A
Aniram
New member
Having trouble getting that polished professional product. That nice warm,big, in the front of the speakers, mix. My mixes currently sound flat and kinda lifeless. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
What profession equipment are you using to record and monitor on? Also, what mastering engineer did the mastering?
sonusman
Banned
Good one Gidge! 
Aniram, at least list what you are using so some of us can explain why it is NOT going to deiver the results you seek.
Also, please document your experience as an engineer. If you think recording is as simple as buying a few thousands dollars of gear and going at it for a few weeks, and being able to achieve "pro" results, then I have some Radio Shack mics to sell you that sound KILLER for EVERY application! I also have a SB Live card that will rock your world!
Be realistic. If you are comparing your product against something that was recorded in a multi million dollar studio, with some of the top engineers and producers in the world working on it, then you will always fall short!
Ed
Aniram, at least list what you are using so some of us can explain why it is NOT going to deiver the results you seek.
Also, please document your experience as an engineer. If you think recording is as simple as buying a few thousands dollars of gear and going at it for a few weeks, and being able to achieve "pro" results, then I have some Radio Shack mics to sell you that sound KILLER for EVERY application!
I also have a SB Live card that will rock your world!Be realistic. If you are comparing your product against something that was recorded in a multi million dollar studio, with some of the top engineers and producers in the world working on it, then you will always fall short!
Ed
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Aniram
New member
Thank-you for your replies. I am working in a studio where we have a Big by Langley 40 channel desk running into 16 track Sony 2" tape machine. Tape machine runs to Pro Tools on Mac G4 466. Mixdown is a sync between Pro Tools and tape through Amek Supertrue 3.5 which drives the desk.Then to DAT.
My background is I studied performance, composition and audio engineer for three years and have graduated nine months ago. Some of the work I have done has been solid, though nothing spectacular. It just seems to lack that clarity of track and big in the speaker mix (I hope you know what I mean).
The studio I am now in has a large control room, the size that requires Quest-Eds or Dyneaudio 15A's. Iam using Yamaha NS-10's and Alesis M1 Actives due to budget shortcomings. I understand the speakers are to small for the room.Have had a tendency to overcompensate and do slightly bass heavy mixes. But main problem is clarity of each instrument in final mix,their placement in the mix and that BIG in the speaker quality(I know mastering does this job, but the mixes tend to be a little dull). Any help is much appreciated!
My background is I studied performance, composition and audio engineer for three years and have graduated nine months ago. Some of the work I have done has been solid, though nothing spectacular. It just seems to lack that clarity of track and big in the speaker mix (I hope you know what I mean).
The studio I am now in has a large control room, the size that requires Quest-Eds or Dyneaudio 15A's. Iam using Yamaha NS-10's and Alesis M1 Actives due to budget shortcomings. I understand the speakers are to small for the room.Have had a tendency to overcompensate and do slightly bass heavy mixes. But main problem is clarity of each instrument in final mix,their placement in the mix and that BIG in the speaker quality(I know mastering does this job, but the mixes tend to be a little dull). Any help is much appreciated!
Blue Bear Sound
New member
This MAY sound insulting...
...but I don't mean it that way...
With that gear list, and a bit of practical experience under you belt, your skills should be way beyond that of asking "how do I get that 'pro' sound!!!"
Bruce
...but I don't mean it that way...
With that gear list, and a bit of practical experience under you belt, your skills should be way beyond that of asking "how do I get that 'pro' sound!!!"
Bruce
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
Ok, maybe you need Ed behind the board.....
But seriously, is your work getting mastered...if so, who is doing it.....
Also, I understand that you have the education to do this, and Im just a pee-on with N-Track...but an MP3 of your final product encoded at least 192kbps would help these guys that know what the hell that are talking about "hear" what is wrong....All the experience of this BBS combined cant help them with just words on the screen...let them use their ears....
But seriously, is your work getting mastered...if so, who is doing it.....
Also, I understand that you have the education to do this, and Im just a pee-on with N-Track...but an MP3 of your final product encoded at least 192kbps would help these guys that know what the hell that are talking about "hear" what is wrong....All the experience of this BBS combined cant help them with just words on the screen...let them use their ears....
Shailat
New member
Hmm......
Well with out hearing it's not simple to help you.
The question is, is it a mastering problem or are your tracks not recorded well or do you still need more expereince.
I'll start off telling you that if you can upload an mp3 before Monday night I'll take it with me to the studio and give it a good hear. Just make sure it's under 4.5 meg. Just give me half a song.
Your tracks might be dull or to "woofy" to start and then you would need to attack them first rather then a slight EQ move on the mix to improve it.
You might be over compressing/limiting.....there are many possiblties but since you have studied a bit I can only guess that you know how to get a good level and decent compression.
As for someting practible, An almost impossible task but try it and see what happends.
