mixing help

  • Thread starter Thread starter jazzyblues
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jazzyblues

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Hey -
When it comes to mixing, I'm just not getting it. I have Sonar 2. The final mix is sounding bassy. And it's not just the bass. It's the whole mix. In SoundForge I use Normalize and Compression.
And when I'm mixing in Sonar, I find myself lowering things to where the whole mix is too low.
I would appreciate any help. How does everyone else mix? Thanks!
 
Try a few low cuts. On guitars you can cut everything below 100Hz - 150Hz.

Even bass, you can chop below 50Hz, and make a notch around 90-100 for the kick
 
Also if you are using heavy compression on the stereo file, the bass end of your tracks may be causing the compressor to kick-in too often and thereby clutter up the bottom end.

Q.
 
I'm not using a lot of compression. And I'm only using some on the final mix. For whatever reason, I'm just having a difficult time balancing everything in the mix.
Don't laugh, but you can hear some of my stuff. Tell me what you think I need to correct....and how to correct it.

mrseamusic.com
 
There's fifty-thousand songs there -- what's a good example to listen to?

Q.
 
A New Creation or If You Love Me would be decent choices.
 
jazzyblues said:
A New Creation or If You Love Me would be decent choices.
Click to expand...

Very nice. :)
I'm listening on these little pc speakers so I shouldn't be checking bass.. :rolleyes: There's some keyboard that jumpem out a bit rather large, the guitar still has some dynamic points, but are you hearing just too much low tilt? Maybe just some gentle low shelving on some of the instruments?
Wayne
 
Thanks, Wayne. I really appreciate that. What do you mean by "some gentle low shelving on some of the instruments"? I know nothing about mixing (as you can tell).
 
jazzyblues said:
Thanks, Wayne. I really appreciate that. What do you mean by "some gentle low shelving on some of the instruments"? I know nothing about mixing (as you can tell).
Click to expand...

He means to use a "high pass" eq filter on some/all of the "non-bass" instruments.

IOW, it is not uncommon in mixing to "roll off" all the frequencies below a certain point in order to free up space for the bass and kick. So, for example, on the vocals you might remove everything below 150 Hz. This then allows only the bass and kick to occupy the low ranges. You do this using a high pass filter (which is normally included in most parametric eq's).

Obviously you have to use your ears to make sure this is not impacting the sounds of the instruments you choose to use it on. But generally frequencies below 150 or so are not very important for vocals or "non-bass" instruments.
 
Hi, thanks. Since I wasn't listening on good (known) speakers I was reluctant to say. But if you’re getting too much on the low end on some of the instruments, there are a few way to tailor them. A low shelf drops everything equally below the corner point, a 'bell' (band pass) if the build up just in a certain area, or a 'high pass' (or low roll off) if you need it to fall away as it gets lower.
It didn't sound too far out of wack, so I'm guessing it would be some fairly gentle changes in general.
Also, it doesn't sound overly compressed at all (which is refreshing :cool: ).
Wayne
 
mixsit said:
Hi, thanks. Since I wasn't listening on good (known) speakers I was reluctant to say. But if you’re getting too much on the low end on some of the instruments, there are a few way to tailor them. A low shelf drops everything equally below the corner point, a 'bell' (band pass) if the build up just in a certain area, or a 'high pass' (or low roll off) if you need it to fall away as it gets lower.
It didn't sound too far out of wack, so I'm guessing it would be some fairly gentle changes in general.
Also, it doesn't sound overly compressed at all (which is refreshing :cool: ).
Wayne
Click to expand...

Didn't realize you were here. Guess you didn't need my help explaining what you meant. :)
 
dachay2tnr said:
He means to use a "high pass" eq filter on some/all of the "non-bass" instruments.

IOW, it is not uncommon in mixing to "roll off" all the frequencies below a certain point in order to free up space for the bass and kick. So, for example, on the vocals you might remove everything below 150 Hz. This then allows only the bass and kick to occupy the low ranges. You do this using a high pass filter (which is normally included in most parametric eq's).

Obviously you have to use your ears to make sure this is not impacting the sounds of the instruments you choose to use it on. But generally frequencies below 150 or so are not very important for vocals or "non-bass" instruments.
Click to expand...

'If You Love Me' is a fairly sparse setting; there's lots of room for full-range stuff in this one though. :D A lot of the 'weight' of the instruments and voices live down in those ranges.
Wayne
Wayne
 
dachay2tnr said:
Didn't realize you were here. Guess you didn't need my help explaining what you meant. :)
Click to expand...
:D :D
I'm having fun stealling a way from work. :) :rolleyes:
 
Thanks, guys. I need lots of help. For whatever reason, mixing just isn't sinking in my little brain. But I'll use your suggestions and play with some songs and see what happens.
 
Oh, if you listen to more songs and hear things that are off and want to make other suggestions, I'm open. I know there are many flaws.
Again, thanks. :D
 
I found this book called SONAR 2 Power! It's supposed to be really helpful. I think I might get it to help me with mixing. There's so much I need to know.
But I really appreciate your help.
 
jazzyblues said:
I found this book called SONAR 2 Power! It's supposed to be really helpful. I think I might get it to help me with mixing. There's so much I need to know.
But I really appreciate your help.
Click to expand...

I don't own and haven't read Garrigus' book, however it is not the book I would choose to learn how to mix. It might be a great book to learn how to use Sonar, but I suspect there are much better books available if you want to learn to mix.

Do a search, particularly in the mixing/mastering forum, and you should find some good recommendations.
 
dachay2tnr said:
I don't own and haven't read Garrigus' book, however it is not the book I would choose to learn how to mix. It might be a great book to learn how to use Sonar, but I suspect there are much better books available if you want to learn to mix.

Do a search, particularly in the mixing/mastering forum, and you should find some good recommendations.
Click to expand...


Ok, thanks.
 
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