Any tips for audio mixdown?

[Nightburst]

I'm working on a couple of recordings that have multiple tracks of guitar.
Don't like how the drums get choked, especially the snare drum. Haven't done any eq'ing yet as I'm not shure what frequencies I need to work on.
How do I get a louder recording? I have to turn down the master volume to prevent clipping. Do I need compression?

I'm just a beginner when it comes to this and I'm saving up for a course on audio mixing but in the mean time I'd like to learn some basic tricks on how to get a good solid mix down!

I use Cubase and getting more familiar with it the more I fiddle around with it.
I have a SM57 to record my guitar parts.
Amplitube and midi to do bassguitar stuff.
Ezdrummer and midi for Drumtracks.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Any tips for audio mixdown?

I'm working on a couple of recordings that have multiple tracks of guitar.
Don't like how the drums get choked, especially the snare drum. Haven't done any eq'ing yet as I'm not shure what frequencies I need to work on.
How do I get a louder recording? I have to turn down the master volume to prevent clipping. Do I need compression?

I'm just a beginner when it comes to this and I'm saving up for a course on audio mixing but in the mean time I'd like to learn some basic tricks on how to get a good solid mix down!

I use Cubase and getting more familiar with it the more I fiddle around with it.
I have a SM57 to record my guitar parts.
Amplitube and midi to do bassguitar stuff.
Ezdrummer and midi for Drumtracks.

Yikes! There is so much to know...where to start.

I guess I'll give you some eq tips for my first post. There are fundamental and harmonic frequency ranges for each instrument, sound that is below or above these ...oh never mind!

Here's what I do:

Put a low cut filter on the kick drum at 40Hz, apply a -4 db cut on the kick at about 320hz. Apply a low cut filter to all the guitars at 120 Hz and compress them as a group by sending them to a compressor on a bus. Apply a low cut filter at 100 to 140 Hz on the snare. Set up two reverbs on bussses, one plate and one room if you're doing rock. Apply the plate to things like vocals that need excitement and the room to other instruments that need reverb - add both reverbs to what ever you want as long as you like the sound. Before you start boosting any eq's learn about "subtractive eq." Of course that isn't all I do or what I do on every mix but it's a good start.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Any tips for audio mixdown?

Thanks a lot! Working with it right now and it seems to tighten up overall. Really appreciate your input!
By the time I've figuered this thing out I'll be flooding this forum with clips

Maybe someone knows a good website?

 

[Ball&Chain]

Re: Any tips for audio mixdown?

Ill just add, listen you your mix through multiple sets of speakers, headphones or whatever you have available to get an overall idea. what sounds great through headphones might sound like doggy doo through speakers or vice versa.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Any tips for audio mixdown?

Here you go, also search this site.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb07/articles/insidetrack_0207.htm

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Any tips for audio mixdown?

Ill just add, listen you your mix through multiple sets of speakers, headphones or whatever you have available to get an overall idea. what sounds great through headphones might sound like doggy doo through speakers or vice versa.

+ 1

i learnt the hard way!

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Any tips for audio mixdown?

Yeah, I've noticed how a recording sounds different in other enviroments. I like to do the car stereo test and try it in a high end audio system of a friend of mine.
Recording is a great but time consuming hobby!

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Any tips for audio mixdown?

Ill just add, listen you your mix through multiple sets of speakers, headphones or whatever you have available to get an overall idea. what sounds great through headphones might sound like doggy doo through speakers or vice versa.

+2

The first few things that I recorded really suffered because of the crappy computer speakers that I was using. Sounded great, but only out of them . . .

 

[Phil Johnson]

Re: Any tips for audio mixdown?

Those are good starting tips... Copied and pasted into a note for myself too.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Any tips for audio mixdown?

At the absolutely basic level, most commercial recordings make extensive use of compression and/or limiting when committing the original sounds to tape, hard drive, whatever.

Compression and limiting restrict dynamic range. When the difference between maximum and minimum volume of a sound is restricted, the overall level will seem louder.

Please explain what you mean by the word "choking" in the context of drums? To me, this word has a specific meaning. i.e. Physically preventing a cymbal or drum head from sustaining. (AKA muting.)

There are numerous sources of lists explaining which instruments sound in which frequency ranges. If you wish to work purely by ear, the traditional method is known as fishing. With a sweepable frequency equaliser, turn up the gain level. Then, sweep the frequency selector pot through its range until you find the target. e.g. The "crack" of the snare head or the "sizzle" of a cymbal. Having found the correct frequency to process, reduce the gain to a sensible level. It should have some effect but not so much that it becomes irritatingly conspicuous.

I'm going to stop typing now before I regurgitate the complete works of Paul White, editor of Sound On Sound magazine.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Any tips for audio mixdown?

Wow great website innerdreams!
Some really interesting articles, time to dig in a lot of reading. But if it's worth it, that's cool.

By 'choking' I meant the more guitar tracks I added, the lesser pronounced the snare became in the mix. I'm looking for ways to retain that 'snap' but it seems like that sweeping technique might do the trick.

These have been great tips so far guys. Really glad you are willing to share this info and please keep em coming! I'm shure more forum bro's are lurking along .

 

[El Dunco]

Re: GHD hair straighteners

Re: GHD hair straighteners

:spam:

And some hair gel for those slick production values.