Let Every Track Be Heard

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Don_Juan

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The general idea in mixing (for beginners) is to let EVERY track be heard. If you can base everything you do around this concept, you should be able to make a decent mix.
 
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I disagree. I think a better motto would be, 'Let Every Track Do it's Job.' Some parts blend, maybe even become indistiguishable, but blend and contribute to the mix. If I could hear every violin individually on a recording of Elgar's Enigma Variations, it would be a pretty crappy mix (or perfromance, maybe.)
 
Yeah, that's more of a advanced technique (thats why I said decent and not good). For starters I would tell them tell let every track be heard. Then after that has been accomplished, you dig into the dynamics a little more and tracks that arent supposed to be heard, but "felt", you can start to blend those. Good point though. I was just noting something for beginners
 
I agree with tc4b. Some tracks may not be instantly audible, but have an almost subliminal effect, that when taken away can make the tune feel like something's missing.

I have in the past used subtle dissonance to fill out an otherwise stark sounding mix. You don't really know it's there until you mute it.
 
Great points, but again, its for beginners, maybe I should point that out in the title lol. Thanks though
 
Maybe "let every track find it's space in the mix" would be more apt :)
 
Sounds good. Thanks because I knew that something wasn't right lol. Almost like the difference between loud and intense. I guess I was looking for a more direct way of saying it because when you first start out, sometimes those terms like "have its place", you really don't understand what it means
 
I like being able to hear/pick out all the elements in my mix…but that’s not saying they are all to be heard equally. Every track has a purpose…some are prominent and some are subtle…but if I focus my hearing on any one thing, I want to be able to hear it…otherwise, I have to question its value in the mix.

Now granted…like it was pointed out with a full section of violins, you can’t hear them all individually, and you are not supposed to, since they are working as “one instrument group”…and the same thing with layering a half dozen rhythm guitar tracks on top of each other…at some point, they all meld into one global sound…so that’s cool.
But my drums, bass, organ, piano, rhythm guitar(s), leads, vocals…etc…I need to be able to hear them all at their proper level and position relative to the total mix. Yes, you will have some masking…but if like…the organ completely masks the piano, then IMO, the piano maybe should be doing something different, or it should be placed differently…unless of course you are again layering the exact same part with a bunch of different instruments, in which case the masking effect may be exaggerated on some instruments/motes.
 
I'd like to make a distinction for the beginners out there that there is a difference between "Let every track be heard" and "let every track be used". Just because you record something doesn't necessarily mean it should be in the final mix.

And a variation on that, even if you use the track, that doesn't necessarily men that 100% of it should be heard. One very common problem with beginners is that they lack a proper formal arrangement when they record, and every player plays the lead all the time. This usually doesn't sound very good when mixed that way.

I know that's not what you were meaning or referring to with the OP, but I can see how it could easily be mis-interpreted this other way.

G.
 
What happend to Don Juan....he got banned in record time...?
 
Best tip for beginners: listen to a mix you like that's a similar style to what you're mixing, and get as close as possible to it. Then compare and learn what yours lacks that the other has.
 
It's about balance. Bring out the characteristics of each track that contribute to a balanced mix. Having each track be heard isn't enough. A harsh edgy mix can have excellent clarity.
 
Do not let any meter fade away to audio black!
Rage, rage, against the dying of the track!
 
miroslav said:
What happend to Don Juan....he got banned in record time...?
Click to expand...


Yeah, in some other threads, he was spamming his website. I was just going to delete his posts and send a PM to give a nice warning, but he registered an alias and had a conversation with himself to promote his spam further.

I have no tolerance for spam.
 
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