Help, Advice of mixing Strings.

[jerjabs]

Hi there, I'm currently recording a new song that has a soft-synth cello, violla and violen section. As usual it sounds great on my monitors but once in my car its muddy. I need to know what frequencys you guys high pass those three different sections?

THANKS

 

[chazba]

Yeah...strings can be difficult. One trick I have learned is to divide the parts of a string section and to record them separately. Then when mixing I create a stereo mix, panned to about 60-70% left or right or so till it gives a nice visual image if you close your eyes and listen. Cello's a little to the right, viola's more centered. I hope David K responds as he has done some awesome string mixes. Separating the parts gives some "air" to the sound. Another thing...don't let 'em get in your face too much. Depending on what else is happening, just barely there seems to work best for me, giving the suggestion of distance and depth to the sound stage

chazba

 

[jerjabs]

What freq. do you low cut them at to kill the mud?

 

[WhiteStrat]

What freq. do you low cut them at to kill the mud?

There's no hard and fast rule. It all depends on what frequencies are creating the mud. And that all depends on what other instruments and/or patches are getting in the way.

I recently did a piece with three different string tracks (along with guitar, piano, etc.). I didn't low cut any of them. What they needed (like Chazba said) was their own space in the stereo field, and the right volume levels.

And don't be suprised that something that sounds good on your monitors has problems in your car or living room. My last one got tweaked and burned to a CD 23 times before I called it done.