Kevin Talley Mixing Contest - DEATH "Crystal Mountain" cover DIs

[Djabthrash]

I played some more too with this song, my new mix hasn't got lead guitar yet though. It's kind of a rough version still.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19759737/Crystal Mountain Kevin Talley - Mix V03.mp3

This new mix is very nice Rank !!! But it sounds like you retracked the guitars (they sound great, just need extra leads guitars or quadtrackign or more gain on some parts), am i right ?
Drums sound killer.

New bass track is super nice, but on some parts guitars (the ones in your version at least) and bass don't fit well together.

 

[Djabthrash]

Updated my mix using RaNk's bass re-amped thru Harke Bass Attack VXL.
Made a huge difference. Thanks RaNk!
Guitars are Mesa MK4 re-amps.
Didn't have time for any automation but I won't be entering the competition anyway.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2133088/CMTEST2.mp3

Very cool ! I guess it's just me but i would use a tad more lows/subs (or have their center frequency lower at least) on the kick.
Also, not sure it has to do with the parts of the retracked bass, or the bass processing (comp) or the mix premaster (comp), but i feel lack the bass sounds too detached at times.

 

[Djabthrash]

woaw im really digging this MK4, sounds awesome! I also really like the way your ohs sounds, really bright and clear sounding. Any special processing?

Here's my attempt :
used ampsims as my recto's at the rehearsal room.
Bass is rank's (sounds so much better!)
Mixed sample for kick and snare and did my best for the rest.
https://dl.dropbox.com/s/3yqedcwcqottm29/KevinTalley Contest Mixdown.mp3

any feedback's welcomed

Not bad but :
-OH sounds phasey and buried at times (especially on the "dreamy" with the alternated ride/HH pattern)
-you went too far with effects on the guitars i think (they sound too wet)

 

[Djabthrash]

Here's my mix.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2764370/crystal_mountain-mix-01.mp3
Guitars are Krank Rev Jr into Recabinet except for the lead guitars which are the original ones. Bass is the original DI version into Ignite Amps SHB-1 (need to try RaNks' DI). The kick is triggered 50/50 with the Andy Sneap kick. And that's it.
Oh and btw it's a headphone mix (AKG K271 II) 'cause I don't trust my monitors and my room anymore..

Sounds cool but very filtered frequency-wise, so i guess the headphones mix might be to blame.
I think the bass doesn't sit right for now. You might wanna reconsider the EQ.
Drums could use more low end IMO.
If i were you, i would readjust the low-end distribution between bass and drums.

 

[Djabthrash]

Quick mix. Might finish it off and submit it for fun if I have time later.

Guitars sound very fizzy and messy (too much gain to begin with i think).
Bass could use more low-end compression.
Drums could use more low-end punch.

 

[Djabthrash]

Well it is probably my taste for guitars, cuz I don't like much bassy guitars, and for subtractive EQ sake wanted to stay out adding more low-end. For drums I thought they was prety big, but today I listened and thought that they sound almost too much appart from mix.
At the end I tweaked a little drums (a tad with paralell-compression and changed snare&tom reverb. Also tried a tad of low mid to guitars.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12761142/NeZvers_studio/NeZvers - Crystal mountain.mp3

Really would want vocal inside!

Really cool drums but i would use more subs on the kick (again ).
Guitars sound a bit muddy, i think they're clashing with bass in the low mids or something.
I'd lower the bass volume in any cases, and tame its attack (at least in the lows/low mids) cuz' now it's too distracting IMO.

 

[Djabthrash]

The singer from Warpath said he will do vocals for this song.
Does anyone want them if we do it?
Should be early next week.
Here he is in action
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/2133088/02 Infector.mp3

Wow he kills it in that register ! Reminds me of Glenn Benton mixed with the fast delivery of the guy from some Swedish band which name i forgot which sounded like Cannibal Corpse meets Spawn of Possession or something.

