mixing levels

[dnkygirl]

Hi all,

I'm having an issue with getting my tracks to have that in your face sound. I'm wondering if it has to do with the level that i am listening to my mix. What levels are you guys using?



Demi

[bknot1]

Tell us what you doing..and we can see what we can help you..

[Mindset]

NEVER above -6dB, actually I record even lower than that, usually around -18 to -14ish. It gives some headroom, and isn't way too low that your sitting with noise. just squash the dynamic's and limit it if you want that lol.

[peritus]

Here's some awesome Bob Katz advice...

Level Practices (Part 1)
http://www.digido.com/modules.php?na...=article&sid=8

Level Practices (Part 2) (Includes the K-System)
http://www.digido.com/modules.php?na...=article&sid=9

[bknot1]

Demi- sent you a pm with a good link

[Fyre]

Originally Posted by Mindset

NEVER above -6dB, actually I record even lower than that, usually around -18 to -14ish. It gives some headroom, and isn't way too low that your sitting with noise. just squash the dynamic's and limit it if you want that lol.

Yup i been doin this since Change suggested it and its worked good for me..... and since i dont get my stuff mastered or anything ill normally record at around -18dB and compress up to give it more volume..... for me that gives a more in your face sound with less noise from having my preamp so high.....

also work with reverb to get a more in your face sound.....

[dnkygirl]

Thanks guys!!! i've still got a long way too go still... Looks like i will be heavy into the books for the next month or so... oh well you gotta start somewhere....



Demi

[bknot1]

another good read if you haven't..

http://www.bluebearsound.com/articles/mixing101.htm


(i do think Blue Bear should do a new one or updated one )

[Change of POETS]

Yeah, I record levels around -18dbFS RMS. Peaks will hit around -12 or so, and low points might be around -24 etc... Gives plenty of headroom in the mix, and makes sure there's no clipping issues. Most people think that if they're recording 24bit, they can record as hot as they want. That's false. If you want volume, turn your monitors up...

[Fyre]

I gotta extention to this question.... when tracking out a beat in say reason or what should I track out my instruments lower so that there around the same peak levels as my vocals?...... that way i wouldnt have to compress my vocals so much

[Mindset]

Originally Posted by Fyre

I gotta extention to this question.... when tracking out a beat in say reason or what should I track out my instruments lower so that there around the same peak levels as my vocals?...... that way i wouldnt have to compress my vocals so much

Really, it might be best to take each instrument of the beat out to something like cubase, sonar, pro tools etc, so that you can do all you need to do to each instrument, compression, eq, time effects, etc. It'll help make vocals fit better. If everything is up and center, it'll be harder to place them in the mix, since vocals are leads they need to sit in the center always.

Also, the way you perform & record your vocal levels, will help determine how much you compress your vocals. The more dynamic's you have in the vocals, chances are, that the softest parts of the dynamics will get buried in the mix if you don't mix down everything else properly.

[Change of POETS]

Originally Posted by Fyre

I gotta extention to this question.... when tracking out a beat in say reason or what should I track out my instruments lower so that there around the same peak levels as my vocals?...... that way i wouldnt have to compress my vocals so much

When tracking out your instrumentals, it's best to keep everything dead-panned center, and keep peaks at or below -6db.

That way, the mixing engineer can plug your tracked out sounds into his/her DAW and do everything they need, to make the best mix possible. You should be mixing your instrumentation around the vocals. The vocals are the focal point of the mix, and they should be sitting comfortably in the middle of everything else. Like Mindset said, you should export each sound to your DAW so you mix appropriately.

[Fyre]

when i say tracking out in reason I mean I make the beat in reason and export each instrument to a wav file using reason not that i mix the beat in reason but yea my question got answered keep peaks <=-6dB cool

[bknot1]

some visual charts to see how your instrumental can sit in the mix with vocals..

http://www.globerecording.com/visual....html#graphics

Rap
http://www.globerecording.com/visuals/rap.html

Reggae
http://www.globerecording.com/visuals/reggae.html

Dance
http://www.globerecording.com/visuals/dance.html

[peritus]

Originally Posted by bknot1

some visual charts to see how your instrumental can sit in the mix with vocals..

http://www.globerecording.com/visual....html#graphics

Rap
http://www.globerecording.com/visuals/rap.html

Reggae
http://www.globerecording.com/visuals/reggae.html

Dance
http://www.globerecording.com/visuals/dance.html

Those are pretty cool.. I'm kinda skeptical though.. Some of the logic seems nonsensical...

[bknot1]

If you have the book, Art of Mixing they are in there...
take a listen to the demo song http://www.globerecording.com/visua...s.html#graphics
and watch how the do it..

[dnkygirl]

Originally Posted by bknot1

some visual charts to see how your instrumental can sit in the mix with vocals..

http://www.globerecording.com/visual....html#graphics

Rap
http://www.globerecording.com/visuals/rap.html

Reggae
http://www.globerecording.com/visuals/reggae.html

Dance
http://www.globerecording.com/visuals/dance.html

Wow that's really good information... I like visual aids... ) THanks!!

[Mindset]

Originally Posted by bknot1

some visual charts to see how your instrumental can sit in the mix with vocals..

http://www.globerecording.com/visual....html#graphics

Rap
http://www.globerecording.com/visuals/rap.html

Reggae
http://www.globerecording.com/visuals/reggae.html

Dance
http://www.globerecording.com/visuals/dance.html

these are somewhat accurate, I read the book a while back. great info in there.