Mixing

  • Thread starter Thread starter MakaveliThaDon
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MakaveliThaDon

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When I make my mixes in FL Studio and output them to wav, the instrumental sounds VERRRRY nice. However, when I tried to add a vocal to the mix of waves that are separate(Each instrument and sound is separated), my mixes get dulled down severally. My vocal comes through clean, but my overall mix gets downgraded. Can anyone tell me why? Should I post up a sample of the mixes?
 
Hey, from what I can gather it sounds to me like your saying when you mixdown the audio to a stereo track the vocals overpower everything else right? The problem is that, instruments are most likely panned and vocals are centered. When mixing to a stereo track that translates to the vocals getting doubled to both sides and the instruments staying just as they were. Is this sounding like the problem? Try listening to your song's in mono before you mixdown. Also remember that when you do mix it down the vocals will seem louder so mix them slightly under what you really want them to be in the end-all. Hope this helps, let me know more specifics and maybe I can help further (ala how you pan the tracks, use reverbs, phasing, etc. )
 
in addition to the previous post, i'd say that eq'ing might be an issue as well...try cutting a few db's somewhere in the vocal track, then boost your instrumentals a little in the same range. it might not fix the problem, but it's worth a quick shot.
 
Here is the thing. My drums lose their thump when I mix in the vocals. I still can't figure out why. In addition, my individual instruments lose their "depth." [if that is the proper term for it]. I tried EQ, but it only makes matters worse[because I try to stay under 0 decibals on my overall mix---> no clipping on my overall mix]. Should I make the overall mixes clip? Because I noticed that professional mixes that are mastered clip a lot, but there doesn't seem to be any problem for them when being played back on stereos?
 
Without hearing the problem, its hard to say.

Guesses:

Unless you have a deep broadcasting voice, your vox shouldn't be stepping on the 'thump' of your drums.
Most male vox rest in the mid / high-mid range, which usually fights with guitars.

Advice:

If your main focus of the song is the vox (and most are)...pull all your faders down and start over with the vox first.
Personally...I mix vox / kick focused,..so these are the faders I bring up first.
Then I'll mute the vox, and bring up the bass guitar, and get that working well with the kick. Then...bring the vox back and see if any focus is 'lost'.

So on..and so forth....

Hope this helps,

-LIMiT
 
In regards to your mixing levels, keep the highest peak at -6db max. This allows the mastering engineer (or the DIY ME) a little headroom to work with.

Personally, I've never had a mix peak higher than -8db at final mixdown.

I have heard CD's that have digital clipping that can't be heard on the average stereo system (latest System of a Down), but brought them into the control room..and...yuck!
Harsh Harsh clipping.

Cheers,
LIMiT
 
Hello again, it would be helpful if you could tell us what system you are using to record onto (software etc.) Most software programs (like sonor which I use in both my studio's) use RMS metering instead of peak metering. my mix's clip alot in the individual tracks but they do not peak in the master fader. When I transfer the mixdown to my mastering program that is where I worry about it hitting 0db. Anything over 0db in the mastered stereo track CAN result in digital distortion otherwise known as "the worst sound EVER!"

However after hearing your new response I think I know what the problem MAY be. Try putting a low cut on the vocal tracks. Alot of the time if you do not use low cuts on everything that doesnt actually go into the lower register there will be alot of phase cancelling and low end mud throughout the entire mix. I always bye rule of thumb put low cuts on all guitar and vocal tracks. To me it sounds like what your describing is phase cancelling between the drum tracks and the vocal tracks in the lower frequencies. Also try reversing the phase on the kick tracks from everything else. Hope this helps! Take care and most importantly HAVE FUN!
 
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