Overnight Lows
 

keithl, The number one thing is to start with the best vocal performance. I direct the vocalists alot, always keeping mixing in mind. Make sure he/she is always clear and portraying something(and if the part is supossed to be in key, make sure it is). If something doesnt feel quite right, its probably not!..so thats what takes most of my time.

Preparing for vocal mixing...
before starting with the vocals make sure NOTHING is in its way. I almost never have anything panned center besides vocals (usually 50% to the sides is the closest I get, this really brings clarity, unless I want to muddy things up on porpuse)

So those are the things that you rarely hear in mixing magazines etc.
Remmember, the things around the vocalist are very important for the perseption of the vocal quality.

Now mixing...
Getting the right compressor setting is very important. I usually play around 10ms attack, the fastest release possible, 3:25 ratio, and compressing around 3 to 6db the most.

Always use a high pass filter at around 200hz to make the sound tighter, and maybe boost around 3k for more pressence.

Send the vox to a slap back delay, settings: right channel 40ms, Left channel 50ms, and use it very low in the back just to give it some wideness. (the settings really depend on the song). Then use a medium delay at quarter note tempo to give some space. Really quiet, my rule is to bring up the delay till I hear it clear then bring it down about 10dbs. And in the choruses I usually double the vocals and aplay the -10db rule. I send the double to the long delay and slap delay, this time I use more, so the choruses really feels big, and since most of my choruses have alot of guitars you dont even hear the delays. A cool trick is to use a high pass filter at 400hz on the delays to make them less muddy, and you can turn them up louder this way without noticing.

As you can see I love cutting those low freqs were not needed, so I cut everithing below 400hz to the harmonies to meke them sit better in the mix. and compress the harmonies alittle more. Double the harmonies in the choruses and pan then 50% left and right. I use some reverb and alot of delay on the harmonies because I like them think in the back, once again you dont notice the delay.

And this is my favorite trick: copy the vocal track onto a new one, and (bare with me) extemely compress it. Fastes attack and release, 100:00 ratio, about 18dbs compression, cut all the lows at around 600hz, and boost 10dbs at 10k, thats right! Then use that really low in the mix behind the lead and you can hear every single thing they say! it really bring emotion and sizzle witout hurting your ears.

Don't be afraid of turning the Lead up.

My usual tools for mixing vocals are Ren Comp, Ren EQ, and digirack delays.
And one final thing. Dont make the snare drum, and rythm guitars too pressent, since it will make the impression the vocals arent clear.

Sorry if this is too long, but those are the things that I usually do. And I'm probably forgetting something

Let me know when you finish mixing your CD. Happy mixing!
heres the song again:
http://www.overnightlows.com/music/thebreaks.mp3
Joz

Collaboration
 

Thanks to Roy Howell for adding a truly sensitive electric guitar track and his unique sound to this simple pop song. Hope we can work together again...

Crown & Anchor

Re: Collaboration
 

that was great!

joz

Re: Collaboration
 

Thanks for detailing out your process, Joz...I will definitely experiment with the techniques you posted!

Jack Rabbit....very nice song. Simple and to the point

Roy, I just listened to a bunch of your tunes...you have a real cool guitar tone and style.

Re: Collaboration
 

Joz

Again .... Thanks for detailing out your process for her vocals. Very helpful. Excellent job!

I was wondering what mic did you use for vocals? You might of mention it but i may have over looked it.


-Bob

Re: Solo CD
 

Sorry, I renaimed the files and forgot to update the links. They should be working now

Re: Overnight Lows
 

Nice description Joz. Some of the techniques I use as well. Learned a few more too.

Thanks! Will try them on the next band that I get in... Hopefully not a screamer band like I have now!

Vetry cool details though...

- Doc

Re: Solo CD
 

The mastering jobs aren't exactly 'pouring in' at the moment. So I figured I'd pop my head into this area for a little refresher. Hadn't been here in a while...good stuff all around:


Joz,

Excellent production. In light of all the positive comments, there isn't much I can add. Shoot me an e-mail when you get the opportunity. I think the lead vocals could come down a smidge on this particular track, but this is largely personal preference. Sounds great!

Jack Rabbit,

Great introspective tune. A few suggestions on the mix: try a little less or maybe a different reverb on the vocals, then bring 'em up a smidgen...my ears seem to be losing focus on the lyrics and move it more into the realm of background music as it stands. Maybe boost the drums a little too. I really dig the tasteful simplicity in the production. (Nice playing too Roy.)

Madcow,

Interesting...It can be quite difficult to get a polished sound out of pure metal/hardcore groups. I think the mastering could use a little work though. The bottom end of the guitars is great and not muddy at all. Most of the stuff I hear in this style coming out of LE studios is way off in that regard. Well done.

Superpenguin,

Very cool eclectic stuff going on here! I particularly like "Scattered Dreams". You're combining instruments and styles in ways most people wouldn't dare attempt. Way to break the mold; keep it up. (On a sidenote: I always have softspot for didge...my collection of didge's has been growing for years...I need a better way to store them.)

