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Author Topic: mixing tips  (Read 2420 times)

taylordeupree

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mixing tips
« on: February 06, 2012, 03:47:04 pm »
thought i'd start a new thread and make it a sticky as well... where people can share tips on getting better mixes. go ahead and add some recommendations. i'll start....

mono mono mono !


i like to record my sources in mono as much as possible. makes for better stereo imaging and clarity when mixing everything in the end. of particular difficulty is today's modern synthesizer, hardware or soft. the presets for these things tend to be drenched in so many effects so they sound good by themselves and this is usually not a good thing for a mix.

i'll only record a synthesizer in stereo if the effects or some other attribute really NEEDS to be in stereo. as well, one or two stereo sources on top of a bunch of mono elements can be a good thing of course...

but just watch the piling up of stereo sources. tends to get muddy real fast.

jórgos

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Re: mixing tips
« Reply #1 on: February 06, 2012, 04:54:41 pm »
I agree on mono and yes, stereo sources tends to get muddy.
Most of the times all my sources are in mono and then i would just create the stereo effect.
Most often i use delays panned to the opposite direction from my original sources (of course with a great care in volumes to preserve the balance) and slightly different EQs.
Also in some mixes i like to fill the harmonic gaps by using synthesizers or "ambient" sounds made mostly with guitars (like Phil Spector did in Wall of Sound but with strings)

Great thread!!!

landtitles

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Re: mixing tips
« Reply #2 on: February 06, 2012, 09:06:38 pm »
the best trick that i've come across is turning off the monitor, i find i can
"listen" better.  i find this works not just for mixing but  for arranging also

i think sometimes your eyes make you think that what you are seeing on the screen trick you into thinking it sounds good or sounds right maybe

i read about this in tape-op awhile ago and  didn't think much of it, but it works great
i guess up until the 80's the only thing engineers were looking at was the mixing board and maybe a line of coke   ;)

this thread is a great idea, mixing is definitely the hardest part

lt

Le Berger

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Re: mixing tips
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2012, 12:13:09 am »
I'm pretty sure I've made half of the mistakes in the book and it's a safe bet the other half is on its way.
So, make mistakes?  :P

I do remember reading that mono bit from Taylor on here and it's definitely helped me...

Using buses both for specific effects & tracks and then for CPU workload is pretty convenient, plus it's neater and less cluttered somewhat. I definitely don't use them for everything though.

One thing I used not to do (and realize I should have more often than not) is save different versions the work during the process, step away from it when need be and get back to it with fresh ears. Or listen to the alternate mixes in different settings (the car, living room, while cooking dinner, etc.) I find the different levels of attention and time away from the studio help me gain new perspective, and sometimes something I liked better at first I'll get jaded with easily and something else that seemed dull will shine through.

It also prevents ear fatigue, focusing too intently on the material and EQing endlessly and so on can become taxing. So if I simply try alternate mixes and figure out which one I like better over the course of a few days / weeks, it's much easier to set to work again and bring the mix where I want it.

Monitor off is also a great recommendation. Can't argue there.

I also am particularly fond of listening to every track individually, muting off the complete mix, when everything is piled together your ears easily get fooled it seems and some lesser things get drawn into it without your noticing at 'first glance'. Also toying with muting specific tracks, just leaving two or three combined, etc. Again something I used not to do... and now makes me drop a cumbersome track from the mix more often than not.

I don't really know what I'm doing, but I like to entertain the idea that I learn as I go.

rené

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Re: mixing tips
« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2012, 04:44:40 am »
Yep, I learnt to record in mono the hard way.

Another topic:

I feel that eq-ing in software is quite "dangerous", so if you record your audio material, just remember: "shit in, shit out".

Always make sure to record a signal you are happy with and in case eq-ing is necessary, remove, do not push them. That being said: feel free to ignore this, it might yield resulting results... <- this is true for mostly any mixing "rule".

jórgos

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Re: mixing tips
« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2012, 05:01:38 am »
Always make sure to record a signal you are happy with

I agree on that.

i like to record my sources in mono as much as possible. makes for better stereo imaging and clarity when mixing everything in the end. of particular difficulty is today's modern synthesizer, hardware or soft. the presets for these things tend to be drenched in so many effects so they sound good by themselves and this is usually not a good thing for a mix.

i'll only record a synthesizer in stereo if the effects or some other attribute really NEEDS to be in stereo. as well, one or two stereo sources on top of a bunch of mono elements can be a good thing of course...

but just watch the piling up of stereo sources. tends to get muddy real fast.

what about external audio effects. Do you also record only the left output of the wet signal? or you use left and right signal in different channels ?

Koda

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Re: mixing tips
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2012, 10:05:59 am »
All great replies and a great thread!

