Dayseeker’s “Sleeptalk”: Mixing Raw Multitracks with Henrik Udd

Ever dreamt of getting your hands on the raw multitracks from a massive-sounding band like Dayseeker? Well, you're in luck! We're diving deep into the session files for their hit "Sleeptalk," the very same tracks that mixing legend Henrik Udd (known for his work with Architects, Bring Me The Horizon, and more) is tackling for an exclusive Nail The Mix session. Produced by the increasingly renowned Daniel Braunstein (Spiritbox, Silent Planet), this session is a goldmine for anyone looking to up their metal and rock production game. Let's unbox these tracks and see what sonic goodness awaits!

The Raw Ingredients: Unpacking Dayseeker's "Sleeptalk" Session

First off, big props to Daniel Braunstein. The session for "Sleeptalk" is incredibly well-organized. We're talking clean edits, clearly labeled tracks, and uniform fades – the kind of tidiness that makes a mixer's heart sing. When you're dealing with a dense modern metal track, having everything neatly laid out means you can dive straight into the creative stuff without wrestling with messy files. Strip silence and region cleanup in your DAW become a breeze.

Drum Deep Dive: Real Kit, Programmed Kick?

The drum setup for "Sleeptalk" appears to be a hybrid approach, which is super common in modern metal.

• Real Snare & Cymbals: You can hear the organic feel of a real snare drum and cymbals, providing that human touch and dynamic range.
• Triggered/Replaced Kick: The kick drum sounds distinctively processed and punchy. It's highly likely this was either recorded with a trigger pad sending MIDI to a sampler (like a Roland TM-2 with an RT-30K trigger on an acoustic kick, or a fully electronic pad) or the original acoustic kick was sample-replaced entirely. This is a go-to technique for achieving that consistent, powerful low-end punch that cuts through a wall of guitars and synths, essential for the genre. Often, engineers will opt for this if the original kick performance isn't perfectly even, or if they know they want that specific, sculpted kick sound from the get-go.

Bass Foundation: DI & Amp Blend

No surprises here, but crucial nonetheless: we've got both a Bass DI track and a Bass Amp track. This classic combo gives you ultimate flexibility.

• Bass DI: Captures the clean, fundamental low-end and string attack. Perfect for re-amping later or using with amp simulator plugins like Neural DSP's Parallax or Darkglass Ultra.
• Bass Amp: Provides the grit, character, and mid-range growl.
  Blending these two signals is key. You might use the DI for the sub-bass and clean low-mids, and the amp track for the aggressive upper-mids and distortion. Parallel processing, perhaps with some saturation on the DI (think FabFilter Saturn 2) and EQ sculpting on both, will be essential to make it sit right with those kicks and guitars.

Guitar Powerhouse: Kemper Tones & Quad Tracking

The guitars in "Sleeptalk" are handled by Kemper Profiling Amplifier recordings, alongside DIs. And it looks like we're dealing with quad-tracking.

• Kemper Profiles: The session includes tracks recorded directly from a Kemper, meaning the core amp tones are already baked in. This is a popular workflow for consistency and getting great tones quickly.
• DI Tracks: Essential for re-amping if needed, or for layering with different amp sims for even more tonal variety.
• Quad Tracking: The session features four distinct rhythm guitar tracks (some intriguingly labeled "BTM"). This often means two separate performances are recorded for the left channel and two for the right, sometimes using slightly different amp profiles or settings for each pair. For instance, one pair might be a high-gain 5150-style profile, while the other is a more mid-focused Marshall-esque profile. Learning how to effectively blend these quad-tracked guitars is an art. It’s not just about panning; it’s about subtle EQ adjustments to make them complement rather than clash. Check out some EQ strategies for modern metal to understand how you might approach this. The goal is a wider, thicker sound than standard double-tracking, but it requires careful attention to phase and tonal balance. It’ll be fascinating to see how Henrik Udd approaches this, perhaps using techniques similar to what he's showcased before.

