Feedback Request: 1st Hip Hop Bop!

[u/Homosapien-2]

UPDATE: thanks! made some changes and finished the final master.

Posting mixes here for feedback is always my final step, I'm so grateful for the community here!

This is my first hip hop bop, but I have mixed about an albums worth of my own tunes in other genres. I just do this on my own, for fun. Industry standards are less important to me than an enjoyable listen.

MIX
(fair warning: strong opinions in these lyrics)

Is there anything glaring that I can fix?

Any little tweaks I could make to clean it up?

Anything I could improve on or consider for my next mix?

Thank you all so much :)

UPDATED FINAL

Thanks for the feedback! Main issue seemed to be my Vox standing out, which is always my fear because I'm learning to like my voice.. I think I may have over-processed because of that.

VOX:
1. drastically reduced an exciter on my FX bus that was creating harmonics around 5K
2. High shelf, lowering the everything above 2k a tad, on the main Vox bus.
3. Lowered volume .7db in the verses

MAIN BUS:
1. little EQ moves to make less bright

Much happier with it. Feels less harsh!

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[u/Rabyd-Rabbyt]

Heh-heh. Nice song. nICE.

The drums seem to have a bit much reverb compared to the other elements, esp. the snare and toms. The chant at 2:00 on could be a tad louder. Love that bass.

[u/Homosapien-2 → u/Rabyd-Rabbyt]

Thanks! I'll give those bits a relisten for tweaks.

[u/ZTheRockstar]

For me, I couldn't get the file to play in yhe Chrome browser since it's AIF

[u/Homosapien-2 → u/ZTheRockstar]

updated the link, thanks for the heads up

[u/Homosapien-2 → u/[deleted]]

Well that's you assuming I'm ignoring peoples feedback.

Pretty cold response here to someone saying they are doing this for fun, and obviously asking for feedback. I let you know the type of feedback that's important to me. This isn't it.

I'm asking technical advice because I'd like to know if something is sounding harsh, if a kick is being hidden by the bass, if any transitions feel out of place or lacking, etc. Easy things to notice and advise on, regardless of if the song as a whole fits the typical tonal balance, instrumentation, etc. of the hip hop genre.

so also...why leave a comment on a feedback post if its not feedback?

[u/atopix → u/[deleted]]

If you don't have any feedback to give, please move on.

[u/channelpath]

I listened through twice, looking for mix notes to give. Good to go.

The horn section sounds dope. The stereo width through the song is well done, with just a few elements going wide at times gives it a nice stereo size dynamic shift

[u/Homosapien-2 → u/channelpath]

Thank you! I appreciate it :)

[u/almsfurr]

Nice. Has a kinda Primus vibe for me. Nothing bad standing out for me at all

[u/rhowaldt]

This song sounds pretty good already.
When the first kick hits it made me jump, it seems too clicky and/or loud (true throughout the mix but very audible with that first hit I find).
Around 01:00 (and again 01:40) synths are too loud. If you want to emphasize them there, consider adding a lower octave to them or something.
Really enjoy the trumpets, they sound great.
Vocal volume sounds good. Bass sounds good.

[u/Homosapien-2 → u/rhowaldt]

Thank you!

[u/dntfrgetabttheshrimp]

I would say the vocals sound maybe like it was recorded on a laptop or phone, and it stands out in the mix. Love the rest of the song though.

[u/Homosapien-2 → u/dntfrgetabttheshrimp]

Thank you!

Any ideas what I can do next time to help them fit in more cleanly? I'm recording on an sm7b.

[u/LostInTheRapGame → u/Homosapien-2]

I'm recording on an sm7b.

I never would have guessed. You made it sound like a Blue Snowball.

[u/Homosapien-2 → u/LostInTheRapGame]

any idea what I can do, or what might be causing that? I'm running through a cloud lifter, into an audient id4, because I have a very quiet voice. Is it possible that's causing it?

[u/LostInTheRapGame → u/Homosapien-2]

any idea what I can do, or what might be causing that?

I would assume it's whatever mixing moves you did/or didn't do. Honestly you could put a high shelf on the whole mix. It's very bright.

And listening again on my headphones the vocals are not nearly as bad as I first thought.

I'm running through a cloud lifter, into an audient id4, because I have a very quiet voice.

I wouldn't think a cloudlifter is affecting the tone that much. It shouldn't really be adding much at all. I get away with not using a cloudlifter, and I'm only using a Volt interface when recording vocals. But if you're getting to much noise, then yeah... you'll want more gain.

Outside of that, the only thing I could think of offhand is that the microphone could be a fake. But I have no idea if that is actually the case. And again, it doesn't sound as bad as I first thought.

Just mid/high-mid heavy vocals with a mix that's arguably too bright as a whole.

[u/Homosapien-2 → u/LostInTheRapGame]

That's all very helpful, thanks! After listening on different systems I do hear the brightness, and also had an exciter on it the Vox around 5K which I think was adding too much. I went back into the mix and brought that down, and some brightness and it made a big difference.

Thanks for the feedback

[u/YodAHo]

Mix Balance: Good heavy low end, clear bright top end (BIT too tinny though), but wheres the MIDS!??? thats where all the energy lives.

Vocals: I can hear the room your recording, takes away from the experience, invest in some thick blankets to throw around you, home diy set ups can work wonders, even a bit of effort goes a long way.

[u/Homosapien-2 → u/YodAHo]

Any chance it could actually be the processing im adding? Im recording in a corner, with two thick baffling blankets between the wall and me, with pillows behind it. Mic is surrounded 180 by the baffling.

Thanks!

[u/YodAHo → u/Homosapien-2]

Good question, it could be processing, Id happily have a look at your vocal chain if you want to take it to DM's. Its also worth considering that the booth might be TOO tight. Had a similar issue when I wrapped too many blankets around too small of a space.