Do You Enjoy Mixing?

[cassmcentee]

I am with M, A & R on this...

same as M, I have many projects in the works and I jump back & forth with the projects AND jump back & forth tracking, mixing, tracking, stewing & mixing again

same as A, (though not professionally yet)

same as R, re: distractions... so I've learned to keep a track book and write down what I'm hearing while I'm stewing
that way I can allow myself the distractions but not lose my place in the edit department

[Kolstad]

Hi All!

Thank you so much for sharing your mixing joys and sorrows.

Having looked at all the replies in depth I see that most people enjoy mixing.

To the people that enjoy mixing,are you patient and meticulous by nature and the few of us that don’t,are you impetuous and like to flit from one thing to the next?

Also do you mix according to workflow or do you wait till you are in the mood to mix?

Michael.

Yes, I'm very patient and meticulous by nature. It's both a strength and a weakness, like most personality traits.
I follow my (newfound) workflow mostly. I try to put in a solid break between tracking and mixing, though.
And it's important to know when to stop and take a break. I seem to reach a natural limit after an hour and a half, where my hearing gets blurred.

[michael11]

Thank you all once again.

I am really glad I asked a follow up.

Thanks Jared,fascinating and really helpful.

Thanks Michael,I seem to be closer to your way of working than anybody else.
Maybe it’s the name!!!

Thanks Andy,great insight.

Thanks Russell,had me in stitches!!!!

Thanks Cass,really identify with what you said.

Thanks Magne,Great advice.


Michael.

[davekershaw]

Hi Michael.

Yes, I enjoy mixing, but just like writing and recording, I've got to be in the mood.
I'll spend hours on it once I'm into it, but I wish I was faster. It's the mixing process that slows down
my output, which is currently one song a year!

Hope you're well. Not been around here for a long time, and see a whole load of new names,
so hello to everyone!

[michael11]

Hi Michael.

Yes, I enjoy mixing, but just like writing and recording, I've got to be in the mood.
I'll spend hours on it once I'm into it, but I wish I was faster. It's the mixing process that slows down
my output, which is currently one song a year!

Hope you're well. Not been around here for a long time, and see a whole load of new names,
so hello to everyone!

Hi Dave.

Great to see you.

i've been missing your informative and funny posts.

You may only be turning out one song a year but it will be a great song.
Hope to see more of you in the future.

Michael.

[davekershaw]

You may only be turning out one song a year but it will be a great song.

Ha. Ha. That's what I like - confidence!

Will post my new one soon, and see if it lives up to it!!

Cheers,
Dave.

[MusicComposer]

Hi everyone.

I'm very new to mixing and I appreciate all of your comments.

The little bit of mixing that I have tried so far has been a lot of fun because
I now realize how much you can change the sound of a track or plugin instrument by mixing.

The possibilities of what you can do seem endless to me right now.
I am using Logic and there are so many things to choose from in the drop down menus that I often don't know where to start.

Can anyone suggest any online, free, mixing tutorials for beginners?

Is there some sort of order that works best for each individual track?
For Example?
- First do volume
- Second do EQ/Compression
- Third do reverb/delay effects

Then finally, some suggested order for doing the final mix?

I think I am pretty good at writing music but the mixing thing makes me feel like I am on my very first piano/guitar lesson, LOL.

[andygabrys]

I now realize how much you can change the sound of a track or plugin instrument by mixing.

two kinds of mixing in my opinion. The kind where you are optimizing the sound of a recording (as in a less effected jazz production for example) and the kind where the line blurs between mixing and production.

Can anyone suggest any online, free, mixing tutorials for beginners?

Youtube has lots. a lot of them are cut from longer full featured tutorials (i.e. that cost $$) on sites like puremix.net and macprovideo.com and groove3.com and therecordingrevolution.cm

IMO there are a lot of tutorials on those sites that are well worthwhile, and in the past I have bought some from each site (except the last one - he has so much free stuff....). They are often on sale too so you needn't spend the full $$.

Is there some sort of order that works best for each individual track?
For Example?
- First do volume
- Second do EQ/Compression
- Third do reverb/delay effects

sounds like you would benefit from some mix theory. like what are you trying to achieve when "mixing".

I would suggest buying a book like "Mixing secrets for the small studio" by Mike Senior. He details the way in which he does a mix, and what he achieves by eq and compression, how that affects volume, and then how he applies ambience. I have the book among others, and its excellent and very in depth.

Then finally, some suggested order for doing the final mix?

again, many ways to approach this. some people start with drums and bass, and finish with the vocal on the theory that the last element you put in will be most featrued.

some start with the vocal and make the mix around it.

some people just start with everything and keep chipping away until everything fits.

I think I am pretty good at writing music but the mixing thing makes me feel like I am on my very first piano/guitar lesson, LOL.

its the same deal. if you spent Gladwell's 10,000 hrs on learning how to play well, you probably will spend a similar amount on learning to mix and produce.

Hope that helps........

[MusicComposer]

Thanks Andy.

Yes, that helps a lot.
Those are some great ideas.
I'm going to start looking on Youtube and check out that stuff.
I'll also probably buy that book and some others as I get going.

I have written several tracks but not really sure if I should upload them anywhere yet.
I am planning to join TAXI on December 1st, about 5 days from now.

Not sure how to or best place to upload tracks to get feedback.
I see a lot of people have stuff on SoundCloud.
But I think TAXI gives you space to put your songs after you become a member so I'll probably wait for that.

Again, thanks for all those great ideas.

[andygabrys]

Thanks Andy.

Yes, that helps a lot.
Those are some great ideas.
I'm going to start looking on Youtube and check out that stuff.
I'll also probably buy that book and some others as I get going.

I have written several tracks but not really sure if I should upload them anywhere yet.
I am planning to join TAXI on December 1st, about 5 days from now.

Not sure how to or best place to upload tracks to get feedback.
I see a lot of people have stuff on SoundCloud.
But I think TAXI gives you space to put your songs after you become a member so I'll probably wait for that.

Again, thanks for all those great ideas.

all your call.

people use Soundcloud cause the player is HTML5 compatible and you can listen on an iPhone or iPad, and the TAXI site is flash based so you can't listen on those devices. a lot of people who post are on the go and not neccsarily in front of a desktop where they can use flash. So that's what's up with Soundcloud. Basic is account is free anyways, and you can post private tracks so that people can review them on the forum here before you make them public (if you ever make them public) to browsers on the general internet.

re: posting - this forum is for everyone. Sure its TAXI based and a lot of people are members, some aren't. Some people have no problem offering feedback. all your call. Most of the feedback is offered from the standpoint of writing for a specific listing for film / TV - so maybe more useful if you post your tune link, and the listing text copied and pasted that you are submitting too. gives people a standpoint from which to listen.

cause there is plenty of great music out there, but just because a song is great doesn't mean it will be a forward / deal. Its gotta be great for what the listing is asking for.

good luck!