Mixing a track when you only have 1 intrumental track

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fyre
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Fyre

Fyre

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Okay I record hip hop tracks and when I mix my tracks my vocals and instrumental just sounds like two seperate tracks played at the same time instead of one like It doesnt blend...okay what Im looking for is just a vocal thats more up front and not sort of just there.... my setup is super low budget but ill be upgrading soon and I figure untill I upgrade I may as well practice with what I have so Ill be more comfortable with the new gear.... so is there any tips I can get to blend my tracks better and keep in mind I dont make or mix my own beats so that probly poses a problem Im guessing.
 
whats S/W are you using? what plug-ins do you have?

Is the instrumental track separated? i.e kick track1 snare track 2 bass track 3 etc.

or is it just one Stereo track like an instrumental CD of your fave artist?
 
Okay Im a real beginner but as of now Im just using a dynamic going into my comp soundcard Ill be updating big to a audiophile 2496 with a mxl v67 and probly an audiobuddy or yamaha mixer or something in that line umm the instrumental track is just one stero track I mean if I really wanted to I probly could get the producers to send the insturmental tracks seperated but then that would probly be even harder for me to mix but ill give that a try if It would help me out ill check into that tho....
 
it would be harder for you to mix but your problem could be that the instrumental isn't mixed well at all.

What Software are you using to record to?
 
adobe audition but ill use something else if it would be better
 
that makes it difficult for me to help you since I've never used adobe and don't know what plug-ins it came with.
 
I could get something else or you could tell me in the program that you know and ill se what audition has that I could use
 
I'm familiar with Sonar XX or Samplitude 7 and better

I can give you some eq and compression starting points

I tend to eq before compression

when I Eq I'll usually have a sharp Q(very tight eq curve) in the lower mids usually around 300hz (this may vary for you because of different mics, preamps, room, singer etc.).

A High Shelf thats 12KHZ or better usually 16 or better

and if it still isn't clear and crisp enough i'll add a peak eq boost to the upper mid range which is around 7 to 10 khz

I'll also from time to time put a high pass filter if the vocal is real muddy.

FYI on EQing yours maybe more drastic. I've been recording for a few years in the same space so I'm pretty good at getting the optimal sound going to tape.

then I put compression afterwards. Depending how dynamic the vocals if not so dynamic i'll put the ratio around 4:1 or 6:1, more dynamic 8:1 and up. The Attack I never put faster then 2ms(faster attack will eat the hi end especially when its a cheap compressor) and my release isn't faster then .5 but i'll usually use Automatic release if the compressor provides it. Threshold is dependent on how loud the track is recorded so that depends.

I'll then add a delay and a reverb from an aux send. Very Light on the reverb to the point you can barely hear it even when soloed. The delay can be fairly audible when the vox is soloed or not I guess it depends on the track

Hope this helps

Peace
 
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If your experienced with mixing, getting the individual tracks would help. If your not, it would probably make things worse.


In your current situation, you need to carve out room (using eq) for your rapping track. You'll want to start by cutting certain frequencies in the beat. Start with a relatively narrow bandwidth, at around 100hz. Gradually moving up in frequencies. Move very slowly and listen to the changes. Find the frequencies, that when you cut them, leave alittle more room for the vocal.

You can also boost (just a little) certain frequenciesin the vocal, to help it cut through. Rap vocals usually (depending on the voice) have a fair bit of energy around 250hz. Also for some clarity try boosting in the 3000- 5000hz range. But not to much or it will get very "honky". (And I don't mean they will sound white)


Some compression will also help, but you'll probably want to compress after the eq. A little compression on the vocals, and some on the stereo buss, depending on what your doing for mastering.


Hope that helps a little
 
In Tune Audio said:
Also for some clarity try boosting in the 3000- 5000hz range. But not to much or it will get very "honky". (And I don't mean they will sound white)
Click to expand...

What's wrong with honky? Don't you ever listen to Bubba Sparks?:)
 
Fyre said:
I could get something else or you could tell me in the program that you know and ill se what audition has that I could use
Click to expand...


Well as you know, you won't get a perfect by running dynamic into your soundcard. (But hey we all gotta start somewhere. That's how i did my first recordings. except adobe was cool edit 1.2 back then.) but just to let you know you have to eq the vocals to fit in with the instramental. And with a dynamic mic you are getting a lot of lows. so what I advise is take away some lows. and add some highs (not to much highs though) sometimes it is best to take away instead of add. That's why I said take away some lows and add a few highs. Try that.
 
thankx 4 all of the input ill really try these and get back with the outcome
 
Ask whoever does your music tracks to give you the raw tracks somehow so that you can mix them yourself. Once the music is mixed properly, then find the sweet spot for your vocal. Try some nice vocal effects for hip-hop.
 
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