Mixing Insight

[ernstinen]

Yea, in a MIX all the instrumental frequencies need to mesh as a whole so that one instrument isn't "stepping" on another, i.e. the bass guitar and the bass drum.That said, it still is best to record each individual track to sound as good as possible. For instance, on an electric guitar part if you have an open-back combo you can close mic the front of the speaker, mic the "back" of the speaker (reversing the phase), AND (it you want) add an ambient room mic. It's never bad to make each track as BIG as possible. Then you can EQ the individual tracks during the mix so that they don't "step" on one another.Another thing I used to do when I started recording acoustic guitar is always roll off the bass, because it worked better in the mix for a more complex "band" recording. But I made the mistake of doing the same thing with a solo acoustic guitar/vocal recording. In that situation, the guitar sounded thin and lifeless, since there was no bass guitar to fill up the bottom end. I didn't realize my mistake until it was too late! It's better to cut frequencies of a recorded track during mixing than to try and make the track sound "full" after the fact. If it's not recorded right in the first place, it's very hard to make something sound full and rich if it was never recorded well to start with.My 2 pesos! Ern

[bigbluebarry]

What a helpful thread! This is something that I too have just recently "discovered" though I am a LONG ways off from fully having it down. I've often heard that recording, and mixing, is more of an art than a science. Why I believe there is some validity to that statement, I also think mixing is much more of a science than some people want to believe. wodinlord and ern... From what I've been able to gather from reading some of your previous posts, not only in this topic but other threads as well, you guys seem to have lots of experience in doing this. Are there any "rules", or "guidelines" that you guys have for mixing that you wouldn't mind to share? I know some people are kinda hesitant to divulge information that they've spent years learning, and i understand that. If you're not comfortable doing that, are there any good resources that you could point me to so that I could get a better understanding of "sonic space" and EQ carving in particular? sincerely,Big Blue

[devin]

Great thread you've started here Glenn!I'm waaay behind everyone else...I only built my little room in the basement 2 years ago. And I was VERY lucky to read a posting before I started that said "you'll spend over half of your time mixing & mastering...so make sure your control room is as comfortable as possible". I almost divided my space into a big tracking room, and a tiny mixing room before that posting. I averted that mistake, and I just built one room to do both jobs and learn in.One tip that very recently came my way, was for eq'ing acoustic guitar. A friend sent me a file with a great performance and melody...but the capture was a little off...lots of sound-hole boom, etc. To tame it, I knew I'd have to cut the eq somewhere. At this point, another friend told me "solo the guitar, set a narrow EQ band, and BOOST it all the way. Then slowly sweep it from treble to bass until you find the part that sounds terrible. At that point, widen and narrow the band until you know you're bringing up the worst parts. Lastly, drop the gain down below zero until it sounds balanced."This method is really fast for zeroing in on a troublesome frequency...boost it first so it's easier to find. I'm sure this is less of a problem with people that have access to better gear to play on, and have more experience with mic position...but it's helped me out a couple times now in the last week alone.I'm also coming up to speed on playing better myself...with so many ideas, it would be helpful to just "git er done" in the studio without arranging a month's worth of visits.Besides, if it's my guitar solo, I can convince myself to narrow the EQ of the track easier than I can a collaborator! In this way Glenn, you're miles ahead of me LOL

[mazz]

Devin,That's a very good trick and one I've used tons in my mixing. Just make sure to turn the speakers down a bit before boosting. And boosting all the way isn't always necessary but a lot of boost does help.As you're doing this, take note of the frequencies that you're dealing with for two reasons: 1. Certain instruments have some general frequency issues that don't really change that much from instrument to instrument (for instance, acoustic guitar sound hole approx 200Hz). 2. You'll learn to recognize frequency ranges and will be able to narrow in on frequencies much quicker. This is really really good practice and will serve you well for the rest of your career. Just like ear training in music class, this is ear training in mixing class!I'll often try to sing the offending frequency just to get it in my ear and my body so I can feel how much to cut and know when it's balanced. Try it!Cheers,Mazz

[ggalen]

Devin,Great idea! Thanks for that.Mazz, good stuff! I am paying attention. Thanks!