Super Seven,

I like the compositions. My only suggestion would be to try experimenting with dialing in different sounds for that DI. The melody/lead tends to get lost inside the arpeggiations on 'angel in ice'. (Am I right in thinking that's the DI sound from a thin-bodied "studio acoustic" type guitar?)

phanatik,

Great underlying loop based production on 'Day all Day'. I love the retro vibe in the beat. I think a R&B vocal collab (maybe female...maybe like a second opinion or the girlfriend's view kind of thing for dramatic affect) in the form of choruses on top of this thing would really help to make a bridge b/w the old school rnb loops and the hip hop foreground. I love it man.

To everyone, keep up the great work!

Cheers,
Chris

Re: Overnight Lows
 

Joz,
man that song is sooooo good! Awesome job. Ive had that song on repeat 2 days straight, i cant remember doing that since Appetite for Destruction came out in the 80's. You mentioned the drums were hard to get sounding right cause of the room you were using, the only thing im missing is a real fat punchy kick drum in the chorus, have you tried sound replacer or something similar?
anyways, i downloaded all the songs from your site, all sounds really good mate. Thanks a lot for all the info too on the recording process, really helpful.
All the best with it.

Re: Overnight Lows
 

Ahhhh... Ruben's "In LUUUVVVVVVVV! "

too funny....

been drinking tonight! sorry.. Good stuff! by all....

- Doc

Re: Overnight Lows
 

sorry, i didnt think it was that obvious

still listening to it now

Re: Overnight Lows
 

I have been listening to it over and over also!

as I said before..great production!

Re: Collaboration
 

keithl-

Thanks very much keith...I've liked everything I've heard by you too...



Joz...your 'mixing' post above is great...some very helpful info there. Again, great job on the new one.

-Roy

Re: Solo CD
 

Thanks Chris, yeah "Scattered Dreams" is pretty much just that... I woke up out of a deep sleep at 6am one morning and went into the studio and just started meshing sounds that fit the pattern of a dream actually. Just a new approach to composing I guess... I like to call it "art" on a Pro Tools canvas sometimes... lol Very cool about the Didge's man! How many do you own? I heard from a shop owner one time that it is always good to store them with care to keep them in top shape. I would like to get a couple of rain shakers next and put them with some didge's for a track down the road.



on a side note, I really need to be able to get HSI so that I can download some more tunes that you guys are posting. It takes me forever to download them on dialup out here...

Re: Solo CD
 

I've got about a dozen of them now of all kinds of varieties. I once came across a cache of very large bamboo that was driving the owner of a baseball park nuts...so I took care of the problem for him...used a driveshaft to knock out the nodes. I made hundreds of them and gave most away over the years. I've kept a few though. I've been paid for session work with a didge once. The "prettiest" one I own is aboriginal, termite hollowed eucalyptus, and about 4 and 1/2 feet long...weighs about 25 pounds, but I think a couple of the bamboo ones I made years ago sound the best.

A great way to store them that I've found is large fishing rod cases. I can't find cases to fit all of them though.

Re: overnight lows
 

Awesome JOz, great work. Also over here in West LA. Soon moving to SF, your track is very inspiring, was my fav(the breaks) of all your tracks on your page. Your drummer is the coolest, and that singer, her look is perfect, good looking, but not too much off a priss. She's not your average white girl on tv. In fact she looks mixed, this band is awesome. Dang, this really shows the power of pro toolers. Thank you joz thank you so much this music is what us muscians want to hear. More good music like this please. thank you joz, thank you joz band, thank you guys.

Re: Solo CD
 

At first i thought, nah this music aint me, but then i took another listen and i really liked the feeling the second track gave me. Some good ducking effects or i'm not sure what that is, but the overall vibe of the second song was really dreamy, wild west type, really got my imagination going. Gosh i'm starting to really like this forum.

Re: ...
 

awesome madcow! Brings me back to the days of playing drums in a hardcore band. It has a very tight fat sound. I like that snare, real warm even though it's all tuned high.

Re: Solo CD
 

I am asuming you are refurring to my 2 tracks posted. Thanks. I like the term 'dreamy' you used. I think that would be a good description for most of the tracks I have for my CD. I know my recording technics are not the norm and the results are quite different, but in all honestly, I like the why way they turned out. Something different you could say.

~Scott

Re: Solo CD
 

yes it was your songs i was talking about. Hey this guitar sounds great. Is there any possible way i could collaborate with you and do a hiphop remix of one of your tracks? I'm feeling this second song. Sorry if this seems a little forward.

Re: Off the top of my head...
 

cool beats mang. I liked split personality the best cause he was flippin it plus the drum pattern is all sporatic, but still hiphop. I like that big jus blaze theatrical new york horn stuff. Something seems missing in the frequencies, is it squashed/overcompressed? I am listening to it on crappy creative labs computer speakers with a sub, but when i play some other tracks it seems they have more mid and lower mid range or something. I am by no means a mixing expert, but it just seemed that way. do you hear this too? Sorry if this seems too critical.

