Am I loosing my mind?

[Dtabs85]

Hey guys, so here's the deal...
I recently wrapped up recording a 6 song EP for a local metal band and just finished mixing the whole thing. I sent the EP for the band to review and give me any feedback on whatever changes they want made. 4 of the 5 members absolutely love the overall sound of the EP but have minor stylistic changes throughout (that's expected). The bassist however, thinks his bass tone is just a muddy mess and is the worst bass sound he has ever heard recorded (that's literally what he said). He has asked me to not have any processing on his bass, he just wants his bass to be the recorded DI and he thinks it should be louder than the guitars. Now clearly I know that is ridiculous, but the problem is, is that he has such a strong personality that the band is sort of letting him have his way because they don't want to deal with his bitching. They told me to go ahead and just use the DI track as the bass tone. The bassist is also saying the overall sound of the mix sucks and is overcompressed which I also disagree with.

So, I was wondering if you guys would give a listen to one of the songs to let me know if the bass is as horrible as he says it is, or is he being ridiculous, and also if the overall sound is overly compressed to your ears. Secondly, what do you guys think I should do going forward? It pains me to make changes that I know will severely unbalance and destroy the mix because just one member is being insanely vocal about his disgust for it. The rest of the band has told me numerous times they love how it sounds now, but they don't want to deal with his complaining so are willing to give him what he wants. Do I try and argue with him that it's the wrong move or just say fuck it, as long as I get paid who cares?

Sorry for the long winded post, but this has been driving me insane.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9n3i2woxefdj2sn/The Harbinger master.mp3?dl=0

 

[schwinginbatman]

It's definitely not over-compressed. As far as bass goes, I kind of agree that it needs to be raised up in volume, not over the guitars, but it's hard to hear the bass.

If he wants no processing, the guy is an idiot. I also doubt he'd even be able to tell if you did run processing on it, so fuck him.

 

[Dtabs85]

Haha. I wouldn't mind raising the volume of the bass a bit, but to remove all processing and put louder than the guitars is just insane to me. It would totally fuck up the low end

 

[indecizo]

He can't bitch if he's dead. Just saying.

 

[nezvers]

Well, one that bothered me is that guitars have awful lot of 700hz-1,5k probably from TS and can be easily fixed with light touch of EQ. Bass could be really brought up by 1-3db. Also it could benefit some parallel grit blend (guitar amp distorted - notch removing around 450hz before amp and hi-pass 500hz + low pass by taste, after amp)

 

[Dtabs85]

Well, one that bothered me is that guitars have awful lot of 700hz-1,5k probably from TS and can be easily fixed with light touch of EQ. Bass could be really brought up by 1-3db. Also it could benefit some parallel grit blend (guitar amp distorted - notch removing around 450hz before amp and hi-pass 500hz + low pass by taste, after amp)

I did notch out the guitars around 750hz, but perhaps I could go with a wider Q and deeper cut. And for the bass I did go with a parallel grit distortion blended in, but he was a finger style bassist and hit the strings rather lightly so it was tough to get significant definition to his tone, but I did feel like the bass filled out the low end nicely.
I think I will definitely raise the volume of the bass 1-2 db, but I still think the bassist is way off with his assessment of the mix and bass tone.

 

[LeSedna]

try giving him more clang in the higher frequencies so he can hear himself more ?

 

[Dtabs85]

I actually did a separate mix where I emphasized the higher frequencies so his bass would cut through more and he hated it even more. That's when he said he wants a completely unprocessed bass tone. He was actually mad to find out that there was any processing on his bass track to begin with. Basically I know I can't win with him at this point and I'm not sure how I should go about handling it. The band is basically telling me to give him what he wants which is a raw DI bass track that is louder than the guitars and I know that will wreck the mix and I don't want to do that. But I guess it's not worth arguing with them over and just give them what they are asking for. Has anyone else had to deal with a similar situation? Something where a band asks you to do something mix wise that you know is wrong???

