Too Much LOW MIDS! Viewer Mix Critiques #2

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Grab your free Mixing Cheatsheet to learn the go-to starting points for EQ and compression in heavy mixes: hardcoremusicstudio.com/mixcheatsheet

[@MadSonStudios]

brother you are such a good mixer and teacher. My mixes have gotten so much better i am so grateful to you. You rock

[@bobbyweezer]

A final A/B listen of the mixes after your tweaks ('before/after') would be really great! Thanks loads for your vids.

[@xicoamc]

absolutely

[@shredmore3049]

well, that's tough to do since he's only EQing the master in these videos. The part at 8:43 for example. He explains it's going to make the bass and kick worse because he's using a middle EQ to focus on the vocals at that moment. He would need access to all of the tracks for each song (not to mention a good bit of extra time) to do a A/B that reflects all the recommended changes.

[@spherodite5208]

Hey Jordan, thanks for reviewing my mix! Can Yildirim here (mixed the 3rd song on this list). Yes it is a live recording from a gig in 2021. By the way this song was mastered by a mastering engineer and released recently and the engineer pretty much did similar eq and compression moves as you did very quickly there! Great awareness! Also, guitars going out of tune is a real pain in the neck for live shows : (

[@ouzmu]

on numaraydı

[@still616]

Some awesome songs here! Songwriting is still alive! 🤘

[@eliasbeckermusic]

Thank You for featuring me in this video! Much appreciated!

[@cellcasket]

Hey Elias, very nice Song! Good work! When will it be released and what's the Artists Name?

[@JirehAsis]

Hey Elias, is this song released already? May I ask the artist's name? I love the song!!!

[@jamesaltonmusic5573]

Great song Elias. I really dig that chorus a lot. Found you on Spotify, looking forward to the release✌️

[@eliasbeckermusic]

Hey, this is a song that I wrote/ produced and mixed by myself! Glad you like it! The official release on it will be on October 13th 2023! Stay tuned! :)

[@The458fan]

I know we are all here for the mixing, but the music was awesome.

[@joelarmendariz8876]

good tips for mixing, and all songs/mixes are well done kudos to the artists...

[@okaight7248]

I was pretty impressed with most of the tracks in these mixes. Sounds like actual well thought out songs regardless of my own personal taste. Real good focus on either hooks, and that weird experimental sax track was sick!

[@spherodite5208]

Thanks for the comment on the weird instrumental sax, my sax player will be happy ❤ you may wanna check out the full version "Kiss n Fly - Live at L'Ampérage" by Bend the Future

[@seriousbassface]

@@spherodite5208 So it was in fact live? How did you go about recording it?Sounds great for a live recording!

[@spherodite5208]

@@seriousbassface hey, thank you! I wasn't the one who set the mics up but it wasn't anything special really. A Midas 32 console + regular live mics like sm57 on the snare, some beta58, some MD421kinda of stuff. Bass had both amp and DI signal so I blended them both, and synthd directly DI. I did add some triggered snare and kick in the mix but not replaced the original because it sounded pretty good. The most problematic to mix was the sax with a clipped shurebeta98 I think. Captures a ton of 3k, really annoying and has almost no low end, but then you are more mobile on the stage : ) I even had to use the lead and back vocal mics (sm58) that captured the audience a little bit and had to use a reverb that could simulate the size of the venue - we didn't have anything set up for the crowd. You can check out the full video of that particular performance with mastered sound on KZbin. Cheers 🍻

[@seriousbassface]

@@spherodite5208 Very nice! I'll definitely check out the mastered version and thanks for replying! I've been kind of stuck figuring out how to get a better live recording while being stubborn about using drum triggers lol. Might have to just give it a shot finally, thanks again for the info and nice job!

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

I appreciate it!

[@23rdJar]

"Roasted" is an overstatement. Give yourself credit for being a very kind teacher

[@ronallen2458]

I applaud your ability to listen and critique across genres like that. Super good feedback that they can take action on immediately for better results. I also like that you threw in additional ideas for opening up the mixes creatively. Seems like a good use of your time, their time, and our time!

