A Fail-Safe Method for Mixing

[jaynm26]

I am new to the realm of mixing myself, and I have found this site as well as others to be my most helpful tools, as was stated earlier in the thread. I am curious about the statement that "subtractive EQ > additive EQ," though. Does that mean that it is actually better to go into the negative of certain frequencies?

No the meaning, is that it is better to cut when using EQ then to just go boosting freq's. Instead of boosting freq to hear things cutting other freq sometimes sound a "whole" lot better. So i agree Sub EQ > Add EQ in most cases.

Here is one trick I have used: Think of one of your favorite producer/sound engineers, or albums, and look him or her, or it, up on The Internet.
For example, I've always loved the way Steve Albini makes a drum kit sound, huge. So, I did a little research, and he apparently achieves that sound by placing a room mic as far from the kit as the room will allow, to get a natural slap-back. So the last time I tracked, I tried placing a mic about 12-15 ft from the kit and am very pleased with the ambience it provided.

Thats the way to use the noodle Ata-boy!

One last question. I noticed everyone talks about the importance of preamps in the tracking process. I have never used nor owned one, but I have come up with some great sounding recordings before. I am currently using Logic Pro 9 and tracking straight from the mics, and it sound sounds damn good. So how important is having a preamp in tracking?

No, you do not "need" Pre Amps to make good sound going into the interface BUT its can help thinks sound really good. So it a question of taste most of use do you Pre Amps into the interface but if you dont have a Amp its doesnt mean you can not make things sound good.

 

[RAMI]

No the meaning, is that it is better to cut when using EQ then to just go boosting freq's..

I think that's pretty much what he said, Jimmy.

Does that mean that it is actually better to go into the negative of certain frequencies?

If by "negative of certain frequencies" you meant "cutting certain frequencies", then, yes.

 

[jaynm26]

I think that's pretty much what he said, Jimmy.

If by "negative of certain frequencies" you meant "cutting certain frequencies", then, yes.

if thas what you meant then yep

 

[ModernMixing]

Assuming track and song are great.

I would choose 2 not just one, because I think they compliment each other. But gain staging and getting a good balance, the mix tends to follow.

 

[grimtraveller]

everyone talks about the importance of preamps in the tracking process. I have never used nor owned one, but I have come up with some great sounding recordings before. I am currently using Logic Pro 9 and tracking straight from the mics, and it sound sounds damn good. So how important is having a preamp in tracking?

Do you mean external preamps ? I'm thinking that's what you mean because you can't use microphones without preamps. They boost the signal to a useable level. But interfaces and many all in one recorders and DAWS have built in or on board preamps.