mixing drums question

[Ctrl_Alt_Dlt]

This is what I did for recording drums. Looking for ideas and suggestions for the next mixing. Please keep in mind that I am a total NEWBIE and I dont know crap about recording. I dont know right from wrong when it comes to this. I just did what I felt sounded the best and what was easy to work with.

1. I used 8 tracks total for drums
2. I then doubled the snare and EQ'ed the snare copy.
3. I doubled the kick bass and EQ'ed the KB copy.
4. I leveled all 8 to get a "good sounding" mix.
5. I then mixed in the guitars and bass. I realized that the total mix sounded a bit thin.
6. I then bounced all drum tracks into one stereo track and doubled the guitars until I felt it sounded thick. Sometimes I would copy that drums stereo track and use 2-3trackings of it meaning I doubled or tripled the stereo track. By thick, I kept comparing it to "PRO" recordings. I like bands such as KINGS OF LEON so I tried to compare the thickness of my recording to theirs.
7. If I needed more KB or snare, I would add a single track of snare or KB to the stereo mix to bring it out.


AGAIN, I am a total newbie and dont know anything about mixing/recording. Just doing what I thought would make a good sound.

what can I do differently next time? Thanks!

 

[RAMI]

I then doubled the snare and EQ'ed the snare copy..............
I doubled the kick bass and EQ'ed the KB copy......................
doubled the guitars until I felt it sounded thick.......................
Sometimes I would copy that drums stereo track and use 2-3trackings of it meaning I doubled or tripled the stereo track. I would add a single track of snare or KB to the stereo mix to bring it out.

All this "doubling" is doing absolutely nothing but make the tracks louder. Copying a track simply does nothing but make it louder. I know I just repeated myself, but it can't be repeated enough.

I know you're going to say that it makes your track sound "thicker", "bigger", "beefier","warmer", or whatever abstract adjective you're going to want to use. But it's a false perception you get because the track is louder.

No need to ever double drums (unless you want it to sound like 2 drummers, in which case, it needs to actually be 2 drum tracks).

As far as the guitars are concerned, if you want to double them, you have to play it twice on 2 seperate tracks with 2 seperate takes.

 

[BrentDomann]

All this "doubling" is doing absolutely nothing but make the tracks louder. Copying a track simply does nothing but make it louder. I know I just repeated myself, but it can't be repeated enough.

Why? All that does is make you louder.

In all seriousness, you are right. It might be useful for him to have a doubled track that's got EQ, though, so he can set the EQ levels and then have a chance to mix wet/dry. But that's certainly not going to thicken anything.

 

[RAMI]

Why? All that does is make you louder.

I thought it made my post "beefier".

might be useful for him to have a doubled track that's got EQ, though, so he can set the EQ levels and then have a chance to mix wet/dry. But that's certainly not going to thicken anything.

Good point. For A/B'ing, it could be a good time saver. That's about it.

 

[Ctrl_Alt_Dlt]

thanks for the info.

Again, novice here and just trying things out.

very good to know. Thanks all!

 

[TexRoadkill]

Thickness is usually the result of good compression and limiting and is crucial to a big kick and snare sound.