MrSmithers
1K Club - QQ Shooting Star
So I’ve been taking a look into this absolute belter of an album. This was the soundtrack to my youth and is one of my favourite albums (along with Definitely Maybe). But it always sounded weird in multichannel and I think I just put it down to being difficult to mix because of the way it was recorded. Whilst that does play some part I have come to the conclusion there is more to it…
The way the album seems to be laid out -
Fronts - Main Vocals/Lead Guitar/Drums
Centre - Low Vocal/discrete instrument
LFE - Bass
Rears - Low vocals/mirror fronts/discrete instrument
However on certain songs the mix changes and I think this could be more down to a channel assignment issue when it went to pressing rather then it actually being mixed that way? To be honest I’m no expert on this and it’s not my place to second guess a professional engineer. And I know from the article that it was a mess to start with.... But the fact that Wonderwall has the bass mixed incorrectly makes me think there was a cock up with the channels on some of the songs… To me from She’s Electric on it sounds correct…. Here's my thinking....
Hello
Centre Speaker - Backing Vocals echo (seems to remember/mentions the weather etc) sound weird/overwhelming? Could sound better in the rears?
Roll With It
Follows mixing pattern apart from the first set of backing vocals don't match the rest of the track. All of a sudden there are drums in the centre and they seem to be quite high.
Wonderwall
Main Vocal at the beginning is in centre channel. Bass is in the centre and a cello is in the LFE - should be the other way around.
Don’t Look Back In Anger
Follows the mixing pattern - just slightly curious if the backing vocals at the end in the centre should have been put in Rear Left?
Hey Now
Not sure what’s happening here at all?! Centre channel seems to match the fronts exactly?
Swamp Song
Not mixed for surround.
Some Might Say
Follows the mixing pattern. I don’t remember it sounding that great though?
Cast No Shadow
Follows the mixing pattern - strings in the rears just sound a bit overbearing/slightly different pitch to the stereo version? Especially around the 2 minute mark!
She’s Electric
Follows the mixing pattern.
Morning glory
Follows the mixing pattern.
Swamp Song
Not mixed for surround.
Champagne Supernova
Follows the mixing pattern.
The way the album seems to be laid out -
Fronts - Main Vocals/Lead Guitar/Drums
Centre - Low Vocal/discrete instrument
LFE - Bass
Rears - Low vocals/mirror fronts/discrete instrument
However on certain songs the mix changes and I think this could be more down to a channel assignment issue when it went to pressing rather then it actually being mixed that way? To be honest I’m no expert on this and it’s not my place to second guess a professional engineer. And I know from the article that it was a mess to start with.... But the fact that Wonderwall has the bass mixed incorrectly makes me think there was a cock up with the channels on some of the songs… To me from She’s Electric on it sounds correct…. Here's my thinking....
Hello
Centre Speaker - Backing Vocals echo (seems to remember/mentions the weather etc) sound weird/overwhelming? Could sound better in the rears?
Roll With It
Follows mixing pattern apart from the first set of backing vocals don't match the rest of the track. All of a sudden there are drums in the centre and they seem to be quite high.
Wonderwall
Main Vocal at the beginning is in centre channel. Bass is in the centre and a cello is in the LFE - should be the other way around.
Don’t Look Back In Anger
Follows the mixing pattern - just slightly curious if the backing vocals at the end in the centre should have been put in Rear Left?
Hey Now
Not sure what’s happening here at all?! Centre channel seems to match the fronts exactly?
Swamp Song
Not mixed for surround.
Some Might Say
Follows the mixing pattern. I don’t remember it sounding that great though?
Cast No Shadow
Follows the mixing pattern - strings in the rears just sound a bit overbearing/slightly different pitch to the stereo version? Especially around the 2 minute mark!
She’s Electric
Follows the mixing pattern.
Morning glory
Follows the mixing pattern.
Swamp Song
Not mixed for surround.
Champagne Supernova
Follows the mixing pattern.