[@DrProgNerd]

These videos are a huge help. This is all still very new to me. I'm starting to be able to pick out the problem frequencies. Still have a long way to go, but I'm making progress. Thanks for the lessons. BTW - huge thanks to those who submitted mixes. Your mixes are better than anything I can do at this point.

[@bobbyweezer]

Same

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

Thanks man. I've worked really hard at writing/recording/mixing/mastering. Keep it up

[@maxgothamofficial]

I don't see many channels with this straight to the point content, only 5 minutes in and learning already. Subbed!

[@mylespetruskavich1553]

Really cool to see your experimentation on these songs. I know it's really different from an actual project with separate tracks, but just getting an insight into your thought process and the tools you use to address certain issues is really interesting.

[@JHWH213]

Now THIS is the stuff I subscribed for! Your mix feedback is some of the most useful on KZbin, keep it up!

[@gabriel_levi]

Really dig this series. Will have to get in on the next one. Thanks for the great content!

[@hygro9625]

This is awesome you gotta keep doing these.

[@miramardrive]

Love the Angels & Airwaves vibes of the first song!

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

Thank you! That was the inspiration.

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

Jordan, thank you for showcasing my song and critiquing the mix/master. I learned a lot. I'll definitely be applying some changes and adding another level of delay to the intro. You're a true professional. My band will be releasing an EP very soon. Comment below if you're interested in hearing more 👇

[@antonycharest4719]

I want to ear this when it’ll release for sure. I really love the blink vibe

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

​@@antonycharest4719I can let you know! I'm working on the other songs now

[@antonycharest4719]

@@AlexFarleyMusic what is the band’s name?

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

​@@antonycharest4719we haven't decided yet. We played together in high school and are in the writing/production stage right now

[@alessandrosummer]

Yeah that's a great song. I'd have increased the vocal tracks doing more doubles and harmonies in the choruses but that's just me. Great job and I'm looking forward to hearing it with Jordan's suggestions!

[@steveweilhart2359]

crazy how developed your ear is Jordan - if we want to get better in our craft we need to hear from seasoned pro's as yourself to expose our weaknesses - I'VE been roasted also in mix submissions - it helped though - your mix cheat sheet is awesome now I have locked in starting points and go from there -

[@carazy123_]

This was a great one! Lots of good tracks and I loved hearing the adjustments using mid-side eq-really helped me pick out what you were doing so I could learn from it.

[@jondriver9069]

Watching a master diagnose problems so quickly is a joy to watch and incredibly helpful. Great series

[@champagnecasuals]

From a home studio mixer I think the reason people put reverb on their mixes is because it's what people are used to in rehearsal rooms for live performances. It makes you sound better live, but not in mixes.

[@Schallkoma_Rockenberg]

i am a huge fan of techno, trance and house ..... but those " rock metal " tracks in the video are awesome. i should listen to more rock. awesome sad that u dont have any techno mix tutorials ;)

[@j-station]

KIND of a B182 vibe? I legit thought it was them lol Thanks for the vid and thanks to the artist for sharing!

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

That's a huge compliment! Thank you.

[@ktreier]

I think I learn more from these mix review videos than from anything else. Thanks Jordan.

[@jakebranchaud6317]

Have any of these songs been released, hopefully they've taken your advice to heart. If so can you add the streaming links

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

The first song was my band, we are releasing some covers through Pacific Ridge Records this month. We'll release originals shortly after. I'll be sure to share links here once we have those songs out.

[@ChasingJordanK]

I heard Misha talk about low mid build-up a few years ago and to over compensate I would just dip everything aside from the drums from 150 to 500. It clears out space for the snare but makes the mix extremely thin. Tough balance to find.

[@danny_HP]

Feel like this is the number one toughest part about mixing! Low mid balance is so integral to how the song comes together. Back in the djenty 2010's everybody completely obliterated this frequency range but now we are coming back to liking warm mixes

[@alrecks619]

@@danny_HP you can notice in djent/sumeriancores during 2010s that the lower midrange are oftentimes being cut to make way for the snare, and the bass is just there to add something to the kick and guitars rather than being its own instrument.

