Mixing Fatigue

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sonusman

sonusman

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Popeye used to say, "I yam what I yam", and that is what your vocal track is saying to you..... :)

Really. It is a strange concept that musicians always seem to expect their recordings after they have been recorded a certain way to sound totally different than they do. I get this all of the time in the studio. The client want's a guitar to sound like it doesn't, or a snare drum, or whatever.

The point is, the track was recorded to sound a certain way, and that is mostly the way it is going to sound. No amount of eq or compression, or effects is going to change the fundamental sound that much. All of those tools and toys are for enhancement, not for making it sound like it was recorded different. You are kind of stuck with what you got, like it or not.

A friend of mine always says, "Learning to record well is just a matter of trying a bunch of things you will never do again". Wise man, or wise ass? You decide.

Good luck.

Ed Rei
Ecoh Star Studio www.echostarstudio.com
 
I've been trying to mix down the same song for a couple of weeks now. The problem is the vocal tracks. Even though the vocals are in perfect harmony (been checked and re-checked), I just can't achieve the sound that I want and it's driving me nuts!! I'm not sure if I've become too much of a perfectionist or I'm expecting too much. Does this ever happen to you guys?
 
I have had the same problem Ed has stated. I think this is common with people new to the studio. I think one problem with musicians is that they hear their band's sound from on the stage rather than what is coming out front, so when they get into the studio they face the reality of their sound. It would be nice if each band had an engineer that could help them with their sound outside the studio. I think musicians tweek their instruments to an individual liking, but when it all comes together, some of the tweeks don't mesh together well.

Does my logic seem rational?
 
It most certainly does Fishmed. And I couldn't agree with you more about bands working with an engineer before going into the studio so they can used to playing with different sounds. But, that is really the Producers job, and how many bands have come into your studio, or have actually hired you as the Producer ahead of time so that you can actually do Pre-Production with them? I bet it has only happened once or twice.... :)

Many musicians kid themselves about the kind of sound they are getting. They think they can get a big time sound with a Kramer guitar and a Crate amp, when what they want is a Les Paul through a JCM-800 turned up to ten sound!

Or a drummer that has a 1979's Tama Rockstar set when they want the sound that DW's, or Gretch offer.

Or a bass player with a Ibanez SR series bass with a old Acoustic head and some Emenence 15" in a home made box and they want the sound of an Olymbic through a Hugh's and Kettner Bass/Bass 800.

But, as to this thread, while recording, it is important to get as close to the exact sound you want on things while you are tracking. You are not going to have much luck changing stuff at mix time.

Ed
 
Well, after another 5 mixes, I finally got it right! It wasn't a case of trying to make a "so-so" recording sound good with compression or effects. Like I said, the vocal tracks were in PERFECT harmony and the only effect needed was a tiny bit of reverb. I just needed to work a good active mix (for equal volumes), cut back on the reverb a bit, and had to pan each track properly. It amazes me how much a teensy little turn here and there can make such a big difference. If football is a game of inches, mixing is a game of millimeters. Now the problem is that I have TWO great mixes and have to decide which one to go with. It's enough to drive ya to drink!
 
My advice for a mix, is to make a cassette copy, and play it in your car for a week while you're driving around.
After "living with it" for a while, either you will be bothered by something and want to re-mix, or you will be happy and it will seem balanced. Just make sure that you aren't going around in circles, and "fixing things" that are ok!

Dom Franco

[This message has been edited by Dom Franco (edited 12-24-1999).]
 
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