Another mix and mastering tip(s)

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Here's some tips I've made over the years... Enjoy... ;)


Tips how to mix and master like a pro.


By: Aaron Reppert


Mixing and mastering is an art in itself. It takes time to find your own techniques and how to become a pro mixer. These tips will help you get your projects done faster and give you a professional result.

Make a session template

In your audio software program, make a session template. This is a session with all the tracks, plugins and settings already setup. This is what you will use when recording a new project.

Mix as you record

When in the pre production and recording stage, you want to EQ and mix as you record. This will save you time during the mixing stage. Before recording, get a microphone test with the artist. Compress and EQ the vocal with the plugins in the session. When you get the settings perfect, just copy and paste each plugin setting to the next recorded track. Do the same for each new recorded artist. Don't forget to label each track in the session as well.

On the master fader, put an EQ and maximizer plugin. (There are many maximizer plugins. So find the one that works best for you in your audio program.) This will give you an idea how the mastered track will sound. With out the maximizer plugin, levels will be softer and less impacting for you to reference. Vocals and instruments will not be as up front as it would going through a maximizer plugin. This will give you an idea on how to mix the session before it goes to mastering. These steps are very important because you don't want your track to change drastically during mastering.

Make custom settings

Another great tip is to make individual plugin settings for each artist you record. This way when you record, you just bring up that artist plugin setting and you are ready to go. Remember that every artist has a different style and vocal tone, so you need to make a custom plugin setting.

Do's and Don'ts

Don't get into the mode and say, "Oh, I'll just fix it in mastering." Always, fix any problems with the mix in the "mixing stage". Mixing gives you more options then mastering. When you mix and master your tracks, you may go back and forth in the mixing and mastering stages. Say that you are in the mastering stage and just realized that the bass is too load. Instead of lowering the bass EQ mix in mastering, go back to the mix and lower the bass track in the session. Then go back to master it. That's why you have the maximizer plugin on the master fader in mixing so you don't have to go back and forth.

Different reference speakers

One of the things to remember is that mixing on studio speakers don't really give you a reference how it will sound on a boom box or car speakers. Buy a cheap boom box with an aux input and hook it up to you system. You will switch between the studio speakers and boom box during the mixing and mastering stage. This will tell you if you have to much bass and if the levels are mixed right. On the boom box, switch the different user settings.

1. Classic

2. Rock

3. POP

4. Vocal (and so on)

You want your mix to sound good in all these user settings, not just one. I would recommend setting up a car stereo receiver and car speakers to get the feel of how your mix will sound in a car. You can buy a car stereo power converter at your local Radio Shack to hook up the car receiver in your studio.

Also, play your mixes on your computer speakers. Make sure your mixes sound perfect on the computer speakers as well.

Sound Proof the studio

One important issue that people over look is sound proofing. If you have an untreated room, you may find that you are not getting the accurate references to you mixes. Ever mix your song and play it in your car and find you had to much or to little bass? This is because your room may accent the bass or absorb to much bass in the room. You need to treat the room with acoustic foam.

Auralex is the premiere company when it comes to studio room treatment. Treating the entire room can get expensive so just treat the main problem areas in the room. This means corners, reflections, and the walls.

1. Use bass traps to fix problem corners that may reflect and build up bass. This is a very important treatment to make.

2. Get rid of any items in the studio that may cause sound reflections. This means mirrors, metal objects, and flat walls.

2. Carpet treat the floor. This will save you money on treating the ceiling with foam.

3. Add studio absorption wall foam to certain parts of the wall. >photo


With these tips you should be on your way to making great masters.
 
That's all good info. But the real problem is, most engineers can hear frequencies which 9 out of 10 normal humans can't hear.

Refining your ears to understand those frequencies, and how they should interact with one another accross the musical spectrum, is the MOST important part in Mixing/Mastering.

I don't care how dope of a rapper or producer you are. Presets, and plugins will not give you a professional sound. An Engineer will.
 
Yes, you are exactly right. Having a boat load of tools does nothing for you if you don't have the education and know hoe to use them.

And refining your ear is true. I sometimes here things that other people don't. You might think that mixing and hearing music might hurt your ears, but I know can hear certain frequencies... Like high requencies and such...

