mixing new over old

  • Thread starter Thread starter necromancing
  • Start date Start date
N

necromancing

New member
Has anybody had success at taking an already mixed down song (ex: the final "burned to disc" song), put it back to four track and added say bass guitar or backing vocal?

Have the new tracks sounded "too clear" or out of context, mixed in with the older recording? Has anybody tried this? Does it sound "muddy"? Due to a lost master tape, I was forced to try this.

Example: "Free as a Bird" by the Beatles.

Please advise.

Thanks.
 
Im really curious to see if anyone here knows what the hell you are talking about because Im clueless.....Im still a newbie to all this, but I know of no conceivable way to pull tracks out of a stereo mix.....somebody correct me if im wrong, it won't be the first time.....
 
I'm with you Gidge. Best you could do would be to maybe split the stereo track into two mono tracks, but I don't know what that would accomplish since most vocals and instruments would still be on both tracks. I have no clue how you could split it to 4 track (and particular no clue how to isolate seperate instruments).

I know there are ways using eq to "remove" things from a mix - but I'm sure they work relatively poorly. Most musical devices, to my knowledge, don't rest squarely in a specific frequency range without overlapping with other instruments and vocals (and what about overtones).

I'm guessing Free As A Bird was done using Lennon's original studio tapes - not an already mixed stereo track. Either that, or the Beatles simply added new parts to an existing mix.
 
I think on the song Free As A Bird it was just piano and John playing in a demo. The rest was added overtop. To me it sounds out of context, but they did get it very close as far as feel and sound, but fudge, it's the Beatles.

necromancing, I guess it depends what your adding. With a final mix I'd say your chances are slim. If it's a rough demo like the the Lennon tracks with just piano/vox (or guitar/vox or guitar whatever - spartan) than it's not impossible, but it mayl still sound weird. If it's a really dense mix as far as instrumention, I'd say your wasting your time. Re-track it from scratch.

Try it and see though.
 
Wow, you guys are brutal! But thanks for the honesty. You must be leagues ahead of me in experience and equipment.

I'm just using a $150.00 Tascam 4 track, mixing the four tracks (electric guitar/acoustic guitar/bass/drum machine) to a CD burner. Putting that mix back to analog tape on the four track. I seperate the mix into two channels (right/left) then use the two remaining tracks for lead/backing vocal- then mix back to CD. It sounds fine to most peoples ears. Better than an Oasis record anyway. And actually, our new drummer says these songs sound much clearer than his last band's pro studio album. Go figure? Good luck to you all.
 
I dont think he's going by Puff Daddy any more..trying to change his image....


necro, we arent all that brutal....I think that I (and maybe the others) was misunderstanding what you were trying to do...I thought you wanted to take a stereo mix and break it back apart into the original tracks.....which is next to impossible....

what you are describing is old fashion bouncing, which in fact, the Beatles did on most of their records....and on 4 track...though it was probably the most awesome 4 track youd ever hear (wasnt it a Struder?).....and since you are mixing down to digital and back to tape, the usual sound loss wont happen...my only advice to you is that when you go from the CD mix back to the 4 track, use a new tape and not the old one...if you use the old tape, you will still have 2nd generation tracks there and some sound loss....a new tape will insure 1st generation...wont be that much of a difference but every little bit counts....off course you want to use noise reduction whenever possible, the best quality tape you can get/afford, and use the highest tape speed possible....

sorry we came off so rough...how about posting something in the mp3 mixing clinic?.....
 
thats right, I forgot. Its "P Diddy" or something now. Why cant he just go away and leave the music to musicians???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top