Mixing notes, July, 1999

 

 

Cadillac

Overall
- Mix it hotter to give song more punch and volume (is this a mastering issue?)
- Bring all instruments to front and balance with vocals (vocals too loud in mix at this time).
- Make song sound a little nastier (vocal effects?)

Vocals
- Balance them better in mix
- More effects on all vocals (reverb/echo - ask Dean). Vocals too clean at the moment.
- Reverb/echo on Stephen when he says "fight", were song makes a short stop.

Drums
- Drums need to come up much more in the mix (the drum sound the Clash had was given as an example).
- Drums need richer/fuller sound
- Fills need to be louder and more prominent. Very important to this song.
- Cymbals need more sustain

Percussion
- Richer and louder - more slap sound.

Guitar
- Needs to be louder, especially in beginning and middle when song comes back in.
- Better chorus effect

Keyboard
- Needs to be louder in rhythm sections and solo
- Thicker sound when following guitar and bass

Bass
- Thicker sound, especially where it's playing alone
- Up in the mix


Donna Lewis

Overall
- Mix it hotter to give song more punch and volume (is this a mastering issue?)
- Bring all instruments to front and balance with vocals (vocals too loud in mix at this time).
- Make song sound a little nastier (vocal effects?)
- More effects in general
- Possibly record timbale and organ

Vocals
- Balance them better in mix
- More effects on all vocals (reverb/echo - ask Dean). Vocals too clean at the moment.
- Drop Stephen's vocal from first verse
- Drop Jody's vocal from second verse
- Bring Sylvia's "that money wasn't earned" up
- Look for Sylvia's voice in "penitentiary" section - missing at the moment

Drums
- Drums need to come up much more in the mix (the drum sound the Clash had was given as an example).
- Drums need richer/fuller sound
- Fills need to be louder and more prominent. Too low and too clicky at this time..
- Snaps need more sustain
- Cymbals need more sustain

Percussion
- Put conga track back in the mix - missing at this time.
- Guiro - bring it down in the mix
- Possibly record timbale

Guitar
- Needs to be louder, especially the middle when other instruments drop out.
- Better chorus effect

Keyboard
- Needs to be brought into the mix - too loud at the moment
- Too muted/flat in the beginning. Needs effect.
- Listen to rhythm tracks with and without piano - will this have an effect on making the guitar sound clearer
- Fix piano final note in mix - too loud and too sharp right now.
- Organ needed at the end of the third verse, carrying on throughout the rest of the song. We will have to make a decision on recording this or not.

Bass
- Thicker sound

Thin Ice

Overall
- No one likes this recording/mix - probably needs the most work
- Needs more depth to make it sound a little nastier (vocal effects?)
- Mix it hotter to give song more punch and volume (is this a mastering issue?)
- Bring all instruments to front and balance with vocals (vocals too loud in mix at this time).
- More effects in general

Vocals
- Re-record lead vocal (possibly all vocals - ask Dean)
- Backing vocals seem to controlled - need to be punched in and out differently.

Drums
- Drums need to come up much more in the mix (the drum sound the Clash had was given as an example).
- Drums need richer/fuller sound
- Fills need to be louder and more prominent. Too low and too clicky at this time..
- Snaps need more sustain
- Cymbals need more sustain

Percussion
- Missing in present mix. Find them and put them back in.

Guitar
- Where's the thundering guitar? Needs to be louder in general.
- Listen to beginning. Is guitar out of tune? Is this why there's no thundering guitar? What's the problem? Does it have to be recorded? Try listening to drums, bass, guitar and keyboard tracks alone to find problem.
- Better delay effect, not chorus

Keyboard
- Needs brighter sound
- Needs to come-up in the middle

Bass
- Needs more definition

Monkey Do

Overall
- This one sounds the best as it is
- Most work needs to be done in the jungle/Krupa middle section. This section needs to be louder/stronger - it's where the song peaks.
- Re-mix this one last

Vocals
- Bring into mix - still slightly too loud.
- Backing vocals need to come up.
- Sylvia's jungle call needs to be louder
- Take out repeated 'monkey do' out of ending - Jody or Peggy's vocal track
- Check out Stephen's track when he sings 'oh monkey do'.

Drums
- Drums need to come up much more in the mix (the drum sound the Clash had was given as an example).
- Floor tom needs richer/fuller/louder in the jungle/Krupa middle break

Percussion
- Need to be rich - better sound
- Need to be stronger in jungle/Krupa middle section
- Tambourine needs to come down in the mix - check it out.

Guitar
- Too loud at times
- Bring the 'chinka chinka' down in the jungle/Krupa middle section

Keyboard
- Fine, though check jungle/Krupa middle section to make sure they're loud enough and clear enough

Bass
- Needs more definition with thicker/fuller sound, especially in jungle/Krupa middle section

LCompiled by Ralph Franklin 1999

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