[Nik]

Hey guys, I'm recording an awesome new tune with piano and orchestral stuff and all that junk, but I'm stuck on the solo. I'm fairly happy with the first half.

The part of with the octave jumps is the one that bugs me. Any ideas there?

Anyway, feedback appreciated. This is one of the songs I'm most proud of, and I want to get it just perfect.

Comments on the mix are welcome, too. Please flame me so I can better myself

A very short sample:

Media Player

Click here to download.

The solo is pretty catchy if you listen to it several times.

[Ryan]

I can almost hear Axl Rose right now.
I liked the solo.. Maybe just a pinch more quick runs placed in there. See if you cant find your way above the 14th fret too ;D

Good stuff man!

[D-EJ915]

at one point the drums kind of do a lot more than normal and kinda speed up, then slow down...it sounds weird and kinda fudges it up. It was cool besides that though!

[Ryan]

OKay, i listened to it again.

Id like to hear it with more bass drum. And lower the pianos a pinch. Rhythm guitars have a little fizz to them for my liking, id turn up the presence and lower the treble. But those are all very minor things. Over all its a jam worthy mix man. Nice work. +rep.

[Alpo]

The solo is pretty good, a little rough but good.

The mix is a little messy. The drum sounds need a lot of work. Am I the only one hearing a very slight buzz during the solo? Are you sure it's not mixed too loud?

Good job otherwise. BTW, what are you mixing on?

[Nik]

Originally Posted by D-EJ915

at one point the drums kind of do a lot more than normal and kinda speed up, then slow down...it sounds weird and kinda fudges it up. It was cool besides that though!

Can you tell me at what time this happens? Drums sound fine to me. Well, in terms of quality, they could be better, but we'll probably end up recording real drums soon enough so I'm not too worried about that.

@Alpo - I'm mixing with Audacity . The mix actually sounds amazingly crisp without the solo, and it sounds absolutely killer through my home sound system. It's when I add the solo, though, that it all turns to mud. I'll probably end up turning it down a tad.

I could post a clip of the song sans solo.

Anyway, I guess I'll shred up the second part a bit more. There's a really cool, hyper-fast legato run at the end, but you can barely hear it because it's played on the lower strings and it gets swallowed up in the mix

Thanks for your critique, as usual, fellas

[god_puppet]

Originally Posted by Ryan

OKay, i listened to it again.

Id like to hear it with more bass drum. And lower the pianos a pinch. Rhythm guitars have a little fizz to them for my liking, id turn up the presence and lower the treble. But those are all very minor things. Over all its a jam worthy mix man. Nice work. +rep.

Sounds great ^ pretty much all you need to change, beside the above everything sounds cool.

[Alpo]

Originally Posted by Nik

I'm mixing with Audacity . The mix actually sounds amazingly crisp without the solo, and it sounds absolutely killer through my home sound system. It's when I add the solo, though, that it all turns to mud. I'll probably end up turning it down a tad.

Sorry, I meant to ask what kind of speakers you use. But you answered my question there. I really recommend a set of monitors if you can afford it.

[D-EJ915]

@nik: it happens right over where the d and period are on the "download" thing is on the media player thingamajig, don't know what time, but it's right there.

[Nik]

Originally Posted by D-EJ915

@nik: it happens right over where the d and period are on the "download" thing is on the media player thingamajig, don't know what time, but it's right there.

Ah, OK. What happens there is a fast drum fill that starts off with 16th notes and completes the bar with 2 groups of 16th triplets. You're referring to the triplets part. It sounds fine to my ears, maybe the drums are getting lost in the mix and it's difficult to pick out the sweet drums during that part.

@ Alpo

I'm using Technics SB-CD120 (I don't think they make 'em anymore) speakers capable of handling up to 100W in power. Basically, the stereo output of my Pod goes straight into my Sherwood stereo receiver (a fine piece of machinery if I might add), which plays through the speakers.

It's as good as using a medium-quality set of monitors, and the mix sounds amazing through them until the solo kicks in.

And I don't get the Axl Rose thing if anything, this song is more of a ballady "Space-Dye Vest" (my actual inspiration was Pain of Salvation's "Iter Impus). I'll post the finished thing once it's done, although I might wait until we do vocals for it before I post it