eq'ing and mastering

[docilenoise]

(( goto www.docilenoise.com/mountinglace.htm for example of what I am talking about.... Please....! ))))

I am using cue base to try and create a decent recording, something that can hopefully get some radio play, or at least be used as a decent demo....

however, the problem that I am comming up with is one of 2 things... either the mix I get is lacking in effects ( because i have not put any on) but has decent headroom and bass, or if I mix with the verbs, and delays and stuff that make it sound the way i think that it should be then i have to eq it rather flat in the mid range too keep it from clipping.. this makes the highs really harsh, and a bit boomy.. I am not really sure how to get the body, depth and dynamics that I am looking for, as well as the head room that will make it listenable..

I have used:
d112 kick
58 snare
2 overheads for toms and cymbles

d112 and condensor mic, and direct channel for bass

d112 and 2 condensor mics for guitar

vox 58....

the only preamps that were used were the ones that came in the mixer that we were using... the levels and sounds seemed to be ok on the input.

when mixing i put an EQ and small room verb on the drums, compression & EQ on the bass, and compression and EQ on the guitars. there is also delay and phaser on the vox.

during mixing all the levels were at aprox 0db and its not getting as loud as your normal professional studio produced CD.... am I missing something....

i have attached a short clip to give you a picture of what I am dealing with... any suggestions....

should I just can it and goto a real studio???

 

[brokenwindow]

First of all, your not gonna get as "loud" as the pro's.

I don't know excatly what your asking but, you definetly have to tone down the highs quite a bit and get some good low end going on. There is almost no low in the mix.

I think you can cure most of this mix with eq.

One thing to keep in mind, Make sure you track it right to begin with and when you do use eq, try to cut before you boost. If you do have to, try to boost only a few db's.

I really like this song. Looking forward to hearing it when it's mixed a bit better.

 

[nuss]

Another thing to try as well is to lower all of your individual track levels while mixing so that after you apply eq and effects your master levels are peaking out at 0dB!!!!!!!!

 

[brokenwindow]

Do you mean that your recordings are peaking at 0 db? Or they are constantly at 0db?

The last thing you should worry about when mixing is if everything is as loud as it can go. Get it to a level where it sounds good "musically". Even if that means the mix is peaking around -9 db or so. One thing you do not want to do is sacrifice dynamics for volume.

 

[Cyrokk]

However, be mindful that you should try and match as close as possible the overall level of your mix with the meters of your mixdown equipment.. for example, if your mix hangs around 0db on the levels of your mixer, you should also see the same levels on your mixdown deck or burner.. This results in better stereo imaging and increased clarity..

Cy