Rock Mix... Hows my Mando?

[Ben Milne]

okay its high in the mix but i figured we're probably all biased here... so what the hey. Obviously the whole song is in construction ATM and I don't yet have a copy with Vox (Sorry will be rerecordong it anyway)


the Band is actually my GF's band.
the band track is what they layed down as a scratch track. (i layed the mando over the top... )
I'm usually on the stage to work, not perform, but i thought i'd see what the cafe thoughts were... Thanks of course go to Les Paul (RIP) for the overdub process:grin:

[thesubliminalman]

That's really good ! Sounds like a perfect mood song for a TV show theme song or podcast bumper!. Thanks for sharing!

[Ben Milne]

thanks... the mando riff will actually be somewhat behind the vocals for the most part, and some of it i just noodled which probably won't suit or be neccesscary in the cut.

I'll see if i can dig up a scratch demo my GF did with vocals to show the contrast... it will be interesting how it fits together because i wasn't really thinking too much about what the vox would be doing, i just came up with an easy riff i didn't think sounded too bad.

Its the first time i've really ventured back onto a musical instument (for those that don't include mixing desks as musical) for about ten years. I'm enthused for the first time in quite a while which is pretty cool.

any other thoughts? mainly concerned with the sound itself... as a first foray into recording myownself.

[journeybear]

The mandolin isn't too high in the mix - in fact in some places it's a bit low, overshadowed by the rhythm tracks. The melody is fine. What you have to work on is the tone. With the rest of the band rocking, the solo should too. See if you can work with some effects to get it to sound bolder. Leads have to do just that - lead. This sounds a bit too plinky - a very common problem when you introduce mandolins into a rock setting. It should roar just as the rest of the band is doing. Try a bunch of effects - distortion, saturation, overdrive, reverb, phasing, flanging, chorus, anything to fatten it up and make it sound stronger, but without overdoing it to where it sounds cheesy - till you find what works for you. Trial and error is a time-honored tradition.:mandosmiley:

Just my 2¢.

[Keith Wallen]

That sounds great! Make sure you post the final version I would like to hear that.