A first aid move.....cut some 315-400Hz on the overall mix and on some tracks. This might undull your mix a bit. Then try to open the mix a bit with a 10kHz boost ( ever so slight).
Other then that any thing I would suggest would be stupid with out hearing it.
Stereo placment is a bit beyond a post. You will have to post a specific question. Or... let me download the mp3 and ask away........
Well with out hearing it's not simple to help you.
The question is, is it a mastering problem or are your tracks not recorded well or do you still need more expereince.
I'll start off telling you that if you can upload an mp3 before Monday night I'll take it with me to the studio and give it a good hear. Just make sure it's under 4.5 meg. Just give me half a song.
Your tracks might be dull or to "woofy" to start and then you would need to attack them first rather then a slight EQ move on the mix to improve it.
You might be over compressing/limiting.....there are many possiblties but since you have studied a bit I can only guess that you know how to get a good level and decent compression.
As for someting practible, An almost impossible task but try it and see what happends.
A first aid move.....cut some 315-400Hz on the overall mix and on some tracks. This might undull your mix a bit. Then try to open the mix a bit with a 10kHz boost ( ever so slight).
Other then that any thing I would suggest would be stupid with out hearing it.
Stereo placment is a bit beyond a post. You will have to post a specific question. Or... let me download the mp3 and ask away........
S
Sonic Valley
New member
Please Post
I'd also like to hear the MP3...can you post it?
I'd also like to hear the MP3...can you post it?
C
CyanJaguar
New member
I am thinking its the monitors.
One thing about the ns10ms is that they are VERY bright. Brighter than anything I have ever heard, so mixing on them will make you mix a little bit dull.
Put some tissue on the tweeters and mix that way.
One thing about the ns10ms is that they are VERY bright. Brighter than anything I have ever heard, so mixing on them will make you mix a little bit dull.
Put some tissue on the tweeters and mix that way.
Blue Bear Sound
New member
...or better still, rip the tweeters right out! Can't be any worst!!!!!!!!!!!CyanJaguar said:
Bruce
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Aniram
New member
The other engineers don't like mixing in this room and often will take mixes home to their personnel studio. What I'm afraid of though is that some of the source material may have been recorded with to much bass. Is there any little secrets for fixing this other than E.Q, or is it a 'just do the best I can with what I've got' situation?
sonusman
Banned
ProTools, schmo fools!
This whole thing sounds like a "I got the edumication, but I ain't got the xperiemce to back it" type of thing.....
Oh well. I am glad I spend my $30,000 on equipment long ago!
Ed
This whole thing sounds like a "I got the edumication, but I ain't got the xperiemce to back it" type of thing.....
Oh well. I am glad I spend my $30,000 on equipment long ago!
Ed
S
Sonic Valley
New member
calvinss
I agree Ed.
Aniram..Have you been engineering long?
I agree Ed.
Aniram..Have you been engineering long?
VOXVENDOR
New member
I guess I can say, that it's good that he is trying... But doesn't sound like they lent him much knowledge at the school... He's got the tools, just needs the mileage.... Funny, how everyone that I know who went to recording arts schools, ends up selling guitar strings at the local shops.... If I was willing to fork over that $$$ for school (which im not), you'd be damn sure I would use the knowledge.... We got an awesome school up here, and they teach you on the vintage neve board (amongst SSL stuff).. that AC/DC's back in black was tracked and mixed on... (so I've been told).... Joe
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Aniram
New member
I studied Contempary Music (Performance) and engineering was a part of that. I am only young in engineering years and am aware I need more practical experience, and I'm trying to get it. I was only asking for some advice but I appreciate your smart arse comments too.
S
Sonic Valley
New member
Good One...lol
Well if you can take crap from a bunch like this then you're doing good. Aniram...it sounds like the first step is too ask the studio folx to get some better speakers in there for starters. A pair of Quested 2205's would do the job for near field'n it. Has anyone been on the M1's yet? I sat in front of them for a short time. Ed...you recovered from the live recording gig?
Well if you can take crap from a bunch like this then you're doing good. Aniram...it sounds like the first step is too ask the studio folx to get some better speakers in there for starters. A pair of Quested 2205's would do the job for near field'n it. Has anyone been on the M1's yet? I sat in front of them for a short time. Ed...you recovered from the live recording gig?
C
charger
New member
Please, an MP3 would help people greatly. Often only one or two elements of a very "dense" mix need a few fairly radical eq adjustments to totally change the sound of the mix. I have seen quite a few producers notch frequencies out of one sound source, then notch up the same frequencies in another instrument, to make things sit better together. Remember also not to do to much adjusting of eq or effects on soloed sounds. You should be soloing tracks infrequently... usually to fix something you hear, like a ring, or a rattle... (but I'm sure many people will disagree with me about that). The point is not to have killer, phat drums, and killer, phat bass, and thick rich guitar and a big phat in your face vocal when these things are soloed, the point is for them to sound like that in the mix...
