Compression... and/or equalizing..?

[danny.solo]

Hi

Thanks for taking the time to read my post.

I've been home recording for about 5 years... with an 'that'll do' attitude.
I'm now thriving for a clear, punchy and bass-y (commercial!!!) sound.

My latest track has electronic drums, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass and vocals.
All the tracks, separately, sound fantastic - lovely and clear, high quality (using an external usb audio interface).

However when I start to mix down, the track as a whole sounds so shoddy.
I've been told the best way to get a clear track is to compress each individual track and then mix down.

I'm now told to use an equalizer...


Basically, I'm quite confused, but without trying to be too awkward... how can I mix down 10+ audio tracks, without it making muddy, too bassy, unclear.. even though the tracks sound fantastic themselves..

Thank you

(i also posted this in the recording techniques forum, possibly the wrong place!)

 

[stealth_prod]

That is where EQ can come into play. It happens alot because your different instruments when combined are battling in the mix to be heard. You need to give each instruments its rightful space in the mix. Now no one here is going to tell you a specific number or easy plug-in for this so you will have to do some experimenting. There is alot of good information that will help you get started on this site and all you will need to do is type in "EQ" for the seach and you should get plenty of helpful tips.

Muddy often means your Lower frequencies are overpowering the rest of the instruments. Id say start with your bass and kick drum (if you have one) and work your way from there. Those tend to ride around the 200Hz range. Find a comfortable spot where both the kick and bass sit together and can here them both without it getting "muddy." Often times I, and this is something I personally do, roll off the bass instrument well ahead of the 200Hz range and then slowly bring it up until it sits with the kick.

Then you want to give each instrument its own little place in the EQ spectrum. Again it will take time and practice and a good amount of research. Good luck and I hope I could help.

PS. Anyone who has more experience please correct anything I have said it is wrong. Dont want to steer anyone in the wrong direction.

 

[JIMBOdrummer]

ya you're right about the EQ. compresion and eq are different tho so you shouldn't chose one or the other.

now compression and Limiting are two things you should be choosing between.

compression brings peeks that are too high (like loud or clipping) and peeks that are too low (so the volume drops off, like you move away from the mic for a second) and brings them closer to the middle of the level

limiting just prevents clipping. kind of a quick fix, i mean setting levels prior and maintaining the level while recording can prevent clipping all together.

EQ has to do with the amount of certain frequencies (high or low). not volume

for instance you might EQ the bass end up on an acoustic guitar to give it more body and presence. or you might EQ the high end up on a synth to excite it and make it come through all the other instruments.


HOPE THIS HELPS i know it was long

 

[Mindset]

Go look up the frequency charts, this one is probably posted somewhere in the forums..
http://www.independentrecording.net/irn/resources/freqchart/main_display.htm

 

[nbiehl]

Great chart. I'm bookmarking that.

 

[theCKWilliams]

go look up the frequency charts, this one is probably posted somewhere in the forums..
http://www.independentrecording.net/irn/resources/freqchart/main_display.htm

thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you

i've been needing a chart like this for years!!!