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Hello,
This is a quick track but my main aim is to get some opinions to help me up my engineering game.
Please be as critical as you can... what do you think of this mix?
https://soundcloud.com/james-mcwilliams-4/a-short-sketch-for-a-western
Everything is hosted in Vienna Ensemble and I used the vienna suite EQ, power panner and Reverbs.
Cheers!
James
Hello James
Just about the mix.
Just now I only hadn't the possibility to listen to your music with monitors only my headphones.
So the feedback is probably not complete.
It seems that you made a lot of things the right way round. Congratulation!
Nevertheless, I would change the two following things (or check out them in minimum):
A) It seems that you have most of the signals on the right and on the left side but not in the center - the mono-component is low
or in other words: There is a "hole" between L and R
So if you switch to mono the sound could probably appear weeker than in stereo. So here is some potential to improve the mix.
BTW: Within the context of games it is important that the mix also works in mono. There are so much speaker possibilities with the gamers out there...
that a good mix also should work in the worst case.
B) The second thing tends to the same theme. I made out that the lowest bass frequencies "only" are in the right channel.
This is correct when we compare it with an orchestra (as a listener). But for games the sound should be powerfull also (or mainly?)
in the lowest frequencies. And because low frequencies do have (need) the most audio power you should mix the
frequencies below 100 Hz to both channels in the same manner.
How to do this?
Double the Bass(es) track.
One of them you pan to the right just as it is now but insert an EQ with a Low Cut filtre (for example at 90Hz) 24dB/Oct or even more.
The other track you pan to the center, Insert an EQ as well but now with a Hi Cut filter (90 Hz as well) same steepness - this channel produces the low end in Mono.
BTW: This matter is also important for mixing Fim-music.
Cinema systems often have subwoofers. So it's quite OK when the lowest frequencies are mixed in "mono".
I will listen to your mix with my monitor later on...
So far...
all the best - for 2014 as well ;-)
Beat
Nice track - sounded great on the iPad. Any details about your instrument choices?
Hello Beat,
Thanks a lot for spending the time to check out the track :) I'll make some modification to the mix and post an updated version soon.
Cheers!
James
And here's the updated track: I expanded it a tad and added some more instruments. I suspect I still need to bring the bass over more!...
https://soundcloud.com/james-mcwilliams-4/sketch-expansion-02-01-2014
Instruments:
Brass: Trombones, Trumpets, Horns, Tuba, Bass trombone playing the brassy chords.
Violins and Violas playing in unison for the main melody. 2nd violions playing an octave below. I also have a piccolo flute playing with them.
Cellos and DB playing the base line (basses an octave below).
Prepared piano is used for the 'sizzling' low bass accents.
Flute ensemble + clarinet and bass flute also playing together in some parts.
Shaker, Timpani and toms used for percussion. Cymbal, Piatti and Tam tam for some crashes.
Have also added the Choir! :)