Very different than Chuck's style but i'm curious to hear what he can do for this song.

 

[Djabthrash]

Here´s my final mix:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5BO6wI0YpU&list=UUq3DbjiNu8rrL4YPy-hNucg&index=1&feature=plcp

Besides the kind of very fizzy guitars and the bass which could be more solid, it's good !

 

[Djabthrash]

Headphone mix,I'm deaf now
https://www.box.com/s/ad117cf9bdabb08ee7e3

sounds a bit muffled and boxy and boomy, but other than that it has a cool character

also, i hear some snares overlapping, as if you kept replaced the snare but had a small delay for triggering

 

[Djabthrash]

Thanks for the feedback on my mix (sorry i didn't reply earlier),now listenign back to it i agree with the roomy sound of drums and guitars. I might work on that soon.

I also think i went a bit too far with the kick boom/subs (which is kind of ironic since i first listened to your mixes and said your kicks could use more sub ).

Last but not least, i feel my OH (or at least the spot HH track) is a bit too loud and too compressed also.

Might also try the snare phase reverse thing.

EDIT : cool to see a lot of participation and different-sounding mixes by the way !

 

[nezvers]

Hmm, I'll totally will try sub on kick. Recently found that Drumagog have that synth trigering option (facepalm).
Hmm... so you say low mid clash between guitar and bass - will look into that, but I really like noticeable bass apart lows, like KoRn bass.

 

[Djabthrash]

Hmm, I'll totally will try sub on kick. Recently found that Drumagog have that synth trigering option (facepalm).
Hmm... so you say low mid clash between guitar and bass - will look into that, but I really like noticeable bass apart lows, like KoRn bass.

When i said "sub", actually i meant a low-end boost around 60-80hz, and didn't necessarily mean a sine sub thing for that, but it might work as well.

For the guitar/bass clash, besides the low mids thing (for me low mids should be more about bass than guitars (which still need some low-mids to still retain some body)) did you scoop the bass high mids to remove the cheap boxy bass sound and make room for clear-sounding guitars ?

 

[nezvers]

Yeah I cut really big chunk on bass there (actually I cut much across all bass spectum (biggest around 700 - 900hz). Should I cut there more?
Well did some messing - cut 206hz on bass, 156hz cut on guitars, moved guitar boost from 196hz higher (this number dropped of my mind).
I really don't want to boost kick more around 74hz (I found that is dominant Hz for it) cuz that for me is cutting bass enough (I cut same Hz for bass guitar), insted boosting there I have HP bellow 50hz but really narrow big boost 45hz (or somewhere there that bring back like sine)
Felt like messing and put easter egg after 1:46 .
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12761142/NeZvers_studio/NeZvers - Crystal mountain.mp3

 

[RaNk]

Comments on other mixes:

Mickrich: Sounds very nice, rhythm guitars a bit harsh maybe, but that's personal taste probably. Drums are cool and bass is well audible.

Ibzrgoffire: Sounds good, agree with Djabthrash's comment, lead guitars are bit overwhelming in effects. Rhythm guitars are also a bit too low mid to my taste. For the rest the drums sound good.

Id3alism: Not bad for a "headphone mix". Rhythm guitars may be a bit nicer when they're less scooped.

Nezvers: Good mix overall, it's an improvement again. Drums sound very nice. Good dynamics in the mix too, not too clipped, I like that. Maybe try to make the guitars a little fatter sounding maybe (less hipass, but I'm not sure).

Metalmiller: Sounds nice except the guitars would be nicer if a bit less fizzy. But the balance of the mix itsself is great. Good luck with the competition.

WallhallaM: Good mix, except a bit boomy with the guitars. Snare is very upfront too, and drums are a bit low sounding overal. I think some low mid filters on the drum elements might work wonders.

Djabthrash: Listened to your mix again. The Mp3 links work again. I like this mix, it's not too boomy or "intimidating". Nice warm and laid back sound. I agree with Nezvers on the roomy drums though, but nothing that can't be fixed here.