Layering the Atmosphere: Leads, Cleans, and Production FX

Beyond the core rhythm section, "Sleeptalk" is rich with layers that build its distinct atmosphere:

• Leads & Cleans: These guitar parts also sound like they were recorded with their effects (delay, reverb, modulation) printed, likely straight from the Kemper or through a pedalboard. This means the artist's intended vibe is already there, giving the mixer a strong creative direction.
• Production Elements: The usual suspects for modern metalcore are present – shakers for rhythmic texture, impacts for accentuating big moments, and risers for building tension. These small details can make a huge difference in the overall energy and polish of a track.
• Keys & Synths: Arpeggios and pianos add melodic and harmonic depth, a common trend that elevates the emotional impact of the genre. One particularly interesting element mentioned in the unboxing was a "crazy deep synth track." This likely refers to some powerful, stereo sub-bass synth content. Mixing this effectively is a challenge: you need it to be felt and add weight without muddying the low-end or fighting with the bass guitar and kick drum. Careful sidechain compression and precise EQ will be your best friends here.

Tackling the Vocal Mountain: Stems vs. Raw Tracks

Prepare yourselves for a mountain of vocals! The session contains upwards of 40 individual vocal tracks. This is where Daniel Braunstein's foresight shines.

• Vocal Stems: Thankfully, the session includes vocal stems – pre-mixed groups of vocals (e.g., lead vocal group, backing vocal harmonies, screams). These stems likely have some of Braunstein's initial processing baked in, providing a fantastic starting point and making the sheer number of tracks less daunting for mixers who prefer a more streamlined approach.
• Raw Vocal Tracks: For the truly adventurous (or those who want to build the vocal mix entirely from scratch), all the raw, unprocessed vocal tracks are also available. This offers maximum control but requires a meticulous approach to editing, tuning (if needed, with something like Melodyne or Auto-Tune Pro), and of course, mixing.
  When dealing with so many vocal layers, strategic use of compression is vital for modern metal to ensure everything glues together and cuts through the dense instrumentation. Bussing similar vocal parts together and applying processing like EQ, compression (maybe an 1176-style FET compressor for aggression or an LA-2A-style opto for smoothness), de-essing, saturation, delay, and reverb will be key.

What to Expect from Henrik Udd's Mix

Having Henrik Udd mix these "Sleeptalk" tracks is a massive treat. If you recall his Nail The Mix session for Architects, you'll remember his incredible guitar processing skills. It'll be insightful to see:

• How he manages the quad-tracked Kemper guitars to achieve clarity and power.
• His techniques for blending the real drums with the likely programmed kick.
• His approach to making the extensive synth layers and production FX sit perfectly within the mix without cluttering it.
• And, of course, how he handles that mountain of vocals to deliver a polished, impactful lead and lush backing harmonies.

This is a prime opportunity to learn how a top-tier metal mixer navigates a complex, modern production from start to finish.

Your Turn to Mix "Sleeptalk" with Nail The Mix

Feeling inspired? The best part is you don't just have to read about it. With Nail The Mix, you get access to these very same multitracks for Dayseeker's "Sleeptalk." You can load them into your own DAW and follow along as Henrik Udd mixes the song from scratch during his live, multi-hour session, explaining his every move.

Plus, you get the chance to submit your own mix of "Sleeptalk" into the NTM mix competition for a shot at winning an insane prize package from sponsors like Dialtune, KHE Audio, Sonnox, Neural DSP, Submission Audio, MasterTheMix, Bogren Digital, STL Tones, Drumforge, and URM Academy!

This is more than just getting cool tracks; it's about unlocking your sound by mixing modern metal beyond presets and learning directly from the pros who are shaping the sound of modern metal. Daniel Braunstein himself might even pop into the Q&A to share some production insights!

Don't miss out on this incredible learning opportunity. Head over to the Dayseeker NTM page to grab these multitracks and join the session.

The "Sleeptalk" session is a fantastic canvas, packed with well-recorded elements and creative production choices. Seeing how Henrik Udd brings it all together will be an invaluable experience. So, fire up your DAWs, get ready to learn, and happy mixing! We can't wait to hear what you do with these tracks over at Nail The Mix for the Dayseeker session.