Top down mixing

[lesmac]

I think this heavy mix buss theory vid has been posted before, maybe by Mojo but I thought of it when checking out the video by Steven Slate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG__UKPfrgA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iocdFlUgzl0

You don't have to use the Steven Slate plugs but the theory is the same. Working backwards from your stereo buses.

[Len911]

I think if you know where you're going because you've been there before, it probably works a lot better. Otoh, if that was the case, you wouldn't need to work backwards anyway.

The first thing I try to do is get my levels as close to 0db on the faders and a fairly even volume for all the tracks. The middle down mixing?? Though they probably do that first, and then start on the buss effects and call it top down.
If it prevents you from starting with a kick track, tweaking and effecting the heck out of it, then move on to a snare..., then on to a vocal track and the same tweaking and effecting, it probably does save a lot of time and futility by having to go back and re-tweak some more because something isn't working. But you have to know what effects you are going to use on whichever buss or you can't really do that. For example, if I put a Sonnox Oxford Inflator on the stereo buss, and tweaked all my tracks with that engaged, and then wondered why I was using that and took it off of the stereo buss, I'd have to start over maybe, or put it back on so I didn't have to,lol! However if I knew I always used a Sonnox Limiter on the stereo buss, why not?

That's what seemed to be left out in those videos, the presumption that you would naturally already want to do, this, this and this. Cut here, boost there, add this... because of this, but if you were just tweaking by ear and didn't know beforehand, you might cut wrong, boost ridiculous, and totally make a mess of everything.

Maybe I'm missing the point?? That's entirely possible!

[hummingbird]

Over the years I've learned to mix as I go to some extent. I'll put a couple of plug ins I use all the time in the 'top' while I audition sounds and play in various things with my controller (one of these is a Master Mix, and I know exactly what level to use, I set it at the start and work with that db throughout.)

I'll do an initial level on an individual track as I go, maybe add a High Pass Filter or some reverb if needed. When I think I have the core of the piece figured out, I'll go through each track on a comparison basis and set levels; and work on panning for balance and space. Then I'll run a mono mix off. As I listen to the playback I'll further adjust the volumes so everything is blended well and has its spot in the landscape in depth. If two frequencies are clashing I'll add a little eq.

Once I am really happy with the mono, then I'll run an aiff stereo and do my listens. I'll listen on the laptop. On the tv. Through regular computer speakers. As I do I make notes. I'll do a couple of A / Bs. Final tweaks. Then put it away for 24 hours. Come back, do the listens again with fresh ears. Run off final mix, a couple alts, stems. Start submitting!

(Conversely, if I'm not happy with what I'm hearing on the first mono and can't put my finger on why, I put it away for a few hours or days or weeks hoping that when I come back I might be able to hear what to fix in order for the track to come together.)

One of the reasons I think this works for me is that I primarily work with VSTs and they have been recorded and produced with excellent sonic quality. It probably takes less work to get them to sound good, it's more about finding their place in the mix. And working to make them sound like a real human played the instruments.

Now I didn't write that all to say someone else's idea of it is wrong hehe. Just cause it's the middle of the night, I read your post, and felt like I needed to share my process, for whatever its worth lol,

hugs
Hummin'bird

[Len911]

(Conversely, if I'm not happy with what I'm hearing on the first mono and can't put my finger on why, I put it away for a few hours or days or weeks hoping that when I come back I might be able to hear what to fix in order for the track to come together.)

For ~$33, maybe you can see if you can't hear,lol, and don't have to spend days or weeks.
https://www.meldaproduction.com/MMultiA ... w=analysis