Basic Mixing Questions

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GreenSpectrum

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Hi,

I'm trying to get a handle on mixing and have some very basic questions, maybe even dumb seeming to you ( see all my "dumb" questions about midi in the midi area). To me, mixing only means adjusting levels, adding effects and things, and then mixing down ( expoorting). I dont really see much more to the process than this. What "mastering" is exactly, I don't know. I just do my recording, get the mix basically right, and then export. Thats it. So I guess my first question is:
1. Coud anyone explain exactly what "mastering" is? just the main points. I know there is something to do with "compression," or something, but I confess I don't really know what that is.

2. I assume there are different ways of mixing the sound somehow, to make it sound better or something. Like, say, are vocals mixed just like anything else, or am I even on the right track with this question?

3. What, indeed, is "compression" and how and why would I employ it?


The answers to these and any other stray info you can think of about mixing and mastering would be greatly appreciated.

thanks a lot,

GreenSpectrum
 
GreenSpectrum said:
Hi,

I'm trying to get a handle on mixing and have some very basic questions, maybe even dumb seeming to you ( see all my "dumb" questions about midi in the midi area). To me, mixing only means adjusting levels, adding effects and things, and then mixing down ( expoorting). I dont really see much more to the process than this. What "mastering" is exactly, I don't know. I just do my recording, get the mix basically right, and then export. Thats it. So I guess my first question is:
1. Coud anyone explain exactly what "mastering" is? just the main points. I know there is something to do with "compression," or something, but I confess I don't really know what that is.

2. I assume there are different ways of mixing the sound somehow, to make it sound better or something. Like, say, are vocals mixed just like anything else, or am I even on the right track with this question?

3. What, indeed, is "compression" and how and why would I employ it?


The answers to these and any other stray info you can think of about mixing and mastering would be greatly appreciated.

thanks a lot,

GreenSpectrum
Click to expand...

Mastering
In my view there are three equally crucial aspects to professional mastering; the room itself, the gear in the room, and the engineer.
1)A mastering engineer can add more definition and clarity to the instruments on a song. "The use of post-production processes including editing, sweetening, EQ matching, level matching, limiting"
2)They also determine the order in which songs appear on a CD (this can greatly affect the way the CD progresses when played). They also determine how much time there should be between songs on the CD. They fade and crossfade the intros and endings of songs to make them flow better.
3)They also have the task of making a rough mix of a CD ready for public consumption by adjusting audio levels and pacing the tracks in a way that brings out the best in the material. Thats a rough idea of what a "Mastering Engineer" does, Its best to leave it up to a professional, obviously you can get mastering software but it doesnt compare.
Mastering Link
Mastering Link 2

Com-pres'-sion
1) Reduction of audio dynamic range, so that the louder passages are made softer, or the softer passages are made louder, or both. Examples include the limiters used in broadcasting, or the compressor/limiters used in recording studios.

Compressors and limiters are used for a multitude of reasons. The first (and main) reason is for the sound. Used properly, a compressor will place an absolute cap on the maximum level that can be passed. To prevent digital distorting, or making certain that the ADC (Analogue to Digital Converter) dont clip (exceed the maximum conversion voltage).
Compression Link
Compression Link 2

When i use compression:
As for using compression, that is a matter of personal preference. I use it only when needed. Unless I am going for a certain type of effect by heavily compressing the signal, then I use it only for stray peaks, since putting a signal that isn't peaking through a compressor will only introduce more noise.

Some people think that if its peaking out during recording, they can compress the signal in the mix and it will be fix. I used to think that myself but I realize now that once you've put a distorting signal through, the damage is already done to that signal's sound and the track is already saturated with distortion and no amount of compression during the mix will make it sound as if it were compressed during tracking.
 
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mixing number 1 like you said has to do with getting the levels right. the second most important thing in mixing is eq.

eq allows you to add character you may have not captured with the mics, and allows you to seperate instruments in the frequency domain, for example you might high pass guitars between 150 and 300 Hz, or scoop a couple dB out of the kick around 200 - 500 Hz to make it tighter. you might even low cut the bass guitar if it is too rumbly and you want to sound like Joy Division. or boost it around 120 if you want to add heavy puch. you might high pass the vocals if they sang too close to the mic and it boosted low frequencies. you might low and high cut a piano if you want it to sound cool like a old Wu Tang sampled piano.

compression is typically used a lot on bass guitar to make all the notes about the same volume. you can read up on the web about typical atttack, release adn ratio settings.

it's also used on the kick and the snare, more as a limiter...to make the the hits about the same level. if it's not dance music, you would like to leave some differnce in levels for emotion.

compression can also add sustain. because it makes quiet parts louder (atually because it makes peaks smaller and allows you to turn up louder therfore making the quiet parts -and noise-louder) you can hear kick drums ring out and get kind of ghetto fabulous... if that is what you are going for.

compression is usually used a little on vocals too so if the singer screams or something it doesn't get crazy loud.

amps and distortion and stuff adds its own cool compression to guitars and they usually don't need to be compressed so much. to me it usually just weakens them... unless the guitars are really clean then it might help a little.

in mastering they usually have expensive multi band compressors so they can compress differnt frequencies in different ways. they will also try to make your mix too loud and aggressive like nu metal unless you tell them to chill out with that and make it the apropriatel level for prolonged listening enjoyment. a major problem these days is over compression is mastering.

last time i had something mastered i liked it less. it's important to find a mastering engineer who is cool and who you can relate to and bring your stuff back to if you think they jacked it up.

you can also master yourself with some software or a multi band compressor and eq if you want and if it's fun...because it's just f'in music and who really cares.

here is a free oversimplified compressor that you can download for free and start to get the idea of what it does:

http://www.digitalfishphones.com/main.php?item=2&subItem=5

and they have a simplfied mastering type compression plugin too that you can try. to me it just makes it harsh. it's good for burning sample mixes at differnt levels. you can make a cd really loud and nasty if you want, or just loud enough.

http://www.digitalfishphones.com/main.php?item=2&subItem=3

really useful stuff for free.

peace.
 
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