So I was lucky enough to get a multi-platinum and grammy-award-winning mixing engineer to evaluate three of my mixes (and one of The Saint's).
I don't want to say who he is to save him from getting spammed via e-mail or Facebook or Twitter or whatever, but he mixed THE biggest song of the last few years, and has credentials ranging from Michael Jackson and Madonna to Nas, David Guetta, and Nicki Minaj.
I found it extremely helpful to hear from someone with that experience what my mixes lacked (and what parts were strong)...and maybe it will be helpful for you guys to see what the evaluation and thought-process is of a master looking at an amateur's work is.
First beat:
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=10187863&q=hi&newref=1
The Feedback (for the most part):
In what I'd call the verse- you may want to add a
kick with a very long tail/sustain, or maybe even an 808. If you add an
808, make sure it's in the key of the song. It's frustrating to me
when I hear 808's in songs that are sharp, flat, or the wrong note
altogether. I think the bass could be presented much more aggressively.
It sounds a little 'stock' right now. Maybe mult it and place some
kind of overdriven distortion on it, and add that in under the bass so
you can hear it when solo'd with the bass, but more sensed than hear
when playing with the entire track.
Second beat:
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=10103335&q=hi&newref=1
The Feedback (for the most part):
Piano sounds 'too wide'. Actually, not too wide, just not mono
compatible. There's a lot of thing going on throughout the track that's
taking away from the punch and impact of it. Listen to it, hit the
mono button, you'll see what I mean. I like the VO guy.
Third beat:
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=10127341&q=hi&newref=1
The Feedback (for the most part):
this is my fav of the 4. Reminds me of Owl City, but more clubbish.
The kick could use a little more punch, and less in the 320hertz range.
You may re-look the top end on the kick (7k-10k?) range and use a
tight q and boost which may offset the mud/clutter I'm hearing on the
kick in the low mid range. I'd like to hear the parts panned out more.
There's a snap/ticky part that needs to come up a lot more, or be
muted. It's one of those parts that's distracting if tucked too much.
I'd pan the hihat more left, and the tick part to the right. I think
it would make your soundstage more exciting. Check it on headphones,
and you should see what I'm talking about. It's good, but isn't quite
living up to it's potential.
Fourth beat:
http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=10103438&q=hi&newref=1
The Feedback:
Similar issues with the mono compatibility as track 2. The cuts are
great. The overall energy is there. Clap/snare could use some love in
the 700-1k range. Overall could come up. It might me the mp3, but I'm
hearing some clicks in the track. Some of these sound like they are on
the cuts, but it also sounds like it could be happening on the bass. It
doesn't sound like vinyl noise, if that's something that you were going
for.
Anyway, this helped me a lot, maybe it helped you. Your boy is making moves, and always remember, no matter how you mix if you don't make good music it wont matter at all. Be yourself, not Vybe...and DEATH TO COOKIE-CUTTER BEATS 