[@Markgov]

If you're having issues with frequency build up, I would figure out which sources are causing those build ups and fix those instead of just broadly scooping almost everything in that area. If it's palm mutes on guitar for example, you could automate an eq cut on those parts only or use a multi band compressor. You can even sometimes just have an eq cut in that area that stays on the during the entire song, just make sure it's not making the guitars sound too thin in other parts of a song. You always want to have a reason for doing each move you make in a mix. Don't just automatically do something because you saw someone else do it in a video, especially if there was no reason or benefit to doing it to your mix in the first place.

[@Jazzguitar00]

Listen to some of the old Faceless recordings....and you'll hear what it sounds like when you take all the mids out.

[@ONETEE.HENDRIX]

Yo I love that first band fr!!!! Who is it???

[@zeclomal2265]

I have only listened to the first mix so far, but I really dig it! That pop punk Blink 182 vibe is just the kind of music I make.

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

Thank you! I appreciate that. I'm very happy with the song.

[@NicholasFRSTMRNE]

def a fan of your videos. i do think you should mention that a lot of your critiques could be interpreted as taste. keep up the great work and the great videos.

[@Markgov]

Thanks for checking out the track and all of the helpful feedback. I've learned a lot from watching your videos :)

[@fv5986]

Great track! When will it be released?

[@Markgov]

It's already released. You can search up Along The Lines - Brand New Start if you want to listen to the full song.

[@alexmurphynj]

I really enjoyed this breakdown session.

[@karolkozak64]

This is amazing! thanks for doing these and to all the ppl submitting their music for a detailed review. good job guys!

[@MarcusCarlzon]

Great video and I really like your feedback and you are very good at explaining what you hear and how to fix it. The last song is a banger too! Elias Becker's song

[@Iammarcusg]

This was my issue with my first debut work. I thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge for us 😊🤘🏽

[@ashleydines144]

I loved this. I could watch these all day

[@joelsimon3213]

You Know this is your new thing right? These videos are too good! Thank you for taking the time.❤

[@T-BOUNCING]

SCIENTIFIC AUDIO ENGINEER...YOU IMPRESS ME WITH YOUR SILENCER ❤❤

[@GrootGuitar]

Gah! Missed round 2. These are a treat, keep up the great work! 🤘🦖

[@polpottopg]

The top end on the drums part was badass

[@11ivvvv]

loved that first song wow

[@mmarston15]

Yeah who is it!?

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

​@@mmarston15it's me man. I'm prepping a release for an old band I'm resurrecting

[@robertsimpson5801]

Jordan, you have said in past videos that you started making your own drum samples. Would you mind doing a video on how exactly you did that? I am a PPS member, and I did not see anything in there specifically about how you made your own samples, but admittedly, I have not gotten all the way through the system yet!

[@23rdJar]

Would also love to see a video like this

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

sure, can discuss this at some point inside the program!

[@HangtheTyants]

Dude, great songs... Much love.

[@gustavoviana2]

Your tips are really amazing and I think they can make any mix sound way more professional. However, I have an honest question. Isn't tone control and balance part of the Mastering Process as well, even if everyone knows better mixes mean better final results? Thanks!

[@blingbullie]

Ooo boy all these tracks are fire 🔥 please do provide links to these tracks when they are available…

[@alvarorodriguezfilmmusic]

fantastic video!

[@chriszellmusic]

a lot of these issues can be attributed to monitoring environment problems. such as not hearing low mids correctly and boosting too much.

[@martywitzberg]

Very angels and airwaves style sounded neat. Your recommendations were spot on

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

Thanks man!

[@martywitzberg]

​@AlexFarleyMusic are you able to tell us what artists the track was done by? If not all good

[@grungefire]

This was a very good exposure to what's what. Thanks. Edit: All the songs were great but I personally loved the last song.

[@dtrmnts]

When you highlight a section of the track and apply fx is it automating it to only that section that you highlighted? If so I need to figure out how to do that in reaper

[@rom4486]

4 biggest problems are , 1 ) hearing which frequencies needs to be cut , boost, and leave alone , 2 ) understanding relationships between frequencies , boosting or cutting frequencies Will effect other frequencies , 3) getting your midrange sounding super nice is the key !! 4 ) your mix should sound perfect in mono !! Your ears are the most important tool , no speakers , plugging , hardware will get you the sound

[@taterfight]

Love this series. I am sad that I didnt get the notification about this round. I would love to get your thoughts on my band's recent mix.

