Kind of a newbie question

[c64954]

Hey guys. I'm pretty new to this forum, and to recording in general. I started recording little things a while ago but just now recently tried to be more serious about it. This will probably seem like a dumb question but what mixing techniques do you guys use?

Right now I just have a recording of drums and guitar that was done live and bass was mixed in later. The kick drum gets really lost in the mix along with other things and I think the whole thing is all conflicting in the midrange. I just don't know if I have the ears just yet (still working on that) and I can't figure out how to EQ effectively. I have Home Recording for Musicians for Dummies and it has been helpful but it just gives a bunch of EQ presets to use for different things but it doesn't exactly help that much. I'm supposed to be recording some friends next weekend and I want to know how to mix and EQ properly so I can give them a decent recording. Any tips/advice/websites/literature anyone has to offer?

 

[tmix]

C,

Because the subject matter can involve so many variables, anyone trying to give a specific answer is shooting from the hip.

To get you out of specific trouble it would probably be more beneficial to hear a clip of the music so someone can zone in on the problem.

Sometime the problem is EQ, sometime the phase of the kick just might need to be flipped or maybe a hundred different other suggestions.

 

[Dogbreath]

Tmix is correct (of course)

Awhile back, I learned that tracking at lower levels really helped my mixes. I used to track everything at just below peak. I've got everything backed off now to -6 peak. This means my overall levels are around -12 to -18. Helped with clarity which in turn helped at mix time.

Another very generic thought would be to cut before you boost when playin with the EQ. And if you have to boost, I wouldn't go over 6db, at least til you get a handle on it. I tend to roll off lotsa stuff below 100HZ. Sometimes up to 250 HZ. Cut alot of that stuff out of the instruments that don't need it. Kick and bass have freqs there that are used. But maybe if you add a db or two of a certain freq on your kick to make it stand out more, do a db or two cut on the bass guitar. It's like a sonic jigsaw puzzle.

Keep in mind that these are generic thoughts and every song will be different. Just some food for thought man.

Hope it helps..........