A Newbie Needs Help

  • Thread starter Thread starter Hummell
  • Start date Start date
H

Hummell

New member
Hey guys/girls. I need some help. You know, I'm brand new to this mixing/mastering thing....actually, I'm new to recording all together. :D

But, I have all the tracks laid down on my first song. I am having a hard time getting this thing to sound right. Mostly because whenever I "master" the song, either the guitar is too loud in some parts, or the vocals are too loud in some parts. I find myself trying to guess where the hards and softs are going to be. If I miss ONE friggin' high or low, I have to start over on the mixing of the song and it's driving me crazy.

Any ideas on what I need to do here? I'd be happy to email you the song so that you can listen to it to see what I'm missing or what I need to do.

Any help at all will be very, very appreciated.

Thanks!
 
try using compression on individual tracks to get them to sit a bit more fluently in the mix if they are jumping out in places, and forget about mastering for a few years. Learn to walk before you run.
 
..

Hahah, ok I'll forget about that...and maybe I'm just using the wrong terminology...in fact, I'm sure I am.

Thanks for the advice. Here is my next question which is going to put me on blast as far as my experience level. This is going to hurt, I can feel it coming.

How do I use compression? Or, better yet, how do you use it? Can you teach me?
 
Have you tried using some automation ? I am assuming you are doing stuff digitally with a computer ? If so, learn how to use your volume automation. There are several ways to do it. You can have your system record you "riding" the faders if you want. Or draw the volume automation lines by hand. So, if a particular passage jumps up about 1-3 db in volume, you automate the fader to bring the passage down 1-3db, then return to normal levels.

If you are using a standard analog mixer, then have your buddies help you ride all the faders.

I would prefer to use volume leveling as opposed to relying too much on compression to fix "volume" issues. Compression can suck some of the life out of the dynamics of a track if you are not careful.
 
Hummell said:
Did I just get a negative on my Rep Power?
Click to expand...

Compression, is a way to even out the dynamics of tracks, and also can make the more subtle parts (lower dynamic passages louder). As a track reaches a certain threshold, the compressor pushes down its level. If it goes even higher, it pushes it down more. There are settings to adjust compression galore.

Once you have a compressed track, you can bring the overall track "up" in volume on the fader, without fearing the peaks of the performance. This is how the lower parts become more apparent.

Does this make sense ?
 
sushi-mon said:
Have you tried using some automation ? I am assuming you are doing stuff digitally with a computer ? If so, learn how to use your volume automation. There are several ways to do it. You can have your system record you "riding" the faders if you want. Or draw the volume automation lines by hand.

If you are using a standard analog mixer, then have your buddies help you ride all the faders.

I would prefer to use volume leveling as opposed to relying too much on compression to fix "volume" issues. Compression can suck some of the life out of the dynamics of a track if you are not careful.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback...I knew I would get some real pro's on this board with some great insight to help me out here.

I am doing all of the fading myself....I've only got 8 tracks going during the song, but it is a little difficult to do when you're just starting out.

I'm using a Tascam DP-01 ( http://www.geartree.com/Shop/Control/Product/fp/vpid/1377268/vpcsid/0/SFV/29865) to mix the music.

What are the essentials I need to get my tracks sounding right? I've tried the manual fading of the music...and I can get it to sound great in the headphones, but the second I pop it in my CD player, I get too much bass, or the vocals are too loud in a certain part, or the acoustic guitar, I just can't quite dial it in right.

You guys are the best. Let me know if you want to get a listen to the track to see what direction I need to head.

Thanks for all the great advice.
 
sushi-mon said:
Compression, is a way to even out the dynamics of tracks, and also can make the more subtle parts (lower dynamic passages louder). As a track reaches a certain threshold, the compressor pushes down its level. If it goes even higher, it pushes it down more. There are settings to adjust compression galore.

Once you have a compressed track, you can bring the overall track "up" in volume on the fader, without fearing the peaks of the performance. This is how the lower parts become more apparent.

Does this make sense ?
Click to expand...

Yes, this is definitely making sense to me. Thank you so much, I'm serious. I am beating my head against the wall here, trying to get this thing to sound right.

Here is another question that will push me even further into the realm of no-respect:

Where do I find compression on my piece of equipment? Do I need something new?
 
...

I really would like to send this track to one of you gurus to let me know what it sounds like I need to do. Is this possible?
 
It appears that this unit does not have any "on board" signal processors other than EQ that I could see according to the specs. So, you would need to buy analog compressors and other effects (reverb, delay, etc.) this is what your effects sends are for. This will get darned expensive. You may want to seriously consider purchasing an audio interface with some digital recording software. $300-$500 will get you started with a Cubase or Pro-tools rig. Of course, you need to have a pretty up to date computer too. These audio interfaces all come with a host of digital sound effects processor's etc.

You should still be able to use this unit for recording, but depending on the interface you would buy, you should be able to use your audio interface to bounce your recorded tracks into the computer DAW (digital audio workstation) from the Tascam.
 
...

Sushi-mon - Thanks for all the pointers and for getting me going in the right direction. I have Acid-Pro...is that crappy? I haven't installed it on my laptop yet...I thought that I could just do everything from the Tascam (see, told you I was new at this). I had it on my old computer, but I could never really figure out how to get started.
 
I don't have a heck of a lot of experience at this stuff either. I recently purchased the MBox 2 with ProTulz.

Essentially, you need to find a way to hook your mixer up to your computer, and find a software program that can import the audio tracks from your mixer.

This would require a PC card, or better yet, an audio interface. These run about $300 for a typical 2 channel input/output device. You may consider a larger input/output interface since I you have 8 channels I think. These can run close to $1,000 or so. Or, get the small one, and import 2 tracks at a time. In some cases you may be able to import 2 analog inputs, and 2 SPDIF inputs for 4 inputs at a time. Quality varies on this, and converting from analog to digital (when you record) then back to analog (when you send it out to your laptop v.i.a. analog), then back to digital (conversion by your computer). This many conversions can cause signal degradation.

Interfaces typcially come with Cubase LE, which is a digital audio workstation 2-3 years old (I think).

You have a nice recording system. You can use it to record remotely, then import the tracks into a computer. The trick is, for you to figure out how to interface it with a good computer program, and make sure your computer has the specs to run the program. And make sure you do the least amount of D/A and A/D conversions as possible.

Acid Pro may work for this, I do not know its capabilities, right now I am learning Ptulz LE 7.0. But you should do some research, read the Acid Pro manual and look for how to interface an external mixer with it.

Maybe invest in the books "Home Recording for Dummies, etc." These should be a good reference guide for you about the basics and options available and they were published in 2005, so they should be up to date on most of the current technology.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=YG247b9CUC&isbn=0764588842&itm=2

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=YG247b9CUC&isbn=0764577077&itm=3

There is no quick fix, you need to read and take your time and learn.
 
...

Thank you so much for taking the time to catch me up. This is good stuff and will definitely get me going. I will do some reading of the books you suggested. This means a lot.

Thanks!
 
If I read this right, you're trying to mix (or master, or whatever its called) with headphones. General concensus is that this is bad. Do what you have to to mix through speakers (you can get some cheap studio monitors like the krk rokit 5's). This is probably why they sound good while mixing, but appear whacked out when popping them in a cd player.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top