<pony><metal><original><instrumental> Descent into Madness

[Feedback]

https://soundcloud.com/genuinemarco/descent-into-madness

Really looking on some feedback on the mastering and mixing of this one. Did a lot of experimenting with automation, which I don't typically use too extensively, and I want to be sure it works. Consequently, it gave me much more trouble mastering than I'm used to. Pretty sure I got it though, and that aside, I'm pretty happy with it. Given my playing is a little rusty since I haven't had a lot of time to practice lately, and on top of that I don't usually play much metal, I think the tracks came out pretty well.

Song is essentially about Luna losing her mind while trapped on the moon. Cleanish guitar is supposed to represent her sanity and reason, the distorted guitar is supposed to represent the bitterness and envy that resulted in Nightmare Moon taking over.

Let me know what you think

[Feedback]

Which tracks can I ask were the ones that sound like they're recorded with USB? I admittedly got lazy with the rhythm tracks, both clean and dirty, so if it's those, then that's easier to go back and rework than if it's the lead tracks, in which case there'd be a bit more experimentation to fix it. I'm fine either way, just trying to get an idea of what needs what.

As for it having no dynamics, honestly, that was something I had a lot of concern about; I spent a good eight or so hours working with the compressors to try and keep it from distorting, and admittedly got a bit fed up at the end because I've been trying to get onto a regular pattern of one song a month, and as the post going up at 11 PM on June 29th suggests, I was pretty much inches from my deadline(I had work all day on the 30th, so that was off the table), so I just pushed the compressors up in frustration. That doesn't change that it's a flat mix, I'm just trying to explain that it's flat because of over-compression, because I figure explaining how/why it ended up as bad as it did can help figure out how to fix it.

[Feedback]

I'm aware that there's more to mixing than compressing. I was referring to mastering with hitting my head against a deadline for the compressors, and from what I was taught, most of mastering is using EQs, compressors, and faders to keep the track at a consistent, reasonable volume level. Unfortunately, the class where I learned about audio production had a lot of snow cancellations, so I never really learned much about bringing quiet parts up in volume for mastering, just loud parts down.

In that case I'll see what I can do about retracking the guitars. All of them were run into the VST amps in Logic, so I have the raw audio files of all of them. Run it into a POD, then record that, see if it sounds any better. If not, I'll try the same trick running into an amp and micing that. I've been trying to avoid using amps instead of digital sims because I can't get loud enough where I live to drown out the acoustic plinking of the strings in the background, but if it's needed to make the guitar sound alright, it's what I'll do.

[EpiPony]

I've heard pretty bad things about the VST amps built into logic, i'd reccomend getting third party amps. I've tried and verified that LePou ampsims are really amazing for mid and high gain, especially considering that they're free. They're up there with the POD HD/X3 tones, if not better, and you wouldn't have to rerecord everything. You'd need a cabinet simulator after that as well though, there's plenty of tutorials on how to do that. You could try the Torpedo wall of sound free plugin for example. Free tones and probably will make your stuff sound quite a bit better tone wise.

Apart from that it'd be a good idea to use some more effects than just the amp. You could use some delay and reverb and maybe some chorus to spice up the cleans. You could make the delay time match for that little extra. Leads are pretty sweet with some delay and reverb as well. Perhaps use an OD in front of the high gain tones to give them a bit more bite. Of course a noise gate is always useful with gainy tones but you probably already use one of those haha.

This is something that i personally have spent quite a bit of time with, trying to perfect my own tones. I hope you can use some of these tips haha

some links to make life easier:
LePou amp sims:
http://lepouplugins.blogspot.nl/
click on the right bar on the package of amps that you need (probably Mac AU or Mac VST)

Torpedo Wall of Sound:
http://www.two-notes.com/en/software/torpedo-wall-of-sound-3/
just click download, and click the plugin type that you need. it's that easy

[Feedback]

I'm going to have to rerecord the dirty rhythm parts anyway - I had the brilliant idea of using a real guitar pedal on them, so the distortion on there is part of the audio files. Will give those plugins a try with the lead and clean parts though.

[EpiPony]

I'm going to have to rerecord the dirty rhythm parts anyway - I had the brilliant idea of using a real guitar pedal on them, so the distortion on there is part of the audio files. Will give those plugins a try with the lead and clean parts though.

Haha okay cool. I'd really recommend those plugins for the rhythm and lead tones mainly though, they are all mid/high gain amp models. the clean channels have been modeled as well so that's pretty sweet, i tend to like cleans with a teeny tiny bit of gain, just below the point where it breaks up. The LePou amps do that very well IMO.
For rhythm guitars what kind of pedal did you use? solely distortion doesn't sound that great, i'd reccomend running that through a clean/mid gain amp model to get a more realistic sound as well. if you did use an amp sim on that already though that's cool as well. I can't really tell haha
In the end it's all about what YOU like most though, so i do encourage experimenting with many different things haha. We're just here to help guide you in a way.
There isn't a certain way things should be done and i'm not telling you that my way is the only way :P
I hope i could be of any help b0ss

[Feedback]

Well so far I'm about halfway through redoing the rhythm guitar parts, and it's going fairly smoothly. The real pain in the ass is going to be dedoing the solos, but I'm fine with doing it for the quality(Also for more dynamics, because the peaks in the redone tracks don't seem anywhere near as chaotic as before).

[Feedback]

Upon further review, I think I may end up completely redoing this piece. Way too many instruments taking up way too few frequencies, it's a nightmare to keep everything clear and level without compressing it to hell and back. Does sound a lot better with the POD than with the VSTs though. Can't wait for the day I can use a real amp again.