 

[Alex_M]

Of course it's absolutely idiotic idea to use only DI track, it shouldn't be done in any circumstances. Sometimes musicians thinks they know how to make things right, but hey...why don't they do everything themselves in this case?!
In every second band you'll find a guy who will ask you to make something terrible, something that will totally destroy whole mix.... So this is a worst side of this job....from the one hand-your clients should be satisfied with your work, from the other-you don't want to make total shit, because there's no satisfaction for yourself and this will be not the best example of your work for the future customers
As for the sound....it's not over compressed, but more lowend and more readable main tone for the bass will be welcomed.
Anyway, avoid doing stupid things just because of stupid bass player, good luck

 

[Dtabs85]

Of course it's absolutely idiotic idea to use only DI track, it shouldn't be done in any circumstances. Sometimes musicians thinks they know how to make things right, but hey...why don't they do everything themselves in this case?!
In every second band you'll find a guy who will ask you to make something terrible, something that will totally destroy whole mix.... So this is a worst side of this job....from the one hand-your clients should be satisfied with your work, from the other-you don't want to make total shit, because there's no satisfaction for yourself and this will be not the best example of your work for the future customers
As for the sound....it's not over compressed, but more lowend and more readable main tone for the bass will be welcomed.
Anyway, avoid doing stupid things just because of stupid bass player, good luck

So true! This is the dilemma I am facing. I think I will just make the bass louder and add a little more definition to the bass and will tell him I used the raw DI bass haha.

 

[Alex_M]

So true! This is the dilemma I am facing. I think I will just make the bass louder and add a little more definition to the bass and will tell him I used the raw DI bass haha.

Best solution in this case I suppose

 

[anotherpaul]

Re-track the bass yourself, play with a pick, tell him you used just his DI. Boom!

 

[Dtabs85]

Re-track the bass yourself, play with a pick, tell him you used just his DI. Boom!

Haha. Yes!

 

[LamentForIcarus]

Tell the band to fire him and find a bassist who isn't a petulant 12-year-old.

 

[nezvers]

Maybe than try out touch of EQ removing chunk around 400hz on DI and blast it into heavy comp or limiter. I had some contact with some bassists that don't like clank on bass and like something like reggae bass only with bass and low mids. Even monkey can understand that EQ and Comp is must-to in mixing. And post how far you got.
There is limit how far player preferences are considered competent. Ask that bassist to give reference song IN SAME GENRE with sound he is wanting you to achieve and I'm sure he won't be able to show any song that use plain DI without processing. When he give you reference song brake down for him all processing you can hear.

 

[Dtabs85]

Maybe than try out touch of EQ removing chunk around 400hz on DI and blast it into heavy comp or limiter. I had some contact with some bassists that don't like clank on bass and like something like reggae bass only with bass and low mids. Even monkey can understand that EQ and Comp is must-to in mixing. And post how far you got.
There is limit how far player preferences are considered competent. Ask that bassist to give reference song IN SAME GENRE with sound he is wanting you to achieve and I'm sure he won't be able to show any song that use plain DI without processing. When he give you reference song brake down for him all processing you can hear.

When I asked him for a reference track for how he thinks the bass should sound, he sent me a link to another band he is in which is a psychedelic funk band. I told him you can't compare the two styles. The band ultimately sided with me and told him to suck it up. I am going to raise the volume of the bass a few db though. Hopefully everyone will be happy after that.

 

[Arsenu,]

It took me years in the business to come up with the conclusion that is the answer to your reality at the moment:
You're job is to make the client happy.
If the client wants X to be done, do X. Even if it goes against everything you believe in. Give him your professional opinion regarding his decision and if he insists just do it. NEVER go against the client's will.
While the quality of the end product is subjective and can be interpreted in many different ways, a happy client will spread the word about your work and will get you more clients.
Do what he asks and move on. The band will choose which version to work with, and that's their decision, not yours.

Hope if helps,
Shay

 

[Dtabs85]

It took me years in the business to come up with the conclusion that is the answer to your reality at the moment:
You're job is to make the client happy.
If the client wants X to be done, do X. Even if it goes against everything you believe in. Give him your professional opinion regarding his decision and if he insists just do it. NEVER go against the client's will.
While the quality of the end product is subjective and can be interpreted in many different ways, a happy client will spread the word about your work and will get you more clients.
Do what he asks and move on. The band will choose which version to work with, and that's their decision, not yours.

Hope if helps,
Shay

You're 100% right.