Thanks for the comments about my mix and bass guitar. Djabthrash: Indeed I retracked the guitars. I did it because I thought it was fun to do, trying to make them a bit closer to the original. You're very right about the bass, it didn't fit the "new" guitars. Well I fixed that too. If someone is interested in my new bass and guitar DIs, I can post them. My "statement" on this: They're not meant for the competition, I don't enter it myself. The guy who tracked the original guitars did a great job. He won a previous contest with it and it's cool that his tracks shine in the competition. For the rest I'm not against using them in the contest though, it's up to you. And the rules of course. Nezvers you got a reply yet? Btw, maybe some/most don't even like my DIs, it's cool, it was fun to play them.

Looking very forward to the vocals, I hope mickrich and the singer of Warpath will pull it off.

Last, my updated mix:

I included the original leads, but didn't use them on certain parts.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19759737/Crystal Mountain Kevin Talley - RaNk Mix V04.mp3

 

[Djabthrash]

@Rank : thanks for the huge feedback !

Gonna check out your new mix tonight at home.

I want to use the competition files as much as i can just to see how far i can go with this, but i might wanna try out a reworked version with your retracked guitars/bass, and maybe vocals if Mick's friend put them out !

I agree with your "statement", if some people wanna do the competition and play by the rules, fine. If some don't wanna do the competition, it's cool too since playing with all this stuff is a lot of fun and we learn a lot doing it.
I see the competition thing just as a way to get those mixes started and provide a base of DIs (mainly drums) to work with.

 

[RaNk]

Djabthrash, totally agree with you too. We can play alot with this stuff and learn from it too. I've always wanted to do a cover of this song, but never felt like programming the drums (too lazy to program cover drums). The tracks of the competition were a great opportunity to play with this and learn from eachother. The (hopefully) coming vocals inspired me to redo some things. Btw I forgot to answer about the guitars. They are quadtracked, but the guitar without the "lead riff" is mixed in less loud. Also, the part with less gain is done on purpose. It's a little like in the original song. But I did it the "lazy way", by just using volume envelope on that part so the amp doesn't distort as much. I'm still experimenting first, I might do it different when there's gonna be a "final version".

I did one more version of the mix, only changed the guitars a bit. I wonder which are best, these or the guitars from my previous post.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19759737/Crystal Mountain Kevin Talley - RaNk Mix V05.mp3

*edit*

Took my DIs off for awhile, there's a few edits that sounded ridiculous. I shouldn't have edited at all maybe. Will repost tommorow or so.

 

[Djabthrash]

have you noticed there's no kick bleed at all in all tracks?
I guess he recorded the kick with a pad to avoid bleed, or played the parts on a kick drum very softly (with a trigger on it of course)

Kevin Talley just answered me on that :

"Yes I play on kick pads"

 

[Djabthrash]

Also, the part with less gain is done on purpose. It's a little like in the original song. But I did it the "lazy way", by just using volume envelope on that part so the amp doesn't distort as much. I'm still experimenting first, I might do it different when there's gonna be a "final version".

I think the original version doesn't have much gain, but it has a chorus or flanger or some modulation effect which makes it sound strange and cool and not just "undergained", in a good way i mean. You might wanna do that (add some chorus/flanger on it).

 

[RaNk]

I think the original version doesn't have much gain, but it has a chorus or flanger or some modulation effect which makes it sound strange and cool and not just "undergained", in a good way i mean. You might wanna do that (add some chorus/flanger on it).

Good idea, thanks. Just done it in the box, used Bluecat's chorus. It's free, and it works. Yes the original has some chorus on it I think. Both my last mixes updates with that.

 

[siee]

My attempt, just a quick mix for now. No samples and lead guitars, using original rhythm guitar tracks. Any tip for this mix?

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/89852492/Music/KT%20contest.mp3