Well this has proved to be a real marathon. It is a long song and it has taken perseverance to get this far. The main changes are:
1. V-vocal corrections on all vocals. We have now really got used to this tool and used much more extensively and used the vibrato tool as well to add some subtle vibrato to Gav's vocals.
2. Eq the vocals by using highpass filter around 150K, attenuated at around 2K and boosted at around 6K. This seemed to work really well using the Sonitus:FX in Sonar, so I have saved it as a preset to speed things up in the future.
3. Added VC-64 'Male hard bitng vocal' preset and then reverb and delay. A touch of chorus was added to backing vocals and only to lead vocals in the M8. I am really pleased with the way the vocals have turned out.
4. Guitar rig and VC-64 on bass
5. Drums - VC-64 and a touch of reverb - I think I may have them a bit quiet in the mix.
6. I have applied high filter EQ to some of the guitar and added Guitar Rig to the 2nd guitar to make it stand out a bit. Guitar maybe a bit quiet.
7. A bit of reverb and delay on the organ in the M8. I have used PerfectSpace reverb throughout for all reverb settings on other tracks.
8. Piano - VC-64 to help it sit better in the mix, just adds a little bite to it.
9. Corrected timing in consistencies in the stabs using the Audio-snap tool in Sonar. Now sounds much tighter in these sections. Also the addition of reverb on piano and drums live these sections more life.
10. High pass eq filter on lead guitar in Chorus to take out clunky bit that was interferring with stuff in the mid range.
I thinks that's it for the time being. We now need to get relative levels right because we're not quite there yet. Comments welcome. PS I also want to add some extra stuff/replace instruments in the M8 section, but one step at a time!
picturethoughts
Overall a good mix. It took quite a bit to get used to the vocals - at first I thought they were over processed, but I think it is just that the backing vocal's are audible and they really change the feel of the song - sounds a bit more ethereal. Drums sound really good. I wondered if the guitar was a bit too tinny - better than the original which was a bit too muddy, but perhaps need a little more warmth in the guitar. It all seems to hang together better in this mix. The original was a bit segmented with the odd extended middle section, but this doesn't seem so evident in the new mix. Synths sound good - sit in the mix well. The chorus sound fantastic when it kicks in. I can hear glimpses of the bass, but seems a bit too quiet. I think the bass is actually playing some really interesting stuff but gets a bit lost. I don't think it needs to be louder, just more pronounced.
Great song though.