"Old Pro" Mix Tips

[ernstinen]

We've discussed this on various threads, but I thought I'd distill the "old pro" mix tips onto one thread. Any ideas are welcomed!1.) Good monitors. I still use the "studio standard" Yamaha NS-10M's, but I'm sure there are others that can focus the midrange which is so important. You might want to use a subwoofer for certain types of music.2.) Mix at low volumes. Can you "hear" all the parts in the mix? If you can't hear a part at low volumes, something has to be mixed louder, but more importantly, mixed lower. You can't turn EVERYTHING up!3.) Get peak mix volume in the red (analog) or almost in the red (digital). Fill up that space!4.) Limit/compress stuff like bass, kick, snare, and vocals. Some say that you shouldn't do that in digital, but prove me wrong, and explain why! Also, most engineers prefer to pan them pretty close to center.5.) Use a GREAT microphone for vocals. You can't go wrong.6.) Stereo keyboards and rhythm guitar parts should be panned hard L & R, with a few exceptions.7.) Percussion, horns, and lead solos should be panned around the audio spectum according to your discression.8.) REALLY check you reverb panning on headphones, and all your panning! Sometimes, if reverb isn't panned properly, your whole mix will be off.9.) Check your whole mix in MONO. If your phases between channels are wrong, your mix will collapse. VERY important!SO many more things, but I've leave it to the other "Old Pros!"To be continued ---Ern

[suzdoyle]

Great info! Thanks! I find it helpful to to mix the instruments and vocals in a way that mimics how they would be experienced live. With multiple harmonies, it works well to pan them as if they are standing in a semi-circle around the main vocalist (and for some reason, I like tripling the main vocal part, lowering their volume, and panning it left, middle and right for a fuller sound.So much more to learn about all this, but it's fun to see how something as simple as panning and placement can make a huge difference with how a song feels. ,Suz

[sgs4u]

This link you posted (Suz) a coupla days ago, is wonderful. It's a list of the frequency ranges of a lot of instruments. Might come in handy here, in this thread.http://www.independentrecording.net/irn ... isplay.htm

[mojobone]

Thou shalt buy a decibel meter, and calibrate thy mixer...

[ibanez468]

Yeah, good post by Suz! Discovered that website many months ago, but never thought to post a link (my BAD!). I printed out a copy of that page to study. I make sure to reference it (and some other information) when tracking my "live" instruments, and also my MIDI drums as well.I've found that setting up your instruments with the correct frequencies dialed in before tracking, make mixing go alot smoother. Now you don't have to "push" your mixer as much. You've already got the instrument(s) recorded with the proper frequenc(y/cies). Some good compression setups prior to tracking help immensely too!Now you get a nice phat signal playing back, and usually all that's left ta' do is ta' set the volume level. Usually, I end up backing down the volume levels of the signals, when mixing. For me, that generally tells me that I've got a good "HOT" signal.Maybe a few small adjustments of eq on some signals, some signals don't need any eq treatments at all. That's when mixing (for me anyway) is the most fun. When ya' don't hafta' struggle as much ta' make it sound right. That's when I know I've done a fairly decent job in recording my signals/tracks.But yeah, I've found proper eq'ing & compression setups prior to hitting the record button, go a LOOOOONG way to getting a phat/hot mix.I-468

[crystallions]

Lots of great information here. Thanks! ~ Lydia

[edteja]

All good stuff--good gentle reminders of important things to keep in mind. Thanks for the post!

[wodinlord]

Never do more than 2 lines before mixing. That stuff really messes with the little muscles in your ears.Have plenty of fuses for the monitor amps... or aluminum foil to wrap the blown ones.Don't bogart.Keep a small bat nearby in case one of the band wants to tweak his instrument's fader.Make sure the intern is old enough to make a beer run.NO dancing on the SSL.Remember the sun will be coming UP as you drive home - that is East.Oh, sorry, I had a flashback there for a second - uh, never mind.Wodinlord

[matthoggard]

AHA!! Lord, maybe you and I went to the same studios? Im still old school. I prefer live over samples. My monitors are a pair of Crown studio monitors circa early 80's. I havent heard anything better to this day. (they have high mid and low adjustment for each set of speakers. Tweets, mids, and lows in each cabinet.) I get a great stereo image from these.Im with Ibanez, get your freq's and levels and tweaks good before tracking. Mixing is much easier in the long run.So this little mic thingy on my headset wont do for vocals??

[ernstinen]

Aug 14, 2008, 3:02pm, wodinlord wrote:Never do more than 2 lines before mixing. That stuff really messes with the little muscles in your ears.Have plenty of fuses for the monitor amps... or aluminum foil to wrap the blown ones.Don't bogart.Keep a small bat nearby in case one of the band wants to tweak his instrument's fader.Make sure the intern is old enough to make a beer run.NO dancing on the SSL.Remember the sun will be coming UP as you drive home - that is East.Oh, sorry, I had a flashback there for a second - uh, never mind.HaHaHaHa! Now, THERE'S an Old Pro! Words of wisdom, my friend ---Ern