The Song Fight Bulletin Board

Billy's Little Trip wrote:

BBABM wrote: Billy And The Psychotics: the wacky high guitar riff is not my favorite, but i am loving the 90's alternative vibe. sounds like a Poe song.

Funny, Idiot King mentioned Poe too. After hearing this I went and listened. I don't care for them, lol. Well, it's alright I guess. By high guitar riff, do you mean the intro guitar that I run through the song, or the chorus? Either way, thanks bad boy. Lovin' yours too.

I meant the intro that gets run through. It's not bad, or poorly played, I just think it could be better. The Poe song I had especially in mind was "Angry Johnny" ... If that helps...

JB-- sorry dude

j$ wrote: Pillar of Paprika – Weak vocals too loud in the mix? Right back at ya, sir Intriguing, a little bit fragmented but that I find interesting. The 90s indie guitar chord progression sits oddly but appealingly on the electro. I love the squiggling synth. I wish that was louder. In fact I wish the whole song was louder. On my crappy laptop the mix doesn’t sound great. Maybe on headphones it would be stronger. That solo is by far and away the best thing in the song. A wall of spazz in yr face.

i have the tendency to bury vocals in the mix too much, especially when they're mine. in this case, they belong to tik, so i made them louder... so you'd lower the vox, up the squigglesynth, what else would you do?

...and thanks, on the solo
-bill

HeuristicsInc wrote: i have the tendency to bury vocals in the mix too much, especially when they're mine. in this case, they belong to tik, so i made them louder... so you'd lower the vox, up the squigglesynth, what else would you do?

...and thanks, on the solo
-bill

it's a good rule of thumb to always turn my voice down a bit. when i'm on, it acts as a texture. when i'm off, it's hidden.

bill wrote:what else would you do?

So listening now on headphones, and my initial impressions are - bass is a lead instrument, could do with standing out a bit more, not louder neccessarily but fatter perhaps, by which I think I mean - not as clean?

Squiggle synth definitely up, that's a song in itself, and wall of scariness solo could get away with almost drowning the rest out for its time in the sun ...

maybe some subtractive EQ on the guitar to give the other instruments more room, without turning it down (which I don't think you'd want to do) -

the drums are mixed to the right volume, but again, they're a little dry or clean against the rest of the mix.

I guess what I'm hearing is a mild NIN-ing of the track, to make you want to get up and dance against your will. It's close already but a bit of tweaking and bingo!

The rest I can think to suggest is just personal taste, and you've seen where that's got me over the years Also mix related comments should be taken with a pinch of salt, as i know next to nothing. Is this normalised / mastered? An ozone preset would probably take care of most of my concerns with a single button press. It just cries out (to me) for a bit more oomf.

And of course a list of what I would do differently doesn't include all the things I like about the song!

j$ wrote:I guess what I'm hearing is a mild NIN-ing of the track, to make you want to get up and dance against your will.

bill, we need to make this happen.

yes, agree, except i've already got ozone on it (modified 4 band master, i think). is there some other recommended preset to start with?
-bill

from memory - you could try "drum&bass & breaks w/ boost, de-mud and stereo imaging", "electro & dance master - EQ and Exciter", "Electronica Master - widening and exciter" or maybe if you're feeling perky, one of the hip hop masters, because it will bring edge to the drums ... trial and error 'til you find the one you like the sound of, I guess, and then tweak from there.

j$

eh? i don't have those presets... maybe i'm back a few versions or something.
-bill

I'm on 5, which version you using?

hmm, i bet i have 4... that sounds familiar, ozone 4.
-bill