 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Forums - Mixing & FX
Subject: General Levelling & Mixing Process Info Please?
Original Message Date: 15-Jun-07 @ 06:34 PM - General Levelling & Mixing Process Info Please?
......Ok, so Im happy with the track Ive put together & Im now looking to put the final touches too it.
Am I correct in assuming that I need to do things in the following order,
A) Set channel & master levels ensuring that there is zero clipping
then,
B) Add in device effects such as delays, panning, chorus flangers, compressors/limiters etc... then recheck levels again, adjust if necessary, ensuring that there is zero clipping.
then,
C) EQ each channel, or at least those I feel require it, then recheck levels again ensuring that there is zero clipping.
then,
D) Add in final effects such as reverb etc... which I assume completes the process.
I seem to be making real hard work of getting levels & EQ right!
Regarding track levels & EQ, Im tending to struggle with identifying which sounds are too high/low etc... which leads me to indeciveness & then confusion & then frustration
as to the structure of the track Im trying to put together. So I feel Im on a bit of a merry-go-round, not really getting anywhere in this perspective.
Is there a piece of software (a kind of diagnostic EQ/Track level tool, I guess?) I can purchase (or rather which software would you reccomend) that will map out graphically each track of the song & my efforts to level & EQ so that I can see a more detailed, accurate & reliable visual representation of both the volume levels and/or the frequency levels of each sub track within my song which I can use to either reassure myself that Im ballpark with what Im doing or alternatively way off base, a kind of sanity check of the work Ive completed?
At present I have no way of knowing & previous efforts which I had thought were ok, clearly were not. (Im using Reason 3 & just starting with Cubase SX which at the moment I find the mixer channel/eq interface unuser friendly).
I understand that this is not an exact science & that experience will come with use, however any pointers or tools that will help short track & serve as reassurance of the process Im undertaking will be a welcome choice for me at this current stage before Im able to trust my ears to do the job correctly.
Also, Ive watched lots of different tutorials from different sources which seem to contradict each other regarding what they term mixdown & mastering.
For clarification what does each term mean as there clearly different from each other?
Cheers
Am I correct in assuming that I need to do things in the following order,
A) Set channel & master levels ensuring that there is zero clipping
then,
B) Add in device effects such as delays, panning, chorus flangers, compressors/limiters etc... then recheck levels again, adjust if necessary, ensuring that there is zero clipping.
then,
C) EQ each channel, or at least those I feel require it, then recheck levels again ensuring that there is zero clipping.
then,
D) Add in final effects such as reverb etc... which I assume completes the process.
I seem to be making real hard work of getting levels & EQ right!
Regarding track levels & EQ, Im tending to struggle with identifying which sounds are too high/low etc... which leads me to indeciveness & then confusion & then frustration
as to the structure of the track Im trying to put together. So I feel Im on a bit of a merry-go-round, not really getting anywhere in this perspective.Is there a piece of software (a kind of diagnostic EQ/Track level tool, I guess?) I can purchase (or rather which software would you reccomend) that will map out graphically each track of the song & my efforts to level & EQ so that I can see a more detailed, accurate & reliable visual representation of both the volume levels and/or the frequency levels of each sub track within my song which I can use to either reassure myself that Im ballpark with what Im doing or alternatively way off base, a kind of sanity check of the work Ive completed?
At present I have no way of knowing & previous efforts which I had thought were ok, clearly were not. (Im using Reason 3 & just starting with Cubase SX which at the moment I find the mixer channel/eq interface unuser friendly).
I understand that this is not an exact science & that experience will come with use, however any pointers or tools that will help short track & serve as reassurance of the process Im undertaking will be a welcome choice for me at this current stage before Im able to trust my ears to do the job correctly.
Also, Ive watched lots of different tutorials from different sources which seem to contradict each other regarding what they term mixdown & mastering.
For clarification what does each term mean as there clearly different from each other?
