What makes the drum set sounds best, e.g. what kind of cymbals did the drummer choose? What size kick drum, toms, what kind of snare?
How do the guitars sound right out of the box?
And even more important, what techniques do the instrumentalists and the singer actually use and can you compare this to something you already know? Can you melt this into a functioning melange sound?
Maybe, apart from the music itself, it already defines a sound. Maybe something known, maybe something new.
One sometimes has to "step back" a bit and just listen to the raw sound in a whole like a consumer, and you get the picture...(well, works sometimes.....)
Just brainstorming...
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Post by jazznoise on Jan 7, 2014 4:10:51 GMT -6
OK, how do they sound in their rehearsal room? Many bands do have a distinct sound already and do think they have a buffet-like choice then in studio, which i think is not right... How would or do they sound at live concerts? What makes the drum set sounds best, e.g. what kind of cymbals did the drummer choose? What size kick drum, toms, what kind of snare? How do the guitars sound right out of the box? And even more important, what techniques do the instrumentalists and the singer actually use and can you compare this to something you already know? Can you melt this into a functioning melange sound? Maybe, apart from the music itself, it already defines a sound. Maybe something known, maybe something new. One sometimes has to "step back" a bit and just listen to the raw sound in a whole like a consumer, and you get the picture...(well, works sometimes.....) Just brainstorming... This. Sometimes going back to ground and seeing how they sound when they rehearse or play a gig will be the most informative thing you can see. Whether they are aware of it or not, they already do have some sort of sound. |
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Post by svart on Jan 10, 2014 8:21:42 GMT -6
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Post by henge on Jan 10, 2014 11:48:28 GMT -6
OK, how do they sound in their rehearsal room? Many bands do have a distinct sound already and do think they have a buffet-like choice then in studio, which i think is not right... How would or do they sound at live concerts? What makes the drum set sounds best, e.g. what kind of cymbals did the drummer choose? What size kick drum, toms, what kind of snare? How do the guitars sound right out of the box? And even more important, what techniques do the instrumentalists and the singer actually use and can you compare this to something you already know? Can you melt this into a functioning melange sound? Maybe, apart from the music itself, it already defines a sound. Maybe something known, maybe something new. One sometimes has to "step back" a bit and just listen to the raw sound in a whole like a consumer, and you get the picture...(well, works sometimes.....) Just brainstorming... Yup perfect. They have a sound and don't even know it!LOL |
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Post by henge on Jan 10, 2014 11:51:21 GMT -6
So far everything sounds true to who they are. Bass could use more body imo. |
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