Any tips for mixing backing track for live use?

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tombuur

tombuur

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Audio mixing is new to me, so far I have used midi files played from a keyboard for backing while I sing and play lead guitar.

However, I tried mixing an audio track instead, believing this approach will give me more options (like use of audio loops, backing vocals etc.). On the monitors the final result sounded fine, but when played over my P.A. it was somewhat muddy and dead. The simple midi I normally use sounds better.

Are there any tricks for mixing this sort of thing? Should I pan the instruments more out to give the impression of a live band? Should I avoid compression to get more dynamics as would also be the case with a real band?

Does anyone have experience with this kind of thing?
 
The mixing shouldn't really be all that different. I would go for a more dry and mono mix to accomodate different PA's and rooms. Compression shouldn't hurt if used properly and may help. What monitors are you mixing on? That may be the real problem.
 
I was using Yorkville YM1p. But these are new to me too. I have decided to turn up the bass on these (you can do that on the back), because I also experienced a difference between monitors and speakers here.

Speakers BTW are EV 200sx. I have them on the floor in my rehearsal room which gives a good sound (enough bass, that is). When taking them out of the house, I put them on stands and add a subwoofer.

I don't agree about mono. I'd rather have a wider stereo and a better defined punchier sound. That is what I get with midi, and it works.
 
Very few bands do live shows in stereo. The reason is that very few people in the audience will be in the sweet spot. It probably sounds cool in the rehearsal space where you can stand in the middle but for the people standing to the sides of the stage they will be missing half of the picture. If it works for you, cool.
 
tom, you're changing the physical space from your recording room to the outside "I have them on the floor in my rehearsal room which gives a good sound (enough bass, that is). When taking them out of the house, I put them on stands and add a subwoofer." The sound waves are no longer bounded by the walls and you are throwing a subwoofer into the mix.

You are going to have to experiment on EQ'ing the mix CD until it sound right on your PA set up out of the house. Once you know what you have to do to make your "PA mixes" sound right you can note it down and do it to copies of all future songs.
 
Of course, you are right. I can do it the hard way, change mix, try it out, change again, try it out ... Maybe that's the only way? I just hoped someone here had some general advice I could start out with. Maybe someone had done mixing for live use and knew about pitfalls.
 
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