Orchestral ambient black metal mix

[thefalloftheheretic]

Hey guys.
I was hoping I could get some feedback on this mix.
I got it to where I was happy with it, yet it seems there's still something that's not meshing right.
Instruments and pannings are as follows:

Cellos, pizzicato: 60% L and R
2 string sections: center
Timpani: center
Acoustic: center
Drums: stereo center
Vocals, clean and harsh: center
Choirs: center

http://soundcloud.com/damnum-animus/forgotten-by-the-waves

 

[Turtlemod]

Nice song.
I'm not really digging the drums, too obviously programmed sound. Is that what you were going for?

 

[thefalloftheheretic]

No, it wasn't.
This is just a preliminary mix though.
If I may ask, what exactly is making the drums sound programmed?

Glad you like the song though

 

[thefalloftheheretic]

Up.
Any thoughts?

 

[Turtlemod]

the choice of drum samples and the lack of velocity changes makes them sound programmed.
The snare seems too short and weak for this kind of piece of music, it's almost as if it has no low end. The kick seems alright. The toms lack any depth and liveness to them.
Try simulating a room? add more reverb on all the shells, except for kick?
Just some ideas that popped to me. Good luck!

 

[CivereSounds]

Hmm......incredibly ambient, is this a stylistic choice? Interesting kind of music, vocals sound good but the drums could use a bit of work, they do not hit very hard

 

[thefalloftheheretic]

It is, in fact, a stylistic choice. I will be posting a new mix soon.

 

[thefalloftheheretic]

Hey guys.
I've remixed the entire song.

The snare has reverb on it, as do the toms.
The cymbals have a technique called EQ cancellation on them, which gives it a cool stereo effect.
The kick has been redone as well.
The timpani has been re-EQed so that it fills out the mix much more.

I added two regular cellos to the pizzicato ones to fill out the mix.
The choirs have remained the same.
The strings have some new EQ on them.

The vocals have been remixed with new reverb and new EQ.

Let's get some feedback!

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4463675/Forgotten By The Waves, Mix 2.mp3

 

[thefalloftheheretic]

Thoughts as compared to the old mix, anyone?

 

[jagarock]

second mix definitely better than soundcloud version, you solved most problems!

you say "something doesnt mesh right", to me that is obviously the pizzicato strings. they seem far too intrusive, too loud. the pizzicato seems also to be too "big", like they have too long sustain.
maybe try a more "cheap" sample?
0:53-0:56 , that part doesnt harmonize very well (the pizzicato doing something weird here)

also, 2:30, hehe, did you forget to put reverb on the (programmed) piano?

i liked the song!

 

[thefalloftheheretic]

Thanks for the feedback.
The piano is actually a placeholder, I will be recording my baby grand piano for the final recording.