Damn I Need Help!

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GetInLine1

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Whats up guys, this is my first post, but I have been lurking on this board for a while picking up little gems of info. The reason I am finally posting is because I am in desperate need of help. I am working on a demo for an acoustic project which consists of a male singer, nylon classical guitar (played aggressively with a pick) and and acoustic bass. We have recorded all the tracks but I am just getting severly stuck with the mixing. Let me not jump the gun though, ill describe how everything was recorded. Vocals: Singer in isolation booth through Audio Technica 4033 to Yamaha O1V, slight EQ on the board, slight compression on the board to MOTU 2408 to Cubase SX added multi band compression and EQ and a little reverb. Acoustic Nylon: Player in Isolation Booth, Audio Technica 4033 to Yamaha O1V slight EQ, slight compression to MOTU 2408 to cubase, multiband compression, eq, reverb. Acoustic bass: well im not going to write it all again. everything the same steps... hahahaha. It seems the bass is probably whats throwing me off. certain notes of the bass come through WAY too lound, certain notes are almost nonexistant. The guitar and the bass when played together seem like they have a big space between them, instead of sounding like music it sounds like a bass and acoustic guitar PLAYING together. The musicians are top notch so thats not the problem. The vocals no matter how I much are either too over the top or two burried in the mix. As if these problems were not enough, the mix itself varies so god damn greatly from one audio system to another its not even funny... every place we test it out sounds COMPLETLEY different so much that we litterally thought we were burning different mixes by mistake.... Anyone who can help me with my vaguely described problems, it would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance.
 
less is more when it comes to eq and compress the crap out of the bass

try normal compression on everything rather than multiband.
 
ditto on compressing the bass. Also, what are you using to monitor your mixdown (speakers) and what is the room like that you are monitoring in?

DD
 
I don't understand why you're in desperate need of help.


Look, guy . . . no one's dying or losing large amounts of blood, here. :D :D :D

Basically, what you are experiencing are very normal, common things we all go through when we first start getting in to recording. It's kind of hairsplitting, yes, but you have to understand that there are degreed programs in audio engineering, and a small handful of people eeking out a living doing this stuff. And there's reasons for that.

Taking these one at a time, it appears you need to brush up on effective use of compression; using the right amount, the right settings in terms of attack/release, etc. Secondly, it sounds like you need some more practice mixing. It takes maybe a few years or so of regular study, experimentation, and practice to get it all worked out -- much like learning to play an instrument. It's not just levels and panning. I'm a pretty decent bass player, to give an example, but learning to play that was child's play next to getting good recordings. :D

Finally, you're having some translation issues -- your mix sounds different on different systems. This, too, is very normal. Quality mixes are made using very nice, accurate, often expensive monitoring systems . . . and in rooms that are meticulously designed and/or treated. This kind of mixing environment allows you to make decisions, mixing-wise, that will translate well to different playback systems.

And I know what you're thinking; you just want to get it to sound decent, right? Well, guess what? If you're lucky, you might get it to sound decent after a year or two of practice. :D That's not to say you won't make decent mixes in the meantime, but it will be a lot more luck of the draw rather than getting consistant results every time out.

In the meantime, if this is an emergency, I would recommend either sending your tracks off to a professional, or booking some time at a local studio. Because you're not going to suddenly learn how to mix well just by picking up a book or visiting HR.com. It just ain't gonna' happen.


Good luck.
 
Typically a good bass player won't need compression. So either he can't hear himself while playing which causes inconsistancies or the place you have the mic isn't the best place. Put the mic where the bass sounds best to your ear, and bass gtr and acoustic nylon should have the same placement technique. I would also suggesting using a sdc on the bass instead of the 4033. If what you have isn't working then put the mic somewhere else. The reason you have a big space is because your micing acoustic instruments and have too much room, deaden the room, move the mics closer to the source and it should tighten things up some. Rinse and repeat.

SoMm
 
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