pan left, pan right, what the heck???

[ibanez468]

Jul 19, 2008, 1:43pm, ernstinen wrote:Later, when Steely Dan released "Aja" and "Gaucho," my sense of REALLY great engineering was enhanced. I still use those CDs as reference CDs when I mix. Ern Yeah Ernst, really good stuff ta' reference. I have their "Greatest Hits" CD, and throw that thing on from time ta' time when I wanna hear some solid engineering techniques. I-468

[ernstinen]

Hey Mazz & Ibanez,I just checked out "Black Cow" and "Aja" on headphones and WOW, even after 20 years or so these sound so freakin' great! Geez, "Aja" is just a masterpiece. Steve Gadd on drums is awesome, and the drum panning --- really, ALL the panning is just right on the money. Ditto with all the other instruments and vocals --- recorded JUST right!Makes me think of a story about when they were recording this stuff. Walter Becker was sitting on a couch in the back of the control room (on smack), and was nodding out. The engineers were arguing about how to EQ a track.From back in the darkness booms Becker's voice: "+3 db at 4.45 kHz!" These guys were SERIOUS about every detail! --- Even on heroin. Ern

[Mark Kaufman]

Once you get used to the concept of panning you might also consider how to "automate" the panning in your mix. In other words, you can tell your DAW to make a track move from left to right. Woo...! In Cubase it's called "automating the mix"...not sure about other systems, but I'm sure they all do it, from volume changes to panning to EQ changes. Sort of the digital equivalent of "riding the faders" during mixdown.

[stoney]

Jul 18, 2008, 10:31am, feaker wrote:MarkWhen something is wrong in the mix and I can't identify it, I look like your animated kitty Felix.For some reason when I panned my niece's voice right 30%, it sounded a lot more clear.I will put it back in the middle where it belongs.There are a couple EQ plugins I will have to start experimenting with. One is the sonitus equalizer and compressor.Fumbling is what it will be!Some of these mixes I hear on the forum blow me away. I can see this as the next challange. Thanks, the confidence is growingPaulHi Paulwithout hearing the track it's hard to say why the vocal popped out when you panned it? ONe possible reason might be the 'masking effect' our hearing is most sensitive to frequencies around 3k. It could be that you have a lot of energy with other instruments in this area (1.5-3k) and the vox is being masked. Guitars can often be a big problem.If the vox is the lead? try placing it back in the center where it should be and applying some negative EQ to other instruments that might be competing for space. Also try panning some of the other instruments to see if you can create some space? The vox may well need to be compressed more so that you can allow it to sit on top of your mix. Finally try a subtle push on your main vox at 3k (alway a winner) often make the vox pop right out.stoney

[feaker]

stoneyCan you even believe the advanced discusson on this topic. Getting all these tips from "the best" on this forum. I am understanding more each day now. I don't know anything about EQ or compression yet.The only component I have with a built in compressor is a Universal Audio LA 610 tube preamp for the vox. I set it under three?My next focus is to take some old tunes with no value and trying some of the plugins for EQ.The song I am experimenting with is called "abandoned". (not much of a song) It is on page two in peer to peer.I think you are right. The background guitars might be doing some damage here. I only do volume tweaking. I bet they need compression as well. I have to re-do the vox because they were too hot. Going to mess with that today.Thanks a lot for your helpPaul