Professional vs Hack

Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 8:40 pm

Ok I've got two mixes here of the same song tell me which one you prefer, I won't tell you which one I did myself. Also list the issues with levels and sound if you can. It would greatly improve my sanity!!!

First mix

http://www.box.net/shared/eg2m37yo8w

Mix 2

http://www.box.net/shared/nlxflxa68o

Thanks

SOM

Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 8:53 pm

I definitely like the first mix better. The second mix is muddy as hell. On that alone, I would take the first mix.

There's definitely some things I like about the second mix. The guitars have a bit more meat. The vox sound really boxy though. Everything kind of competing for the same sonic space there though. It sounds like a raw mix. No EQ. No FX.

Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 9:06 pm

By the way it's a great tune. Listened to it over and over again about 3 times already.

Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 9:16 pm

Thanks for the compliment on the tune, I'm happy and dissapointed by your choice by the way

Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 9:39 pm

I'm with hueseph on this one. I kinda like the fat muddiness of the guitar in the second mix, but the vocals need to stand out more. Good tune.

Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:11 am

Yeah, the first one is better in my opinion. In some parts the guitars sound better on the second one, but other than that, everything on the second track is inferior to the first. Just my $0.02

Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 9:48 am

I agree, the first mix sounds the clearest. Mix 2 sounds a lot more muffled.

I also noticed a slight flaw in the guitar intro just before the drums kick in.

If you don't want anyone to know which mix you have did just yet you might want to try changing the file names...

hope this helps;)

Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 10:51 am

Having another listen. One thing I do like about the second mix is that it's less distorted. The first mix is squashed pretty bad and it's harsh sounding. A bit painful to listen to for any period of time.

The second mix is a lot more mellow. Still squashed but not nearly as much. I think with a bit of careful eq it could easily sound better than the first mix but as it is, it's muddy. If I had to choose I would take neither and start from scratch.

Take the clarity from the first mix and the softness and warmth of the second mix and tone down the limiting or remove it all together. Give the song some room to breathe.

Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 11:01 am

Definately the first mix.

More separation to the instruments, nice stereo panning to the doubletracked rhythm guitars.

Vocals are more up front, less muddy.

The only thing I would have done different with the first mix is add some "balls" to the rhythm guitar sound, but that could also muddy up the mix, so it may have been the engineer's choice to leave them a bit high-endy for that reason.

I may have pumped up the lead vocal a few db as well.

I would also have captured some of the "hiss" at the first or last of the tune and used a software noise reduction algorithm to gently remove it from the track.

But definately the first mix is the better of the 2.

Nice song BTW.

Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 11:56 am

Ok I'll tell the answer after a few more replies, this is kinda fun

Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 1:28 pm

Mix 1 sounds more like a finished mix.
Mix 2 sounds like a raw mix, Muddy as others have said, like everything is trying to occupy the same space.

I like the song.

Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 2:41 pm

Ok I've submitted to other forums as well, and it seems like it's about
10-1 in favour of the first mix.

The first mix was done by myself in the garage using cubase and izotope.

The second was done in by someone who was paid to do it with $$$$$ of analogue gear. I mastered it the same as the first mix to be fair.
I'm kinda dissapointed here, what do I tell this guy, give him some money and cut my losses or tell him to make it better than mine?

Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 2:59 pm

I would ask him to let you mix on his gear. You should get what you pay for. But I would lose Izotope on the master. I personally don't think it's doing the mix any favors. As I said before, if I had a choice I would start fresh. The second mix does have some nice qualities about it which probably could be attributed partially to gear. I think you could come out with a better product.

Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:01 pm

thanks hueseph, a real good ear and great advice I'll talk it over with the guy and my bandmates

Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:24 pm

Thanks for posting, and please let us know where we could purchase/download the final product.

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