FLAT or not to be FLAT??

  • Thread starter Thread starter darr
  • Start date Start date
D

darr

New member
Ok, for the past 5yrs I have been mixing with an eq set to a smiley face that has been a pretty trusty friend through my ns10ms.It always seems to transfer quite well to other systems since everyone I know is using this same smiley face.OK.
All roads lead to"it should be flat with no eq."
Is it wrong to mix this way?I am curious on other's ideas.
No one listens flat.So I have always felt it was ok.
Let us hear others.
 
darr - if it works for you do it. You are just putting a loudness curve into a pair of NS10's - good idea. :)
 
I dont even know how to approach this..for one, I listen to all my music flat. I never knew how good flat sounded until I was house sitting. The guy had his stereo system running through an EQ box with the popular happy face. It sounded hollow and the highs were killing my ears, once I bypass the EQ all is well. I dont know what my point is here, but I've traned my ears to listen flat, it sounds more natural to me. I never mix to compensate for what the end user is gonna do, my mixes are meant to be listened to flat. If someone wants to fuc* up the sound, then thats what they'll do, I cant stop them. My point: I dont know!! Maybe I'll start a 'listen flat' campaign.



-ametth
 
Almost no one???hahahaha. Let us have a recount.

Sorry for the "no one".
 
P.s.Roger Nichols even eq's the bottom a bit to hear..

where he is going with the bass.Got his reply on the musicplayer.com forums.I like his work.I think it makes sense as well.Everyone has a way of working their mixes.That is beautiful.NO ONE is the same.That could be why music is so fun to listen to because mixes are all diff.
I feel it would suck and be very monotonous to listen to mixes of the same perfect sound everyday.I hear this from local studios;vox too loud, music like a sound track.No dynamics.No life.
This is where I get my work.My mixes actually sound mastered while tracking with my eq curve there fore we know where we are going.
It really works.I used to mix flat,but never felt happy with the balls of the music.Too much having to go back and compensate for less of this or that.I like to hear the instant roar.Most of my client's music go to the airwaves locally so I must also be aware of this as well.
I was just curious to hear if others were using some kind of curve for the productions in the mix.
Thanx for the input!;-)
 
exactly

darr, that is exactly why I started buying equipment and building my own studio. The "best" local studios (here and other places I've lived) give you great clarity but no life. That quote of yours: "vox too loud, music like a sound track.No dynamics.No life." is exactly what I hear out of the local studios. That's where, like you, I hope to steal some business from the big boys in town (besides the fact that I'm going to be charging half as much money as the current #1 place in town for local acts).
 
Right on Diragor!!!!

Go get em.Give em the best quality;as close to their favorite recording for less the cost.People will come once you get some trax playin around town!!
If you build it ,they will come.
It is not always what we have.It is more of what we have to offer!
A quality cd that sounds as good as your favorite major label pressed disc.It truly is what the artist wants, especially on a local budget.
I think John Sayers also said something as similiar on another post.
I think the world of John and his help he offers to us all.
I say we put up a monument to John that simply says"CHEERS"!
You too Brian!!
Thanx to all.
Happy mixing trails.
 
flat

Where to start..............firstly it doesn't really matter how you monitor as long as you know what your monitoring environment is doing to the sound.

having said that, the idea of flat is that if you have boosted a frequency in your monitoring and then you eq something to sound right in the mix, the end result played on a different system will be that, that frequency will be too low.

secondly.................the ns10's (are anything but flat, so it could be that your eq has made them closer to flat, which is why your mixes are coming out alright on other systems. Well done.

thirdly.........to be truelly flat, not just the monitors but the room has to be flat, this is why they tune systems, to correct problems in the room. The room will affect what you hear hugely......another reason why your eq may be helping. However eq can cause phase problems and muddy up the sound somewhat so IMHO (I'm a flat man) I don't use any and try to get the best monitors and improve the accoustics in my room to get it right. But then I'm spoilt, I work in a commercial studio by day. I'm still in the process of getting my home studio right.

PS I always have my home stereo flat and so do all the people I hang with.

Just my opinion......
Brenton
 
ive always kept my home stereo flat. lets you pump the volume without blowing the speakers.
 
Flat is where it's at !
Once you've gone Flat, you'll never go back !

Seriously though, Flat is a theoretical ideal that seems desireable. In practice, so much depends on room, speakers, taste.....that it is all very subjective.
My personal opinion is that a recording should reflect how the artist actually sounded (flat-accurate), but even then, EQ can be used to correct for room resonances, microphone frequency response, sibilence, string noise, etc.
Bottom line: If it sounds good, it IS good. Flat is just a mental guideline.

My opinion only,
Rick
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top