Cheers
Message 11/15 22-Jul-07 @ 10:44 PM - RE: General Levelling & Mixing Process Info Please?
Probably the most inspirational thread Ive read, fantastic!
Message 12/15 24-Jul-07 @ 05:59 PM - RE: General Levelling & Mixing Process Info Please
hah! if you like mind-bending threads you should try this on for size 
DT used to have so many wicked threads years ago, i guess we're all spent a bit now (except kilo that is!). but there's so much great stuff to find if you use the search function or just browse threads from way back.
enjoy
DT used to have so many wicked threads years ago, i guess we're all spent a bit now (except kilo that is!). but there's so much great stuff to find if you use the search function or just browse threads from way back.
enjoy
Message 13/15 31-Jul-07 @ 02:18 AM - RE: General Levelling & Mixing Process Info Please?
Hey K, your posts make interesting reading & I see what you mean regarding having the latest sw this n that & the effect it can have in terms of limiting how music styles might develop.
Not sure if we got crossed wires though regarding what I was asking about in my original post, but no matter because I think Ive addressed that by changing the way Im mixing/building the track from the beginning, what Im really trying to say is that I was making some pretty basic errors on some new stuff I was doing which was leading to the overall frustration.
Since getting into this last year Ive realised how involved the whole topic is & Ive heard some pretty inspirng stuff from some of the artists on here production wise.
The whole eq thing is a pretty imotive topic as there are so many different ways to do it & so many variables as you point out, I guess what Im hearing from you is that sometimes less is more, structure the tracks more thoughtfully, use effects subtley to enhance the sound etc... all good stuff, the track links were good examples.
Having listened to examples of good & bad eq on a track & hearing the clear difference it makes, to me its a worthy avenue to explore more as a personal thing rather than anything else. Maybe Ive not entirely understood the point you were making, not sure. I guess its become a personal challenge (a tough one at that) the whole technical thing interests me on a personal level.
Of the tracks Ive done, Vivid is by far the one I am pleased with the most, but how much better could it sound with a real decent eq? I thought your comments regarding Vivd were both constructive & informative so Im going to have another crack at that when I get a minute, thanks.
Not sure if we got crossed wires though regarding what I was asking about in my original post, but no matter because I think Ive addressed that by changing the way Im mixing/building the track from the beginning, what Im really trying to say is that I was making some pretty basic errors on some new stuff I was doing which was leading to the overall frustration.
Since getting into this last year Ive realised how involved the whole topic is & Ive heard some pretty inspirng stuff from some of the artists on here production wise.
The whole eq thing is a pretty imotive topic as there are so many different ways to do it & so many variables as you point out, I guess what Im hearing from you is that sometimes less is more, structure the tracks more thoughtfully, use effects subtley to enhance the sound etc... all good stuff, the track links were good examples.
Having listened to examples of good & bad eq on a track & hearing the clear difference it makes, to me its a worthy avenue to explore more as a personal thing rather than anything else. Maybe Ive not entirely understood the point you were making, not sure. I guess its become a personal challenge (a tough one at that) the whole technical thing interests me on a personal level.
Of the tracks Ive done, Vivid is by far the one I am pleased with the most, but how much better could it sound with a real decent eq? I thought your comments regarding Vivd were both constructive & informative so Im going to have another crack at that when I get a minute, thanks.
Message 14/15 31-Jul-07 @ 02:59 PM - RE: General Levelling & Mixing Process Info Please
admin
Posts: 11382
Link?: No link
File?: No file
well eq.. hmm...it's kinda double edged sword... on the one hand it's corrective and the other creative, and each role doesnt necccessarily work the same.
all i'm saying is that noobs think of 'doing a mix' as a sort of re-set and mix' thing, where the composition is done and NOW we start to analyse the tracks components and start doing the mix
but in reality mix time isnt like that unless you have a remit to remix something in a completely new way from scratch as a 'remix' - in reality eq and dynamic processing is added as you build the track and mix time is really just a relaxed listen where one makes subtle adjustments and tweaks to further gel the overall sound... mebbe slightly lowering the bass or fractionaly raising or adjusting the eq on a hihat or whatever... but it shouldnt be this mystery of a huge blank canvas which needs to be totaly done from scratch, the track should be taking on an overall sound and character as it is built... i spose multitracking has given us that ability over the years in bigger and bigger chunks and we've strayed along way from capturing stereo mixes of live performances and then finaly adjusting the overall eq curve slightly to finish.
