mixing help???

[Roc]

Hey everyone, i am recording a mixtape with cool edit i am a rapper, any ways, i was just wondering did anyone have some mixing tips for me, like as in strategies or whatever that they use. I have a good set up and my dry vocal its very clear, but if i don't add any effects it is just to plain , then when i use the dynamic processing compression it seems those are too strong and distorts the voice. I tried to add just the tight and close reverb and it sounds ok but when you turn the speakers up you can hear that it lacks compression or something. Can someone please help me? For example if you have a nice set up too and you vocals already come out very good what is just that one or two few things you add to spice it up just a little. I have messed with parametric eq and all that nonsense but it seems to bring my voice in and out during i don't understand it.

[koz]

i been on the same thing as you iv been looking around n found something that helpd me out alot...

1-noise reduction-click/pop eliminator-hiss and clicks-find all levels then click ok

2-amplitude-dynamic processing-very fast attack

3-fliters-graphic equalizer-spit clear

4-delay effects-reverb-tight and close

5-amplitude-amplify-center wave

(u can do amplitude-pan/expand-mastering width if you like how it sounds or add it to your adlibs)

it helped me out after that i messed around with the eq and that made it sound better to what do you usually do so i can probably try something different out..

[Roc]

Ok thanks alot man i appreciate it, i will use that and see how it goes for me

[koz]

np try that out and let me know how it works for ya

[Roc]

i had a few more questions. One is like what do you do to basically make the vocals seem to blend with the beat, just mess with the volume?, number two is for you add libs and dubbed parts do you pan then or leave them all straight because i think sometimes they sound better panned but when you have headphones you can hear the them more in one ear and it doesn't sound that good. And 3 is what do you do to the final product to make sure it is loud but doesn't clip? sorry for so many questions but i just really need help hahha

[Lo-Fi Mike]

Originally Posted by Roc

i had a few more questions. One is like what do you do to basically make the vocals seem to blend with the beat, just mess with the volume?

yes and no.
Simply raising the vocal might work at certain parts of the song and might get lost or overpowering on others, so you need to get the vocals ready to be mixed into the beat. comping (a collection of the best vocal takes) / eqing / reverb / (and most important) compression.

Originally Posted by Roc

number two is for you add libs and dubbed parts do you pan then or leave them all straight because i think sometimes they sound better panned but when you have headphones you can hear the them more in one ear and it doesn't sound that good

This part is up to you, mix them in a way that compliments each other and the song as a whole. Don't let them get in the way of each other either. Head phone are always going to give you a wide stereo sound cause they are right at your ear and isolated to each ear, in a car or at home the speakers are in one place left/right and you are in another place. So i would not worry about it sounding a little wide, it might translate really well on the monitors.

Originally Posted by Roc

And 3 is what do you do to the final product to make sure it is loud but doesn't clip?

Your talking about a Comp/Limiter. at this stage i would suggest getting the mixing right, then moving on to mastering. Until then you should send your stuff to a Mastering Engineer. If you really want to do it yourself there are some decent plugs out there like ozone or t-racks, but if you want to be a good engineer one day, you will take the time and money to go thru every learning step and not cut corners with preset mastering. Some presets in ozone are really nice, but you will always have to go back and tweak each parameter a little according to what is going on in the mix.

Originally Posted by Roc

sorry for so many questions but i just really need help hahha

no worries man, just make sure and experiment after you are given advice.
you will soon come up with your way of doing things. mixing is an Art.
Also, don't be afraid to spend money on some good hardware equipment.

-mike-

[Lo-Fi Mike]

oops, forgot to subscribe to the thread

[koz]

thats some good info up there mike and roc what i do for the sound not to be more on one side than the other is duplicate the verse and then do it to each verse for it to match up you feel what im saying

[Roc]

no i don't understand... but thanks for the other info it really worked well

[koz]

do you got a site or something i can hear your music to see what your productions sounding like?

[Roc]

sure my myspace is
www.myspace.com/3lr0c

just copy and paste it, its spanish hip hop, well more like spanglish hip hop but let me know what you think. thanks