It took me 10 years to get good at mixing and mastering. But, these tips will make things go faster and smooth... :D
 
Dont let the conversation end there guys keep it comin' lol
 
What's the hardest part of mixing or mastering you guys find? Let's see it we can get some more tips... ;)
 
i would say vocal levels and/or "proper" eq-ing of vocals. getting them to sound good AND sit in the mix properly is probably the hardest thing to do.

oh - and then getting each song to be at the same level so you dont crank it up for one track, and blow your speakers the next, haha.
 
For me, mixing is like sonically making something visual... if that makes sense. I try to mix in a way that makes the music seem like you can actually see it, like if you were at a concert. My main goal is to give everything its own "room" through panning, eq, reverb, etc... I'm still faaaaaaar from an expert, but I learn something new with every mix. I've come to find out that hpf/lpf and cutting freq's does wonders for mixes where boosting can just clutter them...
 
BillyBo said:
i would say vocal levels and/or "proper" eq-ing of vocals. getting them to sound good AND sit in the mix properly is probably the hardest thing to do.

oh - and then getting each song to be at the same level so you dont crank it up for one track, and blow your speakers the next, haha.
Click to expand...

Vocals are the hardest to mix. And it's also important to get the best quality when recording a vocal. Vocals have so much dynamics and changes that it's hard to get away with cutting corners. Unlike drums and some instruments, vocals are the up front part of a song. So it's important to really get the best out of the recording.

First it's all about getting the right mic. You don't have to break the bank, just get a crisp good quality mic. I always say the NT-1 because it's only $200, but it has such a high quality output gain and construction.

Next, get a pop screen. You will see how this can perfect your recording. And also get a shock-mount. This will help you have more control over your sound.

In terms of the mix. You kind of have to make your own technique. What may work for me may not work for others. But, here is my plugin chain.

1. focusrite d3 compressor
2. focusrite d2 EQ
3. DeEsser

Now it's important to remember that how you make your plugin chain will really change your sound. I like to compress first before I EQ because if you put the EQ first and then compress, the compressor setting will change.

I like the compressor to stay the same and not change while I EQ. I put the DeEsser last as a fail safe. So just in case there is a high frequency, it will catch it.

It depends what kind of mix you have also. If you have a big full hip hop mix, you want to compress the vocal more to sit in the mix. It would be different for a less full mix. Also, mixing your song right really helps. You don't want instruments to compete in the mix. You want each instrument to have it's own mix space. And if you can imagine your vocal in the middle, build all the instruments around it. Give the vocal it's own space. This will make it sit in the mix better while you can hear each instrument.

To get each song the same level, you want to make a new session and import each track for your CD. Normalize each track (that are not high volumes in your mix session) with the Normalize plugin. Only do this if necessary. This will bring each track to the same level. Then you want to add a maximizer plugin to maximize the sound for CD. Then export the files and burn it. This was kind of a fast way to do it. You want to do more in mastering...
 
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jb4play said:
For me, mixing is like sonically making something visual... if that makes sense. I try to mix in a way that makes the music seem like you can actually see it, like if you were at a concert. My main goal is to give everything its own "room" through panning, eq, reverb, etc... I'm still faaaaaaar from an expert, but I learn something new with every mix. I've come to find out that hpf/lpf and cutting freq's does wonders for mixes where boosting can just clutter them...
Click to expand...

Ya, you right. I sometimes close my eyes while I EQ and compress because music is a feeling and you can make it visual. Try it...
 
Noddy301 said:
For me its making the song sound crisp and fresh
Click to expand...

I found that it does really make a difference in using a high quality plugin. For eaxample using a stock EQ that comes with your audio software will be different then using a Waves EQ. I know it's more money, but it's something that you have to invest into.

Also, sometimes cutting a mid frequency and then bringing up the hight a bit helps. You will have to sweep the cut frequency...

Also in mastering if you use a 31 band EQ, you have more control... A 4 band just wont cut it...
 
The hardest part of mixing for me is levels period. Mostly vocals.
 
