Is this track ready for mastering?

[Striking Smith]

Hi guys

Just wondering if anyone could hear anything that I should correct in the mix before getting this mastered.

It's called Starry Eyes, and is the first track in my EPK at: www.sonicbids.com/strikingsmith (click the audio button at the top of the page to bring up the song).

Cheers

Tommy T

[michael]

see it's going to be hard to say via mp3, but in general the mix sounds good.

It does have an edge of everything being too upfront and fighting for space, and again hard to know if it's because of the mp3 format, but it's bloody loud, have you already done a fair bit of compression and limiting? if so maybe leave that for mastering....

The quiet double vocal thing works well, and i like the song. (I've downloaded it so i can listen to it later, infact). Good stuff.

[Striking Smith]

Cheers for having a listen Michael

I haven't used any buss comp. I compressed the acoustic gtr, vox, drum perc, but nothing too drastic. The only real instrument is the gtr, the rest is all programmed, so maybe that has something to do with the space fight - plus I'm a rookie mixer.

I limited it in Soundforge by about 3db just to knock a few stray peaks off.

It's more a demo than anything, but I was just curious as to whether you guys have any magic when it comes to opening up a mix/adding space to compensate for an average mix?

Tommy T

[heathen]

Hey Tommy mastering engineers sure do, opening up a mix and bringing out the full potential of space, dimension and detail is what they do.

A quick note on levels.
Mixdown stereo levels should be roughly around -4 db peak and around -18 rms, that will give the mastering engineer plenty to play with, if your mix is already peaking at 0dbfs the first thing the mastering engineer will do is turn it down anyway before it goes into any outboard gear.

Gain staging is important, turn your monitors up and you naturally wont mix levels so hot, gain staging on individual tracks is very important also, if your plugins are clipping then after mastering it will usually be much more apparent, in a full mix there are probably 30 plugs running and if they are all clipping it will add up to a mess of grainyness and will actually sound smaller in comparison to unclipped material.

My advice is always to mix with conservative levels throughout and turn up your monitoring.

Anyway as to your original question I'd say that mix is most probably in the ballpark, just drop any stereo buss eq or limiting plugs and it would most likely turn out pretty good, though it is hard to tell via mp3.

[Chris H]

Love the song vibe and sounds. On a personal taste i would mix the main vox a bit fuller in the mids. The airy sound is ok but i feel they need to be a bit fuller and that would make em stand out just a hint more and create more of a distinction in the mix.

[TimS]

Tommy, I've downloaded your song to have a listen also, but I wont be able until I'm home from work..

I think this is a great opportunity to have 'professional and respected ears' cast over a recording/work in progress.
I wanted to do this also, but thought it might not be appropriate on this forum.

Mark/Rick, is it possible to have "review" area on the forum, where we can post demos/WIP's for folk to have a listen and critically appraise the recordings..
I would appreciate comments on what I've done also..
This is a great learning site for me and I've got a few songs that I've done that could use some critical appraisal..
The 2 songs are on my myspace site.. there are more coming tho..
Tim..

[Ausrock]

If there were to be a review area, it should probably be only visible/available to forum members, that way unknown guests can't get their grubby little paws on a raw mix of next months #1 hit ;-)

[TimS]

If there were to be a review area, it should probably be only visible/available to forum members, that way unknown guests can't get their grubby little paws on a raw mix of next months #1 hit ;-)

agreed..
might be too hard to set up..
just a suggestion tho..

[heathen]

Yeah good idea Tim.

Members only would be good.

[TimS]

Yeah good idea Tim.

Members only would be good.

Thanks Heath - nothing new with that idea though..
I have a couple of songs that would probably benefit from some of the folk here review/ critically appraise.
We are all trying to make good music, so hearing what people like to post would always be interesting.. and a learning experience too.
There are 2 songs on my myspace site as starters I guess!!

[rick]

sorry guys no review area, too much house keeping for mark to do

[TimS]

No worries Rick - was just a thought only..

[Ausrock]

I have an idea for hosting but no guarantees...................................I'll get back to ya.

[Ausrock]

OK, I have something available where we can privately host mp3's, etc., BUT I want to speak to Ric before going any further.

[Martin]

quite listenable! nice song... Stands up quite well, might have to remove the 'rookie mixer' tag from your brain

there's probably more detail to be had from that acoustic which might lift it some more, but thats recording stage stuff anyway

well done