Hey guys, I don't want to be another guy that comes on and asks for a mixing process. I want to know what each step does (eq,reverb,delay) to the vocal and know what to change. Could someone please help me with some information? Thank you!
Sorry to break it to you, but you can't learn how to create art by simply asking the artist how they do it.
That's like if I asked da Vinci how he paints. And then expect to be able to paint pictures like his.
Sure, you can get a few tips...but these can only be understood and applied once you have the experience. No one can give you this experience except yourself.
I used to read mixing tips from "the masters" when I first started learning. And I tried to apply them to my mixes. This only ended up in more confusion, because I was trying processes that were supposed to give me certain results, and I did not know what was wrong when I didn't get those results.
Over the last couple years, I have learned that the only way to learn to mix is to mix. Again. And again. And compare your mixes to your old mixes, and to commercial releases.
LISTEN.
Make mistakes.
LEARN.
Mix something else.
Mix it again.
Listen to songs you've heard a hundred times, but listen for things you haven't heard before. Focus on one part and see how it changes throughout the song.
Listen to what sort of effects are on the vocals you love so much.
Listen to the right channel only.
Listen to the left channel only.
Mix something else and try to get closer to the end result you want.
Use only delays, no reverbs.
Use only reverbs, no delays.
Don't use any spacial effects at all.
Compare your mix to a commercial mix in a similar genre.
Take note of the differences, and see what you can do to minimize them.
Mix something else without references.
Mix it again with references.
Compare your two mixes.
Make note of the difference and try to compensate in your next mix.
Mix with lots of compression.
Try parallel compression, smashing the compressed part.
Try parallel compression, while lightly compressing the compressed part.
Mix with no compression.
EQ before compression.
EQ after compression.
Now do it all over again.
The only way for you to figure out how all of these techniques help (or hurt) you is to try them. Discover with your own ear what they do to the sound. Think about when it would be useful and when it would not be useful.
See what I mean?
