SoundMaster said:
Why, specifically, does the sound of "DOD" suck so terribly?
Is it simply the 'mix'? What's done that makes an album such as BNW sound as if the songs have "room to breath?, and what's done (or not done) that renders DOD so muddy & almost 'painful' to the ears?
Kevin Shirley stated that the basic tracks were recorded live - does he literally mean that the band members play live together, as they would on stage (and add overdubs later)? Of course, right?
If so, would that make it harded to mix the record?
Anyone here familiar with recording/mixing practices?
I do have some live mixing experience, as I used to part own a concert PA system........my job was stage sound primarily, along with set up and pull down, (obviously)........I also used to get a turn on the light rig sometimes!!!
If, as you say, parts of DoD were recorded 'live' I would take that to mean at least two of the guitars, Harris and Nicko played the basic track........though this could be manipulated later, with individual tracks being faded or enhanced without too many spill problems.
I think if that's the thing they were going for, and some of that work was kept for the final mix, it would be a little more difficult to get a nice crisp sound.
I believe this CD suffers because of too much low mid - range.........when using the term 'mid-range' there may be as many as 10-12 frequencies that are applicable..........and a little too much bass sound from the upper range of the instrument.
I also think Bruce's voice is too 'dry' and buried a little too far in the mix........I do think 3 guitars is a problem for this band, or for the producer, hard to say which.
Really difficult to make comments without knowing the process that was used, but to my ears the recording needs a lot cleaner guitar sound. A lot cleaner.........or perhaps use only two guitars for the recording process - and the bass doesn't really sound like Harris to me........needs a more 'stringy' sound, I wanna hear his fingers hitting the string.
The drums? Where to start.......more punch thru the kick, more attack on the snare, and a 'bigger' sound would be good - think 'Where Eagles dare' with modern equipment. Bruce just needs more reverb, and he needs to be mixed right out the front of the sound more - a lot more. He is beginning to sound like he needs more help, as you would expect as he gets older, and he seems to be getting less, to me at least. The vocal sounds also like it has too much compression.
I think the 'room to breath' comment is a good one - I don't think the instruments on this mix have any space at all.......it sounds cluttered, it sounds muddy, and it sounds disappointing.
So to sum up.......guitars - a bit less dense, a bit sharper, maybe only use two on any given track. Remember some of the classic material only ever had two.........I don't know that this band knows how to use three, and I don't want them to.
Bass - less bass!!
more mids, go for that stringy sound that I always used to hear from Harris.
Drums - Lumpier, more bassy kick........use heaps of reverb, then 'cut' the sound off with a noise gate. Imagine hitting a kick drum in a really echoey hall or something, but the sound actually stops after a half second or so.......nice.
Vox - more reverb, more depth, more everything. Louder.
Just my opinion guys, and I must stress I have been out of the business for a while.