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
Hopefully your engineering experience taught you to use your ears...post us an MP3 and let us use ours.....
Sites like Fortune City at www.fortunecity.com give you free web space and mpe encoders like SCPPX at http://www.sonicspot.com/scmpx/history.html are free also and you can download it at http://www.din.or.jp/~ch3/index_e.html
Help us..help you....
Sites like Fortune City at www.fortunecity.com give you free web space and mpe encoders like SCPPX at http://www.sonicspot.com/scmpx/history.html are free also and you can download it at http://www.din.or.jp/~ch3/index_e.html
Help us..help you....
sonusman
Banned
Sonic Valley-
I went from the live recording gig yesterday to a nice studio gig today. We are tracking a song that is going to get some local air play, and this band is on the rise. Some very "connected" local people are behind this band. It was definately a trip to go from the raw stuff at the club to a more refined experienced band in a studio with a lot of class A gear.
Smart ass answer? Dude, I am being real here. SV hit the nail on head that if you can put up with a bit of razing from us, you MIGHT have a future as an engineer.
Your education didn't teach you a damn thing about "listeing" and making good decisions about what is going to tape. Certainly, you didn't nearly enough time on those nice consoles at school to learn what sounds good or not.
The Big console is a very decent console. The Sony is a nice machine (well, IF you are running either at 30 ips, or dolby SR on all the tracks...). What you haven't shared is the mic list, or the outboard preamp list. NS 10's are good enough, IF, you are used to them, which from the sounds of your experience you are not.
Take a load off your shoulders and learn from your current project. Half of your education in the real world of recording professionally is going to be how to deal with bad bands who are incapable of getting good sound to tape no matter what you use and convincing them that their money was well spent (even though we all know that it would have been better spent on new instruments and music lessons....).
I again say, lower your expectations a bit. And remember that you are far too new to do it right yet. I have been doing this stuff for many years and still have bad sessions and products that just don't sound right, regardless of the time spent on it.
Drop the big questions and start asking stuff that is a bit more specific and many here can be very helpful. There are so many factors that come into play in answering your original question. It is almost like you are asking for an answer to the whole recording/mixing process!
I will give you a tidbit here that will serve you well in future tracking. When you are tracking, you will know you have a great sound when you don't have to do any eqing or dynamic processing to it and still achieve a pretty good fit in the mix. When you get that on tape, you will know exactly what I am talking about.
Good luck.
Ed
I went from the live recording gig yesterday to a nice studio gig today. We are tracking a song that is going to get some local air play, and this band is on the rise. Some very "connected" local people are behind this band. It was definately a trip to go from the raw stuff at the club to a more refined experienced band in a studio with a lot of class A gear.
Smart ass answer? Dude, I am being real here. SV hit the nail on head that if you can put up with a bit of razing from us, you MIGHT have a future as an engineer.
Your education didn't teach you a damn thing about "listeing" and making good decisions about what is going to tape. Certainly, you didn't nearly enough time on those nice consoles at school to learn what sounds good or not.
The Big console is a very decent console. The Sony is a nice machine (well, IF you are running either at 30 ips, or dolby SR on all the tracks...). What you haven't shared is the mic list, or the outboard preamp list. NS 10's are good enough, IF, you are used to them, which from the sounds of your experience you are not.
Take a load off your shoulders and learn from your current project. Half of your education in the real world of recording professionally is going to be how to deal with bad bands who are incapable of getting good sound to tape no matter what you use and convincing them that their money was well spent (even though we all know that it would have been better spent on new instruments and music lessons....
).I again say, lower your expectations a bit. And remember that you are far too new to do it right yet. I have been doing this stuff for many years and still have bad sessions and products that just don't sound right, regardless of the time spent on it.
Drop the big questions and start asking stuff that is a bit more specific and many here can be very helpful. There are so many factors that come into play in answering your original question. It is almost like you are asking for an answer to the whole recording/mixing process!
I will give you a tidbit here that will serve you well in future tracking. When you are tracking, you will know you have a great sound when you don't have to do any eqing or dynamic processing to it and still achieve a pretty good fit in the mix. When you get that on tape, you will know exactly what I am talking about.
Good luck.
Ed
VOXVENDOR
New member
Re: ProTools, schmo fools!
Ed has an extremely true and valid point.... Yes it's a bit forward sounding, but I wouldn't call it smart-arsed. Thats what you need around here if you want to learn, uncensored opinions.......Joe
sonusman said:
Ed has an extremely true and valid point.... Yes it's a bit forward sounding, but I wouldn't call it smart-arsed. Thats what you need around here if you want to learn, uncensored opinions.......Joe