F
fdr1972
New member
I apologize if this info is available already. Realizing this is entirely subjective, how long should one wait to be begin to mixdown tracks for a cd ? 
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
Wait between what...the tracking and mixing?
Or did you mean to ask...how long to wait between mixing and mastering?
There is no rule for either. Between tracking and mixing...there usually a longer period for me, since it takes some time to edit/comp tracks in the DAW before mixing them...and I often don't mix any songs until I'm done tracking/editing all the songs that ill be part of an album/collection.
With the last step...since I'm no mastering engineer...it took me awhile between the mixing and mastering stages, as I did a lot of experimenting to see which SOP would work best.
I mean...if you are concerned about "clearing your palate" as they say...and you are more in a hurry to get to it.
Give your ears a rest...then maybe listen to some music that is similar to what you are doing and how you want your stuff to sound...then go at it.
How much time that takes...is up to you.
Or did you mean to ask...how long to wait between mixing and mastering?
There is no rule for either. Between tracking and mixing...there usually a longer period for me, since it takes some time to edit/comp tracks in the DAW before mixing them...and I often don't mix any songs until I'm done tracking/editing all the songs that ill be part of an album/collection.
With the last step...since I'm no mastering engineer...it took me awhile between the mixing and mastering stages, as I did a lot of experimenting to see which SOP would work best.
I mean...if you are concerned about "clearing your palate" as they say...and you are more in a hurry to get to it.
Give your ears a rest...then maybe listen to some music that is similar to what you are doing and how you want your stuff to sound...then go at it.
How much time that takes...is up to you.
L
lastdays
New member
I admitedly know very little about this, but I will begin to mix or master immediately, get to a stopping point and work on something else, then go back a few days later. wash rinse and repeat seems to work for me 
I like what guitar guy said about listening to similiar style commercial cd's
a guitar guy with an orchestra name, whodathunkit
I like what guitar guy said about listening to similiar style commercial cd's
a guitar guy with an orchestra name, whodathunkit
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
"guitar guy"...?
OK...works for me.
You know how it goes...Mom & Dad get to pick the names...and you get to live with them.
OK...works for me.
You know how it goes...Mom & Dad get to pick the names...and you get to live with them.
F
fdr1972
New member
I read that post a realized how goofy it sounded, my apologies. Yes I meant, of course. between mixing and mastering. I realize there is no set rule as it were, maybe a consensus of opinion.
SouthSIDE Glen
independentrecording.net
Long enough so that when you listen to it in mastering, it sounds fresh and new and your ears have had a chance to rest.
I'd recommend sleeping overnight on it, minimum, personally. Beyond that, the maximum limit IMHO is to get it done before you start forgetting just what you had in mind when you made the song and mixed it to begin with. Whether that's two days, two weeks or two months is up to the individual.
And personally, I think the resting the ears is an important part of it. I don't like the idea of listening to other music in the meantime, myself, for two reasons. First it, that's not exactly letting the ears rest. Second, it biases the ear, IMHO. You need to listen to your mix *as your mix as it sounds*, not as how it compares to what someone else did with a different song in a different studio at a different time with different engineers using different gear, etc.
You should only be concerned with what your mix sounds like, and its hard to do when you have someone else's mix rattling around in your skull.
$0.02, IMHO, YMMV, MSG, NaCl, etc.
G.
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
I agree with Glen on some points...and honestly, I actually DON'T listen to other/similar music in order to decide how to mix/master mine.
The main reason I gave that as an option is because a lot of newbs don't really have any idea about how they want their mix to sound or they are not sure if they are “measuring up” to some commercial standards. If you know what you are after…listening to other stuff isn’t that important…but you will hear a lot of engineers talk about their favorite “reference” CDs that they use to get in the right frame of mind…etc.
Also...unlike Glen, I do prefer to (though I may not always) walk away from the mix for a good amount of time...could be weeks...before considering any mastering, because you CAN get "too close" to the mix...IOW, you get "zoomed in" too deep when doing the mix, and your ears/mind is focusing too much on very specific elements even when it comes time to master.