[@oliverqueen3434]

I really like your videos, even i work with different genre then you. So much good informations. I would like to see you testing Slate VSX headphones especially because they have NS10s with and without Subwoofer.

[@SpencerAnnis]

Love these videos man, looking forward to the next submission round! Have an awesome indie folk/rock song by an artist named Rakey that I’d love the chance to have checked out. Really looking to excel in that niche, so yeah, looking forward to a possible chance to submit to ya!! Keep it up man.

[@GilBeloGil]

So Tom's secretly mixing his own new side project, and wanted some professional opinion, I see what he's doing...

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

That sir, is the biggest compliment I've ever received

[@daniel.ferraz.music.youtube]

Amazing and value content, thanks

[@godbeard9327]

Loved that last song, don’t suppose anyone knows the band/song ?

[@jeffpollitt138]

Awesome tunes and mixes, Great critiques Jordan

[@matttorrence2900]

Man, this guy is good.

[@konstantingubanov4687]

Just an idea for the next round - let us listen the entire song (or half at least) and make our notes to compare those with your considerations afterwards. That would be also interesting ;) I like these video series a lot, anyway 🤘

[@BurntMcgurnt]

What was the name of that track by Mark? man that was awesome and also actually liked the verb on the vocals damn good!

[@Markgov]

Thank you. The band is named Along The Lines and the song is called Brand New Start. They were really awesome to work with.

[@BurntMcgurnt]

@@Markgov thanks man awesome I did really like your mix

[@ScottyWiard]

I think everyone took your “don’t cut out all the low mids” advice too far and now have the opposite problem lol

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

Maybe! haha

[@Jazzguitar00]

It's hilarious watching this because I always have to put a big old multiband compressor at 100 on my bass. It's one of these things I've just had to accept I need to do with my basses and sometimes I have to do a lot.

[@Quant-Beat]

What's the full name of that Mark Foreign mix?

[@corknakovastein]

Where do we get to download the tracks for future mixes?

[@bobbyweezer]

So useful... thanks for these vids

[@cellcasket]

Hey Jordan, nice Video as always! We are working at new Songs right now. Maybe I'm lucky enough to have them ready for the next Episode 😄

[@coldhardtruth333]

What’s this DAW? I want one .. and where do I send a song to be reviewed?

[@GeorgeAmodei21]

Thanks for making these Vids for us!

[@vinny2280]

Sounds like Tom delonge it’s kinda funny great vid as always! I always learn something new.

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

He's the voice inside my yead

[@sammyjaylove]

I have a few songs I would like to submit for critique! Do I send them to your email with a specific subject?

[@Ri_Guy]

What is the plug-in he is using for EQ?

[@mercifulldestruction6428]

I feel like drums were too quiet in the chorus of the first song but maybe that's just me. Please respond

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

I recorded, mixed, and mastered the first song. I've responded

[@mercifulldestruction6428]

​@@AlexFarleyMusichey man. Is it just me or the drums are too quiet in the chorus. It might be just me cause when I mix i usually have drums pretty loud so the kick and the snare are really in ur face.

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

@@mercifulldestruction6428 I'll reassess and let you know. As someone who put countless hours into the song, it's common to lose sight of the overall mix.

[@WatanabeDarko]

They really sound like the original Blink 182 lol

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

You just made my day

[@forsidekhan5405]

Thank you!

[@BobbyCrane]

How can I hire you for mixing and mastering?

[@MikeRendar84]

VERY good songs! :D

[@stevedendera]

Jordan, what made you reach for Infinity EQ rather than Pro-Q? I use Infinity as I can't afford Pro-Q right now. Would like to know your thoughts on it?

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

I don't have Pro-Q... was looking for an eq I owned that did mid/side and found infinity! I don't use it in normal mixing.

[@stevedendera]

@@hardcoremusicstudio any reason you don't use infinity? I have heard mixed reviews on it.

