(effects/boxes)what to get?

  • Thread starter Thread starter musicsdarkangel
  • Start date Start date
M

musicsdarkangel

New member
alright. I have mixing programs, the soundcard that comes in the project pack with cubasisVST. I have no clue, when I make a mix, what effects are usually essentials for different parts. I never have midi, I only mic amps or record vocals. I have guitars, bass, drums, vocals, and sometimes keyboards on my mixes. I just was wondering what effects I should get or buy to help my mix out. Maybe noise gates and such? Thanx.
 
Firstly: Since you use a PC, you should use effect boxes, but plug-ins. This does not apply to preamps, for obvious reasons. If you use 16-bit a compressor could be nice too.
Secondly: You should buy the things you need. Listen to your mixes, identify the problems with it, and fix it. If fixing means buying something, buy the best thing you can afford.
Thirdly: There is no effects that are essential for any part. Do whatever sounds good. There are no fixed rules.

I guess this is not what you wanted, you wanted a "buy this" reply. Life sucks, eh? :)
 
the first two effects you should get for good sound are:

compressor and reverb.

enough said. I read that from a recording handbook and its too true.
 
Yo Angel Person whose flashlight burned out:

[Hey Regebro, how do they get all those little holes in Swiss Cheese?]

Back to the "what to buy?"

Right now the price of the Lexicon 100 or 500 has been reduced. They have 24 bit sound and that is nice.

I have the 100 and really like it. I also have an Alesis MidiVerb 4 and that is also a nice box but it doesn't do 24 bit sound and I can notice the difference between the rich reverb of the 100 and the boomy reverb of the Alesis. But, the Alesis has some nice features too.

I suggest the Lexicon 500 since it is only a few bucks more than the 100.

Have fun twiddling the dials.

Green Hornet
 
Originally posted by The Green Hornet
Hey Regebro, how do they get all those little holes in Swiss Cheese?

I don't know. Ask somebody from Switzerland.
 
I would go so far as to say that if there were only ONE effect you could have it would be reverb of some kind. It would be (and was) the first on my list.

I am surprised your software doesn't have a reverb plug-in of some type.
 
If you have cubase VST, everything you need should be right there! It comes with a couple of different verbs. The old 16 bit and the new 32 bit. It also has a good compressor limiter. Use that to get rid of any higher peaks on tracks and to get your levels a little more consistent. Use your ears- you'll here when your doin' too much. Then setup a small-medium room reverb and add a little to the tracks to put everything "in the same room". Some tracks won't need it if they already have a lot of room sound. Keep the verb off the low end instruments. It'll just muddy everything up. This will at least give you a STARTING POINT! It's not gospel, but it might help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top