How to get that clean sound ???

[Jules]

Hi folks, this has probably been asked before, but I haven't seen an answer that would satisfy me:

On professional records you can hear a very clear separation of sounds. Although the vocals, bass, bass drum, snare, aso. are panned in the center, somehow each of them seem to be in a different place, the sounds are very clear and defined, kind of "norrow" and pleasant (hope Y'all understand what I mean).

I've heard that this is caused by applying the right panning and the right frequencies with equalization.

Is that true? How do I get the knowledge about the right frequencies for each track / instrument ?
What are the most common solutions for a clean defined sound?

Anybody got something in mind, type it please!

CU
Jules

[dobro]

http://www.prorec.com/prorec/article...2565D6001E69A8

[tubedude]

There is a thread here callen "where is the mud" that you should find, and also hunt around the web for mixerman. He has a few posts on making space and the 5 planes of space and blah blah blah.

[vulcanofga]

dobro, thanks for the link.That is one of the best articles i've read on the subject of eq.He is right up there with Bill Gibson.

Thanks again,

[Gidge]

"On professional records you can hear a very clear separation of sounds"

on professional recordings you are probably hearing a preamp that cost more than your whole studio...add to that mics and compressors that would make you wet yourself if you saw the pricetag......

professionally recorded tracks virtually mix themselves......

[tubedude]

"professionally recorded tracks virtually mix themselves......"

Did you partake in mixfest, Gidge?
Almost dead on statement... well tracked stuff really does mix pretty easily. Its making it stand out as a whole that still is hard, though.

[The Green Hornet]

Thanks Guys/Gals:

You've given me the ultimate answer to clear sounds. MONEY.

All I need to do is find an older woman with 40 Mil and a penchant for MARTINIS, and MUSIC.

I'll have the best damned CLEAR sounds anyone has ever had.

Gracias,
Green Hornet

[tommysahlin]

Don't wanna get TOO off-topic, but good instruments, amps, players/singers, arrangements and material sorta make a difference as well...

rock on /Tommy

[John Sayers]

As well as Eq you can separate instruments by using different reverbs/effects on them. Say use one reverb only for drums and don't use that verb on anything else. Have a slight chorus (slight!) on a guitar but not on anything else. get the idea??


cheers
John

[Jules]

Guys, Y'all have given me a bunch of great hints, thanks a lot.
The thing with the different FX was a cool idea, I gotta try it, but I hope it won't work in an unexpected way and make the mix even more blurred. Okay, I'll try!

Lionel's article was the thing I was looking for. It's exaclty the same with me, my instruments sound okay, the FX sound okay, my tracks sound okay, but as soon as I mix them I realize that there is no spectrum of colors but all sort of blurred into white.

Okay, of course I know, the solution for the quest for a good sound starts with the dollar bills and the mic preamp that tops my studio equipment probably twice, but...

let's talk about EQing cuz I think that's the crucial part:
Let's talk about numbers. Clear to me that there's no rule and every voice has a different range and every guitar has a different tone aso...
However, there must be guidelines about a particular instrument's frequency range, don't they?

Could anybody give me some values for vocals, guitars, bass, bd, snare, toms, hh, aso? Can I find these kind of charts somewhere? Can I measure this somehow?
Somebody dealt with this? I think it would be interesting for everybody to know.

Thanks
Pete Jules

[rtzstudios]

This might help...

[rtzstudios]

and this too...

[vulcanofga]

The chart that rtzstudios linked you to is great.I would suggest printing it out and keep it by your mixer.

Just remember if you boost one freq range it is helpful to cut an instrument in that same freq.If you need more bottom 50 to 90hz on the kick cut the bass guitar a little in that range before you boost the kick and listen to what you have.Then you might want to cut the kick around 100 to 150hz to make room for the bass.If you then need to boost those freq a little there will be some sonic room to do so.Some instruments (like accoustic guitar) can be cut at the bottom end too around 50 to 80 hz to give you more room for the bottom instruments.

Also don't forget to pan your instruments around to find a good space for them,this will also help clear up the mix and bring key instruments out or blend them with less eq.

[Gidge]

http://www.prorec.com/prorec/article...8?OpenDocument

[Gidge]

http://www.prorec.com/prorec/article...2566B9001EF763

[CyanJaguar]

professionally recorded tracks also have the advantage of having been recorded through a good number of preamps. Each has a different color: that is where separation starts

[Gidge]

Amen CJ...and if you want that vocal to stand out record it thru your best preamp and dont use that preamp for anything else on the track.....

man ive learned some useless shit here....

[zip]

Nice attachments rtz...thanks!

The "Why your mixes suck" is great too...already have that in my binder.

[rtzstudios]

Sorry CJ, I have to disagree with you on that statement. It certainly doesn't hurt to have quality pres, but that is not really where the separation starts. I've heard plenty of good tracks here and elsewhere that were done on so-so equipment and have pretty good separation (not "PRO" but definitely not bad.) The mixing stage is where you should really focus on getting that "clean" sound. Don't get me wrong...you SHOULD try to get a good mix as you track. You sort of have to visualize what you're after to get good separation.