Ear fatigue

  • Thread starter Thread starter uncleape
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uncleape

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Does anyone have any tips on mixing your track to help reduce ear fatigue? I know that getting a professional to master it is the best solution and that there generally isn't one method that works best for all problems, but I was wondering if anyone has any ideas.
 
Do you mean for while you're mixing or the effect 'loud and compressed music has?
 
Just don't do things that cause ear fatigue. Mastering has nothing to do with it.

Half the time I hear "it's really fatiguing" it's usually followed by "I tried to fix it with a sonic maximizer and a multi-band compressor."
 
I had started compiling a small list of ways to avoid/attack otherwise fatiguing sounding mixes, and I realized that I basically was just describing the basics of tracking, mixing and mastering in general.

Things like mix up your mic and preamp selection, follow a quality gain structure and moderate recording levels, sweep the tracks for resonances, use arrangement/panning/EQ/depth/automation etc. to give each instrument it's space, mix for sound quality and not for volume, be careful of too much buildup in the upper mids, and decide on final mastering volume based upon your ears and not some set of numbers.

And the big one; if something sounds fatiguing, fix it; if you can't fix it, get rid of it. Don't be afraid to throw out what doesn't work.

G.
 
If you mean ear fatigue while mixing. I like to calibrate my monitor system so -12dbFS equates to 83dB SPL. I find it be a reasonable level and allows plenty of headroom. However, i still have problems late in long tracking days, were everything starts to sound mushy and I can't make solid decisions. To avoid this, I take plenty of short ear breaks and listen to other material, usually trusted reference music, to regain the point of reference / perspective. Still, i find I have about a 13hr max before I'm just done

Cheers!
 
I could be wrong about this, but the way I read the OP is they are not asking how to reduce fatigue while mixing as they are how to create a mix that doesn't ultimately sound fatiguing.

G.
 
dean1964 said:
forgive me if my post was out of place.
Click to expand...

Ok look. At the morning meet' we all came together to decide to let slide -this time, let it go and move on.
No worrys then.





(actually i have no frikin idea what the hell you meant- but that was fun eh? :)
 
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