3 db pushes on the choruses?

[wesley tanner]

do you guys do um? pre final mix? on only the vox? i've just began experimenting with them, i've started with one song on the guitars and vox, anyone else do this stuff? I'm just lookin for the best methods people've tried...

 

[AlexW]

If the song needs it I do, otherwise I don't. There's no hard and fast rule. If a track starts to get buried in a certain part of song, I'll raise it up temporarily then bring it back down.

 

[wesley tanner]

that's not exactly what I'm talking about, that's pretty much just mix automation... I'm talking about more of a 'make the chorus pop out' to do for a pop song.

 

[mixsit]

It seems that by the time you get to final mix proportions, one or two dB even on the separate tracks is quite noticeable.
Where would you like to get room for the push? Hold back other sections or push it into the mix comp maybe?
Wayne

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

I'm talking about more of a 'make the chorus pop out' to do for a pop song.

Personally that's something that I will never has a *predisposition* to do. In other words, I never think, "OK, this is going to be bubble gum so I'm going to blow bubbles in the choruses." before actually hearing the song and seeing what it requires. For me, the song itself does most of the dictating as to how to mix it. It it seems to scream for a bloated chorus, then I'll give it one.

But as I think of it now, I don't think I've *ever* accentuated a chorus by just kicking up the gain a couple of dBs. I've done it instead by *altering the mix*. For example I might use an extra (or different) instrument, or add a vocal to the mix, or bring up the bass but notch down the lead git, or whatever the mix calls for. In that way I spotlight the chorus without affecting the overall volume very much. Not only does this make for a more solid mix and (perhaps) easier master, but it is a much more emotional-sounding mix than just playing tricks with the overall volume envelope.

I have to also point out that there are times when just the opposite is called for; that attention should be paid to the verses and not the choruses (Rik's sig line notwithstanding ). This is especially true if the song has particularly strong lyrics or if one of the controlling hooks of the song lies in the verse instead.

G.

 

[ecktronic]

I wouldnt advise boosting the master volume to achieve a more outstanding chorus. I agree with what southside glen says mostly. I have boosted the guitars a bit for choruses in the heavy rock genre. Clean/Heavy/Clean heavy. This makes sense for this genre but might not work for an acoustic track where maybe other instruments would come (strings for example) in at the choruses or backing vocals were added etc.
I have done mixes where i have actually started mixing from the loudest parts (chorus in this case) and then worked from there. Strange way of doing things, but seemed to work as you can get the chorus to be the level you want with all instruments then just decrease a few insturments volume or take out some instruments for the quieter parts.