[@robertsteinberger]

I see you've moved on from the Waves EQ. Kinda liked that you were still using it.

[@hardcoremusicstudio]

I still use it a ton when i'm mixing... I just started using this other one so I could split mid/side EQ for the purpose of adjusting things in these mixes.

[@Dupontcore]

Who is the artist? Dude is on the MONEY for Angels and Airwaves vibes.

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

That would be my and my band. We'll be releasing an EP in the next year.

[@ahawk706]

Was really hoping my mix gets selected but can't have everything my way. But great video as always

[@tuti9345]

That second mix had straight Joey Sturgis vibes

[@Jazzguitar00]

@@DerSilvano Most of the metalcore bands he's worked with were all mediocre (at best). In the early 2000s, people who were listening to Killswitch Engage, Dead to Fall, Misery Signals etc did not give a flying F____ about bands like Attack Attack. He definitely knows what he's doing and he has a great way of explaining his process.

[@barringtonjohnson6569]

Can yo mix a reggae track to see how you would do it?

[@mmarston15]

What band was the first song!?

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

It's an unreleased project from a band I'm resurrecting. We're currently working on an EP

[@mmarston15]

@@AlexFarleyMusic let me know when it’s released, sounds amazing!

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

@@mmarston15 you got it! I'll be back in the comments here soon 👌

[@BOODA575]

you ever mix any hip hop ?

[@1loveMusic2003]

Program drums are more work than real drums IMO but you need a proper studio so hours of velocity editing is what I do but it's worth it.

[@fressco]

Not my genre, but very helpful tips! And great to know what to listen for in a "bad" mix. Subscribed!

[@DavidDavis-FA-photog]

So much to learn form these vids. Thanks Jordan!

[@jarredbaca8112]

First guy def sounds like he was influenced by angels and airwaves

[@AlexFarleyMusic]

That's the AVA/blink inspired song on my band's upcoming EP

[@dylanvansavage9200]

This guy looks like he's mean to the waitress.

[@b.hornetiii.6771]

Low mids are the worst "enemy of the perfect mix" ...

[@Jazzguitar00]

I feel the opposite way because I keep hearing metal guitarists get into mixing and cutting everything out and the mix sounds thin and empty. Listen to a Jens Bogren mix and there's a lot of low mids in there, it's just very controlled.

[@b.hornetiii.6771]

@@Jazzguitar00 I'm talking about a mixes that go to proper mastering phase. If the mastering is like it should be, you'll get all your low mids back "no worry" because they are there ( in your mix) in massive amounts. If your mix is your final stage than I get it. And I was talking in general. You cut off low mids in some tracks of the mix (years of mixing, ears etc.) a lot (a novice would say) so you make that room for some other tracks to have that big low mids; and even there you cut here and there. There's almost no track in the mix when you don't cut some low mids? Why? Again: Mastering (limiting etc) blows up all that (excess) muddy stuff back in your face. You want to get that larger than life sound, without sounding like someone is singing and playing in the home kitchen. That's where the low mids take you if you let them live. :)) And not just mids, highs also. There is so much misinformation out there it's just crazy. You have to think not two, three steps ahead. Not just how the mix sounds.

[@EddySchmidt25]

Jordan BB!

[@josepapiii]

Bro congrats on ditching that outdated EQ 😂

[@deeagata-ne5id]

dude has to be a 2023 worship leader. he loves saturation music.

[@somerandomkiddooo]

Until u gain compensate.....it's not equal ;) ....or to be more precise FAIR

[@geneticsmatter3834]

Hahaha wtf is going on at 12:52 estrogen poisoning on the vocalist

[@kadiummusic]

Basically you've debunked the U2 myth in the first two minutes! 😁

[@MrMockigton]

someone is trying SO hard to sound like Blink :D

[@caterwaulerhomerecordings]

i think we’re experiencing a difference in opinion on the jazz song. the flat horn the low key dark-ish drums are likely the vibe that producer was going for. not pop punk or metalcore here.

[@caterwaulerhomerecordings]

even the compression- jazz is a more dynamic genre than what JV is usually working on.