I'm Alright (High Dynamic Range '1983 Mix 'n Master by SMS2023_DE)

[SMS2023_DE]

Yo Stefan - hope you are well. The most recent mix feels stellar. What's your approach to the vocal chain if you don't mind me asking? Also your low end feels sweet!

Hello noahd, thanks for your comment, which is also the first in ~2.5 months since starting this thread - and for the compliments, I appreciate that.

Regards the vocal chain, well, this has been my very first mix in 2023, so I was / am still learning and experimenting with loads of stuff.

There was nothing extraordinary about the vocal chain as far as I can remember, except of getting the levels and the balance right (incl. backing vocals).

I would say the mastering stage has been used to do more of the shaping and fine-tuning of the final sound on my part - including the low-end.

I believe I did make some improvements in this regard over the several iterations - and within my current 3 songs / mixes & masters.

This particular song was pretty well balanced in terms of the recording, also the bass guitar fitted into the mix - I didn't quite like the bass guitar on

The Doppler Shift (nor the acoustic guitar) regards a kind of un-rhythmic playing - perhaps that's just me but that's why it got more or less the "...And Justice For All" bass guitar treatment.   But that effected the overall frequency balance. There is more low-end in I'm Alright because of that.

Now the low-end has been refined in the mastering stage, I haven't touched my basic mix EQs for that the bass guitar for instance.

I think listening to your mix with different stereo systems, especially in the car, can unfold wrong or missing (resonating) frequencies.

My personal advice with only a few months in would be to try to establish your own personal sound signature; also include processes where you can

fine-tune the sound according to the source material.

Every mix obviously needs other settings, especially when you're working with songs & multitracks from different people or studios.

When you are recording your own music in the same basic way the sound is much more consistent.

Don't know if that helps.


Cheers,

Stefan