[ggalen]

By the way, here's how I stumbled onto this revelation.I use Band in A Box as my "worksheet". I use the Roland Virtual Sound Canvas as a "quick and dirty" virtual instrument because it is general midi, and sounds good enough for roughing out a song.I was amazed when a little Sound Canvas pad worked great in a mix, and when I soloed it, I could hear it was...well, you know, not all that great sounding. It was no Kurzweil sound, that's for sure.But in the MIX...perfect.It was an eye opener.

[Mark Kaufman]

I've been aware of this concept for awhile--carving out a place in the EQ--but it's one thing to grasp and another thing to DO it. But it is amazing how nice things can blend when you make them sound "wrong".It's a lot like drawing...tell someone to draw a table and they'll likely have all the legs lined up horizontally along the bottom. But LOOK at a table, and you notice the bottoms of those lined-up legs actually appear to make sort of a zig-zag pattern... It's counter-intuitive making things look, and sound, correct. Especially when, like Glenn, we know what those solo instruments "should" sound like.A very cool concept. Sure hope I truly "get it" someday...

[aubreyz]

The sweep to find trick is not only great for finding problem areas, but it can be useful finding space in a mix too. Finding the sweet spot in an instrument and slightly notching other instruments there to give it room.Aub

[allends]

May 8, 2008, 1:38pm, ggalen wrote:...I was amazed when a little Sound Canvas pad worked great in a mix, and when I soloed it, I could hear it was...well, you know, not all that great sounding. It was no Kurzweil sound, that's for sure.But in the MIX...perfect....I'm wishin' I still had that organ patch from my old SoundBlaster card. I have a use for it dang it! -Allen

[wodinlord]

I am not claiming to be the end all repository of audio knowledge, but I have done nothing else my entire adult life and I am getting on up there now. There are no rules, just general guidelines and all of those can argued about. I can only pass on what works for me and am glad to. In a nutshell, I EQ each track in up to 4 places low 60 -200 hz - lo mid 250 - 800 upper mids 1k - 4.5 or so and highs 6k and up. (though, generally, only young women can really hear above 12 k) I know those aren't totally continuous ranges but anyway...Anyway, I try to give each track its own place in each of those areas. I am going to example guitar/bass/drum mixing but it applies to all. I make sure that the kick and bass each have their own lo freq and attack freq. I usually give the kick 80HZ and the bass 100-129. Sometimes I flip that, depending on overall sounds and genre. I, personally cut some lo mids on almost everything centered around 300-400 but especially bass and drums. Then give each an attack mid EQ at different places 1-2.5 for the bass and 2 - 4 for kick click. Gosh, this hard to put into written words. Then when I bring in guitars, I scoop again lo mids 4 - 600 and give them an upper mid eq above the bass mid, say 2 - 4.5. I use broad Q's on gtr mids. May roll off the low where the bass and kick are boosted. Ok same with the Vocal except, I do less lo mid scoop usually. Give it upper mid above or between the gtr mid and some 6.5 - 8 k for sibilance and presence. Obviously, exactly where you EQ is entirely dependent on your own ears. That will vary greatly. The trick is to use the EQ to make each instrument fit in the track as you bring it in, Then of course you will probably have to tweak what you did first and go back and forth a bit until it all gels.Anyway, that is a way too long, very brief explanation of how I work to achieve "frequency layering" None of the above is absolute and I am sure there are as many opinions as there are mixers about how to do this. I don't all of the above the same way every time either. These are just very broad generalizations that you have to try on your own and find what gives you the sound you want to hear. I do rock mixes that I want to jump out of the speakers and grab you by the throat. Someone else will want smooth silky mixes that sit back in the speakers. Both are fine ways of doing it. But, I truly believe the general concept applies either way. A good mix in any genre has everything louder than everything else. LOL because each element has its own space and fits in with everything else. Achieving depth of field separation will have to wait.One more tiny tidbit. Although, I am a loud rocker, I mix a lot at very low volume. Volume differences are more apparent at low volume, when it is loud, differences are compressed. I won't go into to ear dynamics and psychoacoustics. When doing final checking, I turn it down just above where the volume cuts off. If I can still hear everything well at very low volume, its probably a pretty good mix. A lot of mixes I hear posted on Taxi have vocals especially that would be obviously be way loud if listened to at low volume. And its easier on your ears.Take all of the above with a grain of salt and see what works for you.Sorry, I can run on, but its complicated.Whew!Wodinlord