Begin mix with Automation?

  • Thread starter Thread starter businessnotplea
  • Start date Start date
B

businessnotplea

New member
I am still experimenting with mixing and was wondering is it a good idea to start a mix with (Volume) Automation? It seems to be useful for singers who move around inbetween sections and gets a more balanced volume vocal between sections from the begining. Also you could then automate single words or guitar strummed too hard on just 1 hit, thus reducing the use of compression, right? Does anybody use this method or can see any flaws with it?
 
If I'm starting with a mix and the tracking is completely finished, I do generally set the volumes first.
I'll do basic obvious eq, like if bass needs rolled off a guitar or voice or whatever,
then I'll set about automating anything that really needs it.

It's usually vocals that take the most tweaking.

I think it's good to get a 'volume mix' done first and foremost before I start playing with an effects, especially compressors.

You mentioned reducing the need for compression. I think this is key.
It's not a hard fast rule, but my opinion is that if you use a compressor to control volume over a long period, you're using the wrong tool.
 
Good reply Steenamaroo, I shall continue to start gettin the mix sounding right as much as possible with automation to begin with then, it's giving me much more balanced results and much more easily as well I would say. It also does the job of a gate inbetween sections :) Thanks for your reply.
 
you will find, that if you start with automation TOO EARLY..... you will paint yourself into a corner, and end up deleting it all and starting over.

try to get your best 'faders up' mix happening, and delve into panning and eq, sub buss FX, etc, long before you automate.
 
Hi Gonzo-x, with this mix I did actually clean up the tracks a little first and did some subtracting of bad frequencies, set the faders as appropriatly as I could and panned, I find though when you set the vocal (Or mainly anything) for one section its inappropriate for the next, I found using automation early-ish on worked well for balance, otherwise I would probably use compression which I'm not comfortable with. I did just mean volume automation, for general levels?
 
As my vocals can be all over the place at times, (luckily not all the time), I usually will do a basic automation of the lead vocal during the first part of vocal mixing (I usually have the instruments set, except for ducking, at that point) - i.e. one general volume for each verse, chorus, bridge part, then after listening do the 'fine tuning'.
 
try to get your best 'faders up' mix happening, and delve into panning and eq, sub buss FX, etc, long before you automate.
Click to expand...
No doubt -- The elements of the mix should live well together first. After that, volume adjustments are a matter of taste -- not a matter of need.
 
mjbphotos said:
As my vocals can be all over the place at times, (luckily not all the time), I usually will do a basic automation of the lead vocal during the first part of vocal mixing (I usually have the instruments set, except for ducking, at that point) - i.e. one general volume for each verse, chorus, bridge part, then after listening do the 'fine tuning'.
Click to expand...

this sounds like a tracking issue to me.

not a mix issue.

the goal is: consistency.
 
If you have the ability, I would recommend using input gain instead of actual automation. For example, if you find the vocal being too loud here and too quiet there, cut the wave form and drag that region up or down, thus changing the input gain. That way your fader still works normally. I know in Cubase, if you volume automate and then try to change the volume with the fader, as soon as you let go it returns to the automated level. Unless of course you are writing that change too. I think that's what Gonzo meant about painting yourself into a corner.
 
sixer2007 said:
If you have the ability, I would recommend using input gain instead of actual automation. For example, if you find the vocal being too loud here and too quiet there, cut the wave form and drag that region up or down, thus changing the input gain. That way your fader still works normally. I know in Cubase, if you volume automate and then try to change the volume with the fader, as soon as you let go it returns to the automated level. Unless of course you are writing that change too. I think that's what Gonzo meant about painting yourself into a corner.
Click to expand...

It only works like that in Reaper if you leave the automation selector armed for Trim/Read. If you turn off 'Arm' and put it on Read, you can adjust the overall volume of the track with the fader.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top