I find having a good friend who is a professional recording studio engineer helps my confidence.

Also, I try to get as much done outside the box regarding sound quality and level. I don't like working too much ITB. I find it to be a slippery slope.

And I'm a long time subscriber to TAPE OP!

taylordeupree

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Re: mixing tips
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2012, 10:27:53 am »
external audio effects .. if they're spacious ones.. like reverbs, etc.. i always record stereo. if it's a simple filter or even a non-panning delay, i'll record that in mono.. but if the signal really WANTS to be stereo, then let it be.

good tip from rené... that all rules are made to be broken!


what about external audio effects. Do you also record only the left output of the wet signal? or you use left and right signal in different channels ?

Le Berger

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Re: mixing tips
« Reply #8 on: February 29, 2012, 11:22:17 pm »
Disclaimer: I've had a duo of Russian imperial stouts, and however delicious, they impair judgment. This is gonna be fussy and mostly intended at getting under René's skin.  :P

Always make sure to record a signal you are happy with

I say fuck that.
Okay, not as a be all end all rule, especially if you have the time, space, equipment, etc. (latitude) to do more takes and get the take where you want it, toy with your gear & material & rehearse until that magic moment happens.

But that's the thing, if all you have is a crappy board, no DI, a hum in the background, no compressor, it peaks at -6dB yet the RMS is -32dB, if during that take you hit something that you absolutely love and could listen to endlessly, what then? I'm not making a praise for low-fi, but when low-fi is your situation you can still find solace in musicality, artistry, resourcefulness, etc. and come up with things that still fulfill you creatively not in spite of, but in light of / with the means at hand.

and in case eq-ing is necessary, remove, do not push them. That being said: feel free to ignore this, it might yield resulting results... <- this is true for mostly any mixing "rule".

That's the part where I'm being fussy, but for example convolution reverbs, they work rather poorly on mid-highs to higher frequencies, getting them to sparkle and come to light, even in the box, is pretty essential. (learned the hard way...  :-\ )

jórgos

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Re: mixing tips
« Reply #9 on: March 01, 2012, 07:44:12 am »
For some time now i mix in stems and i find this technique really helpful for my mixes. So, i create sub-mixes for the entire guitars, drums, vocals, fx-vocals etc. and then i "create" the master track.
I can control the volumes and the effects much easier that way. Also it is really helpful if you want to do parallel compression on the drums track.

billygomberg

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Re: mixing tips
« Reply #10 on: March 01, 2012, 10:43:06 am »
reverb on it's own bus y'all
« Last Edit: March 04, 2012, 09:42:46 am by billygomberg »

rené

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Re: mixing tips
« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2012, 07:02:16 am »
In case Sam is trying to confuse you or twist your words...


Le Berger

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Re: mixing tips
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2012, 11:30:30 am »

moize

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Re: mixing tips
« Reply #13 on: March 05, 2012, 11:51:13 am »
I think from my experience in using different equipment and working processes to create, is that those 'rules' that might work well using one method, won't work as well in others.
I am thinking perhaps more specifically when comparing the use of multiple sequenced hardware synths etc with more classic routing on a mixer with external fx etc, compared to that of a more segmented stages of creating, using software and sound processing, perhaps no time line, and generally a less fixed process of creation.
I have found when using the laptop/computer for the majority of the work with the sounds, how I create, how fast, the gap to refresh my ears, the screen, not moving around the studio and the difference of standing to sitting have all been a difficult transition.
For me personally, and for what I consider is important for sound exploration, is that all techniques are just  methods to bring sound into a particular and desired result with consideration to that genre and where that genre might be sound wise, at that particular time.
I have always felt that in electronic or experimental music, generally it has been in the final presentation of the sound, that has fallen to the more classic idea of 'correctness'.
Obviously none of this is right or wrong, but I felt it was an area of interest when considering the choices in recording techniques and what we consider 'good' sound and what we don't.
I feel it is not so much a question of using a 'particular' technique that should be the focus, but more to have an understanding of what each technique can bring to something 'if' it is picked, after all, everything should be a viable and useable technique.

jórgos

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Re: mixing tips
« Reply #14 on: July 05, 2012, 08:34:26 am »
A great tip for mixing a track is to try to hear it in reverse when you're done with it. That way your mind escapes from the harmony and the total procession of the music and you can concentrate more on reverb tails and especially on dynamics (compressors, limiters etc.) It sounds a little odd i know but it works for certain parts.

Also another great tip for improving stereo sources. If, for example, you have record some acoustic guitars try with an EQ to cut everything below 300-400 Hz to get rid of noises from the microphones or from the studio and then pan hard left and hard right. You will notice immediately that your source will spread much wider in the stereo image.

cheers!