Now with pc's and the massive variables open to use as beginners it's perhaps even harder to deal with because of the infinate variables, but that should drive you more to find the sonic character of things as you build because the other option of deciding later offers so much possible ways to do it how can you ever really reach a point where you say "Thats the right mix|"
did someone actualy say "A track is never really finished just abandoned"... or was that someone talking about painting?... it's something like that anyways in reality because a track mix with all those variables can perhaps never really have a final 'correct' mix.. it will always be what it is and nothing more or less
all i'm saying is that noobs think of 'doing a mix' as a sort of re-set and mix' thing, where the composition is done and NOW we start to analyse the tracks components and start doing the mix
but in reality mix time isnt like that unless you have a remit to remix something in a completely new way from scratch as a 'remix' - in reality eq and dynamic processing is added as you build the track and mix time is really just a relaxed listen where one makes subtle adjustments and tweaks to further gel the overall sound... mebbe slightly lowering the bass or fractionaly raising or adjusting the eq on a hihat or whatever... but it shouldnt be this mystery of a huge blank canvas which needs to be totaly done from scratch, the track should be taking on an overall sound and character as it is built... i spose multitracking has given us that ability over the years in bigger and bigger chunks and we've strayed along way from capturing stereo mixes of live performances and then finaly adjusting the overall eq curve slightly to finish.
Now with pc's and the massive variables open to use as beginners it's perhaps even harder to deal with because of the infinate variables, but that should drive you more to find the sonic character of things as you build because the other option of deciding later offers so much possible ways to do it how can you ever really reach a point where you say "Thats the right mix|"
did someone actualy say "A track is never really finished just abandoned"... or was that someone talking about painting?... it's something like that anyways in reality because a track mix with all those variables can perhaps never really have a final 'correct' mix.. it will always be what it is and nothing more or less
___________________________________
"In other countries, art and literature are left to a lot of shabby bums living in attics and feeding on booze and spaghetti, but in America the successful writer or picture-painter is indistinguishable from any other decent business man!" - Babbit
Message 15/15 31-Jul-07 @ 07:32 PM - RE: General Levelling & Mixing Process Info Please?
You summed that up well, you struck a chord with me there (excuse the punn) as it happens to be where I believe I was going wrong. I was throwing it all down with some very basic channel volume/levelling adjustment then when I was finished writing the track, I started to address the eq & mix thing & it was like unravelling a plate of spaghetti, I'd adjust/change one sound which of course effects another part of the track through the knock on effect, so then I try & fix the previous sound & end up going round in circles or I found that the eq was driving the final end sound of the track through constant tweaking taking it in a direction that I didnt necessarily want, rather than it being a selective process with me remaining in charge!!
I think this endless process was what you referred to in one of your earlier posts, whats the right mix, where does it end etc...? thats what I was caught up in.
It seems so obvious now, thinking about it logically, so I'll put it down to experience, no doubt there are going to be plenty more learns along the way??
I think this endless process was what you referred to in one of your earlier posts, whats the right mix, where does it end etc...? thats what I was caught up in.
It seems so obvious now, thinking about it logically, so I'll put it down to experience, no doubt there are going to be plenty more learns along the way??
Pages: 1 2
There are 15 total messages for this topic
Reply to Thread
You need to register/login to use the forum.
Click here to Signup or Login !
[you'll be brought right back to this point after signing up]
Back to Forum