By "resting" your ears...it wasn't so much about NOT listening to any other music...but more about clearing away the short-term memory of your mixing, which won't necessarily wipe out the long-term idea of how you want your mix to sound.
Glen's way works for him perfectly...it may work for you...etc.
Find what works.
The main reason I gave that as an option is because a lot of newbs don't really have any idea about how they want their mix to sound or they are not sure if they are “measuring up” to some commercial standards. If you know what you are after…listening to other stuff isn’t that important…but you will hear a lot of engineers talk about their favorite “reference” CDs that they use to get in the right frame of mind…etc.
Also...unlike Glen, I do prefer to (though I may not always) walk away from the mix for a good amount of time...could be weeks...before considering any mastering, because you CAN get "too close" to the mix...IOW, you get "zoomed in" too deep when doing the mix, and your ears/mind is focusing too much on very specific elements even when it comes time to master.
By "resting" your ears...it wasn't so much about NOT listening to any other music...but more about clearing away the short-term memory of your mixing, which won't necessarily wipe out the long-term idea of how you want your mix to sound.
Glen's way works for him perfectly...it may work for you...etc.
Find what works.
SouthSIDE Glen
independentrecording.net
Agreed that there is no one answer, and that is all subjective, but if one has no idea what, if anything, they want to do to a mix by listening to it, then there's nothing to be done. The job is over.
G.
miroslav
Cosmic Cowboy
I agree...though I think that would apply more to guys with some existing mixing/mastering experience. As you say...if they can't think of anything the mix needs...it's done. But…I’m not sure if that applies to total newbs who never did a mix or who never completed a satisfying mix….???
Yes...I know that gets back into all the other "let your ears be your guide" discussions we've all had many times, which are always valid points...
...but some newbs seem to have a hard time trusting their ears, so maybe a little A/B comparisons to things that are familiar and that they feel are good sounding and somewhat established as "quality mixes" via audience approval...might coax the newb into trusting his ears and going with his own instincts…eventually shedding the need for that kind of A/B’ing.
I think that's more of an early-phase learning thing for newbs....otherwise, we agree that once past that, it's just up to YOU and no one else, AFA what is a finished/good mix.
It shouldn't matter then what others think or how it compares to other mixes...though sometimes, in reality, the opinions of others DO end up influencing our own decisions....and I don't think that's necessarily always a bad thing, unless you find yourself always playing up to the audience just for THEIR approval, while ignoring your own ideas/direction.
F
fdr1972
New member
Thanks to Glen and Miroslav for the input. I went back into the studio this evening and at least started on getting a good mix (I hope). Having been away from the tracks about 10 days to 2 weeks there was some stuff I heard that my fatigued ears hadn't.
SouthSIDE Glen
independentrecording.net
I would think that 10 days should be long enough for anyone. I'm glad that you made progress after that 
.
G.
.G.
G
Gentoo
New member
Hey guys. I just registered and thought I'd jump right in.
Basically, what I do once we're finished recording all the tracks and parts of a song is begin editing. Once it's edited I may begin adjusting levels right away or wait a day. I add all my EQ's and any effects to individual tracks for the most part. Once I export the mix down, I begin mastering right away. I come up with something that I can spend a few days listening to away from my monitors on other systems. I find how those systems respond to my mix. After that, I rework the mastering. my mastering basically consist of multi-band compression, spatial plugin, noise reduction and a limiter. most of my future adjustments are done with the MBC as needed. I may take a day or so to rest from the mix then listen to it again. I have many different mastering drafts for each song saved.
Basically, what I do once we're finished recording all the tracks and parts of a song is begin editing. Once it's edited I may begin adjusting levels right away or wait a day. I add all my EQ's and any effects to individual tracks for the most part. Once I export the mix down, I begin mastering right away. I come up with something that I can spend a few days listening to away from my monitors on other systems. I find how those systems respond to my mix. After that, I rework the mastering. my mastering basically consist of multi-band compression, spatial plugin, noise reduction and a limiter. most of my future adjustments are done with the MBC as needed. I may take a day or so to rest from the mix then listen to it again. I have many different mastering drafts for each song saved.