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There's a fairly strong mixing element that seems strange to me - if you don't mind me pointing it out. ... In your track the background harmony vocals are not in the 'background'. At several places, they are considerably louder than the main vocal ... I would cut them at least 6 dB for each side. I would also try to put them behind your main vocal, like what would happen on a sound stage. Listening to panning on most of those (reference) tracks, the BGVs are very often center panned. ... But in every case in every one of these songs, there is no doubt about the main vocal being quite a bit louder than the bgvs.


I think that is quite a perceptive opinion. I have been listening to some youTube videos where the harmonies are often the same volume as the lead vocal (I can't remember a great example -- but the civil wars do that a lot). I can't say that I meant to do that here, but it sort of turned out that way (ha, ha). I also thought that the lead vocal was really getting drowned out in the last chorus, but I see you think it is everywhere. I will knock a few dB of of the BGV's and I was think of adding a doubled lead vocal line for the last chorus -- it needs more umpff. Also an interesting point on the panning of BGV's. I am thinking of leaving them panned wide here -- but I see no reason NOT to experiment on that item.

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2. I can kind of understand the tympani roll to some extent, but it buries everything else in the mix when it comes in. What does it sound like when it's not in there? -Scott


Someone mentioned that the key change section made the interlude a little long (even if it is a fairly short song). I tried to add that timpani roll and me on a conga (roland spd-20) to just add some "interest". I was going after that russ kunkle roll that he does on the Jackson Browne "for Everyman" album. I could cut it out, but I need to play with it some more before I give up on it. I should go back and listen to the russ kunkle roll and see what happens to all the other instruments while that is happening.


Thanks for the in-depth, considerate observations.

Kevin

Now at bandcamp: Crows Say Vee-Eh @ bandcamp or soundcloud: Kevin @ soundcloud