Ladida by Nelson rerecorded after getting mixing tips from you guys

[Nelson]

Hey guys,
After getting some mixing tips from TonyW, Nigel and others, I decided to remix this song. During the process of remixing it dawned on me that this was one of the first songs I wrote and recorded about a year ago. Well, I think I've come a long way in a year so why not rerecord the vocals. I'm a little more comfortable with my voice, after all not every one that tells me they like my voice can be blowing smoke, up my yzoo!  lol
I tried to pretend that I was totally comfortable with my voice and just did it.
Well I notice after listen a couple of times that, at the beginning of the song, you can still hear my discomfort, still not wanting to scare small children.  lol  But as the song progresses I start to hear myself relax and get into it a little. Still have a ways to go but I'm starting to hear what I think others may be hearing.
The main tips in the mixing process:  panning and volume
This is the 2nd mix of this song.
If you would like to compare different mixes of this song.
1st mix= https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=6701.0
There is also the newest mix of the song here
Final mix= https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=6757.new#new
Let me know what you think. Thanks


-Nelson

[Ted]

This reminds me of one of those all-star tributes, where three great singers come together to do a classic song together.  And this sounds like a classic song.  It's beautiful.  The voices are fairly distinct (even though they're all you, I presume).  They don't "blend" in a traditional sense, where they become one extended voice--and I mean this in a very positive way.  It's a great effect.

The keyboards were a bit distracting to me, actually.  IIWYP, I think I'd make them more subliminal--lower in the mix but with a ton of reverb so that they would spread across panorama.

[Oldrottenhead]

wow nelson i was already impressed with the original but the panning of the guitars and the added vocals make this version very special. if i remember rightly on your first version i said simply stunning or something. the same applies to this version but more. regarding the keyboards i too find them distracting, i would actually remove them  from the song as i believe your voice and guitars will still carry the song.

that said this is one very special song and your vocals are ............. i was gonna say stunning but ive ran out of words to describe how good your voice sounds.

[Oldrottenhead]

Ps : I hope the volume is ok.
Every time I export from Br  the volume is low any tips on that?

what exactly do you mean nelson. what br model do you have? there could be a number of reasons for this. on the micro br, it could be at some point you have turned down the master level and forgot to turn it back up again. master level i think defaults at 100.

[henwrench]

What a voice, what a voice..... Bang on!!

                                                              henwrench

[Tony W]

I too am still on the fence with the keys Nelson. I originally envisioned the keys at this level, but panned across the spectrum, not to just the left side. I don't know whether to try it spread across the panorama like Ted suggested, or to Let the guitars and vocals stand on their own like Jim.

I do see that the consensus is, something should be done differently with the keys though. Interesting that all 3 of us used the word "distracting"

On to the good. The production on the guitars reached an entirely new level, and I hope you enjoyed the difference in quality as much as I did. The re-worked vocals are fantastic, and the harmonies were spot on.

one point of interest, and it may be workable. I have massive hearing loss in my left ear, The keys were barely detectable, they were so subtle that I could barely hear them. When I flipped the cans (a ritual for me) The keys became a distraction again. If you want to keep them, you may back the level off to the point where you nearly strain to hear them. I think they add value to the song at that point.

[Bluesberry]

You have a very original and appealing voice Nelson.  It really is good, expressive, kinda  haunting.  Very good job.  I think the thing with the keys is not what is played, note wise they sound great, I see what you were trying to do.  It may be the sound, kinda cheesy sounding strings, it doesn't go with the authentic roots sound of your guitar and singing.  Harmonica would have sounded better for example, or maybe even something like soft brass sound.  I am just trying to think what sound would go better, but the keys do add to this, the notes really work.  Maybe think about a different keys sound.  Piano for example, playing those same notes.  Or a single fiddle line.  Thats the way I hear it.  Singing wise, you have a great voice for this kind of song, really sounds good.

[Ted]

I like your suggestions, BB.

[Ferryman_1957]

Sounds much better to me, this is much more open and the song come across much better. I think where you take it from here really depends on what you want to do, and what kind of production "style" you want to develop. This sounds so much better, and your voice is great, it really has gone up to another level. Everything from now on is personal opinion, there's no right or wrong.

So here's what I'd do (but just my personal opinion):

- I'd put the lead vocal smack bang in the middle. I felt the song was unbalanced with it off to the right, especially when you bring some great "answering" harmonies in later in the song, which are centre and left.

- I'd put a bit more reverb on the vox as they seem a bit dry now there is so much "space" in the song

- The keys work for me. I quite like them that way although I agree the sound is a little dry, so more reverb or something like a richer sound would help. But they are much better IMO.

Well done though, this really sounds so much better and lets the song "breathe".

Cheers,

Nigel

[Satchwood]

Nice remix improvements ~ luv the steady guitar picking and your vocals & harmonizing!!  I think i'm starting to like the strings more, must be growing on me