what's wrong with my mix?

[timboblackbo]

I've had some great feedback from a lot of people on here before so I was hoping for some advice on this one:

Distant Shores (by "mistrust")

It's more of my usual stuff - sort of laidback and drifty, but I've sort of got bogged down with it. How can I make it clearer and stand out? Should I just scrap it and start again?

There's a lot of expertise on this forum and I trust your opinion!!!

[IIRs]

How can I make it clearer and stand out? Should I just scrap it and start again?

Turn down the pad! Its nice, but leaves little room for the other elements.. I think the vocoder part needs some eq: a cut around 300Hz and a treble boost: the top end might benefit from an enhancer of some kind..

Best I can do atm, I'm listening on headphones at work..

[shamann]

I'd actually like to hear a version without the pad altogether. I really dig the background and vocoded parts, but the string pad just washes over everything else and for me detracts from the minimal approach you took with the other sounds.

Once the pad is gone you might find some parts where some embellishment or structural changes fit. I also think the bass end of the vocoded part might be to boomy, probably because in mixing you were trying to compete with the volume of the all-intrusive pad.

I should also add that I rarely like such synth pads, as I find they tend to be schlocky and too reminiscent of hyper-polished new age dreck.

But underneath I really do think there is good track in there.

Cheers,
Steve

[timboblackbo]

Thanks for the advice. I think you're both right about the pad. It just drowns some of the vocals. I guess it may sound better taking the minimal approach. I'll try reworking the track using the ideas you both suggested. I was also thinking about mixing the vocoded vocals in with the original words I sung myself. Is the world ready for my singing?!!!

Thanks again for the tips.