Ya, levels are hard. You just have to work at it and mix, mix, mix. I have tones of productions I'll never use that were just learning tracks...
 
I definetely believe vocals are the hardest. It's kinda like a never ending struggle. Even when the song is done, in the back of your mind you have little things you don't like about the vocals. I remember when i didn't know jack about mixing. Back then, it was easier for me to get into the music. Now, i think about eq and compression and all that and it's harder for me to concentrate on the music. I can hear so much more stuff now. It's so bad for me that when i'm in the car, i can't listen to the radio/cd player unless i've got the eq how i like it! :D My cousin be killin me sometimes. He gets in the car and turns down the treble and jacks the bass all the way up. All i hear is MUDDDD!!! Guess it kinda sucks to have good ears!
 
BeatsBuY said:
To get each song the same level, you want to make a new session and import each track for your CD. Normalize each track with the Normalize plugin. This will bring each track to the same level. Then you want to add a maximizer plugin to maximize the sound for CD. Then export the files and burn it. This was kind of a fast way to do it. You want to do more in mastering...
Click to expand...


BB, I won't pick apart yoour post, but this part is a big NO WAY!

DO NOT use any Normalization plugin to level out the volumes of your tracks accross a project. It does NOT work correctly at all.

If it's a project your putting out, you need to pay someone to master it. Do it right, or don't play the game at all. If you're just burning some test mixes or something, fine... But there are still better ways to do it.
 
I guess I'm different than ya'll. Mixing to me, is easy. Especially vocals. Not sure why, but it is... My biggest issue is samples. When producers use samples, I have to EQ the life out of them to eliminate a kick or a snare that's interfering with the track. That really pisses me off sometimes.
 
Change of POETS said:
BB, I won't pick apart yoour post, but this part is a big NO WAY!

DO NOT use any Normalization plugin to level out the volumes of your tracks accross a project. It does NOT work correctly at all.

If it's a project your putting out, you need to pay someone to master it. Do it right, or don't play the game at all. If you're just burning some test mixes or something, fine... But there are still better ways to do it.
Click to expand...


Definitely a no-no. Stay away from normalizing all together, there are better ways to get volume, tracking at correct levels is a start. It all comes down to perceived volume, that's where you want a mastering engineer to do his thing (along with all the other mastering tasks). Percieved volume is a mixture of a lot of things. Compression, EQing, limiting etc... etc... On major releases, no 2 mixes are usually the exact same volume (RMS atleast) but you wouldn't know by listening.
 
Oh yes, diffenitly pay a pro to master your CD. These are tools to teach folks how to get to know you tools. It takes years and education to get to that level...

And thanks for that point in the Normalizing. I should clarify more. But, when I explain audio I normally explain it to complicated so I'm trying to keep it simple.

But, remember the best way to learn is expirence, trial and error. Someone can tell you how to do something, but you have to get your fingers dirty and do it...

And this is what these discussions are about, clarifying, learning and expanding your knowledge. Hey, I give out knowledge and I just got some back. ;) Ya! :D

The deal with normalizing I just saw was it is 1 more calculation process which detoriates the audio quality. I will add this to the tips...

And also remember there are many different techniques and ways to mix and so on. Someone might say not to use a lot of compression. But, it depends on what you are going for. I say if your mix sounds amazing and you did it different, then good... It's about the end result... A lot of the new technology couldn't be if someone did something different and wanted to experiment. Like reverb halls, to reverb box, to digital reverb. If someone didn't make a reverb hall in a studio, would we be where we are now?
 
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Change of POETS said:
I guess I'm different than ya'll. Mixing to me, is easy. Especially vocals. Not sure why, but it is... My biggest issue is samples. When producers use samples, I have to EQ the life out of them to eliminate a kick or a snare that's interfering with the track. That really pisses me off sometimes.
Click to expand...

I think everyone has a talent. And things come natural. Mixing comes easy to you and samples may not as much. For me producing comes easy and mixing second... But, you always work on what you're not as good at. I'm on mastering now and it takes time...
 
Here's another good topic. For those who mix and master. Do you like to stay in the digital realm or go to analog gear such as an Avalon compressor? I do have Avalon gear, but stay all the way digital once recorded...
 
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