Thankk you for letting me listen to some more pt stuff. right on man.

Re: New CD is Out
 

what he said! those lyrics are funny man

Re: New Music!
 

I was laughing the whole way. I love it. But you made both songs start off the same way, i like the first intro better.

Re: Solo CD
 

drop me an email at info(at)thereal7.com and we can further discuss this possibility.

~scott

Re: Solo CD
 

Super Seven-

Super Seven...I like em...especially 'Crystal Clear'...some nice guitar sounds...what are you using for the acoustic/electric solo?

thanks, Roy

Re: Solo CD
 

Thanks Roy, for all the guitars, I have a BOSS ME-50 effects pedal. I run all the guitars direct into my Mbox through this pedal. For the clean electric solo, my guitar has a piezo pick-up in it. I use the BOSS' compression, stereo auto pan, delay, small amount of hall reverb for the clean solo. I panned the tracks <35 35>. It is wierd, you don't really hear that the tracks are auto panning, but you can sure see it in the wav view. I plan to mic up my Mesa rig and over dub some tracks to my tunes yet. I use very little or no plugins on the tracks a little HP and LP filters here and there and that is pretty much it.

Re: Solo CD
 

Interesting...thanks...the one 'acoustic' guitar sound intriques me if it's not an acoustic guitar. Sounds a little like say, an Ovation plugged direct, but it has the sustain of an electric guit. Anyway...good stuff...post more when you can.

-Roy

Re: Solo CD
 

Hello everyone, I am working on mixing a live show that I recorded for a regional act back in February. I am nearing the end, and need to have some opinions on the sound that I am getting ready to hand over to these guys. They played 3 long sets and I captured about 4 hours of material to be produced. Give me opinions on sound; I am not involved with the song selection nor performances in any way; but I am solely responsible for the finished sound. Each one of these songs capture a different aspect of their night: different singers, different instruments featured, different genres. These are all covers ... no original music posted.

Watching The Detectives
Hard To Stop
Prove Yourself
Psycho Killer

Thanks for your time and criticism.

Re: Overnight Lows
 

WOW, you made my day!!!!!!!

A couple more songs are comming up really soon.
www.overnightlows.com
thanks everybody for liking our band.

Some things are happening with the band lately, I'll let you guys know later, just don't wanna jinx anything!!!

Joz

Re: Overnight Lows
 

Hi Joz,
looking real forward to hearing more tunes mate. just sitting back at work on a friday morning......still listening to those tracks

Re:
 

Bit of a trippy remix...

Telagraph Hill ->

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/9/seriessixmusic.htm

Re: Solo CD
 

Hi Straatocastoer/Stan,
I'm listening as I can and heard 'Detectives' last night...good band, and it sounds like you've done a good job. For the live engineers here, tell us what you used to record them if you would. I will listen to the rest later, and thanks for posting.

-Roy

Re: Solo CD
 

Ok, you guys dragged me into it.

I produce Rappers.

Heres A little beat I just finished mixing on 001 LE 5.4 Apple G4...

http://www.jessjackson.com/music/5050beat.mp3

Re: Mac Mixes!!!!!!!!
 

Haven't been in here for a bit - here's a link to some of my stuff - the new tracks are the first three - Berocca, Laon, and Bagtime. Let me know what you think???

Overnight Lows
 

I made a few adjustments. This is the final final mix

Joz

Re: Solo CD
 

I didn't know that MAC is good for music.... (yeah, it is bad joke)

I like your beat. Some kind of Middle East feelings in it. Hope to hear it with voc too.

Re: Solo CD
 

Alright everyone, after many late nights, my latest recording is finished. This band is called "What Price Fugitive" and kind of sounds like a darker version of The Killers, hard to explain. Anyhow, I think it came out pretty good. Here it is!

http://www.myspace.com/whatpricefugitive

Re: Solo CD
 

Hiya Roy. For live/location recording, I run a 24 channel snake from the stage into 3 DigiMax48, then from the DigiMax analog out to the FOH board and the ADAT out to an Alesis HD24. I used the onboard limiting of the DigiMaxes on the vocals, and the rest I left pretty much alone during the show. I brought it back to the studio and dumped 3 sets (about 4 hours of music) into PTLE for mixing and editing. The band is a bunch of really nice guys and this was a "reunion" show -- they hadn't played together for years.

I am wondering how the mix sounds on other systems. Here at the house I've checked it in the studio, on a boom box and in my truck and all sound fairly good -- but then when I listen on a different computer through the system speakers it sounds muddy. Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing this on their listen.

Thanks!

Re: Solo CD
 

G'day Bret,
great song mate, really like it. Your right it does sound alittle like the killers which for me is a good thing.
Any tips on how you got that lightly distorted vocal sound?

Cheers,
Ruben

Re: Solo CD
 

Is there a downloadable mp3 of this song?