Muddy mixes

  • Thread starter Thread starter cominginsecond
  • Start date Start date
Thanks for the advice everyone. Yeah, I should have known better than to cut the same frequency on all the tracks. My mixes are sounding better since I started this thread.
 
It's really impossible to know the right approach without knowing what it is you're dealing with. I can't say "cut this" or "boost that" without knowing what kinds of tracks these are; how many, what instruments, how were they mic'ed, what frequencies are they taking up, for the most part, which ones seem to contribute the most mud, etc. etc. etc.

All these posts are basically just taking randome stabs in the dark.
 
Hey, found that part on the HP filters pretty helpfull, someone mentioned that to me awhile ago, made my mixes much cleaner. The other guy though mentioned using low pass filters on kick and bass to have them the only parts that go under 100. After some experimenting mixing seems easier once you can keep the different instruments in the ranges you want.


I got a few questions here..


What tips would you give or filter setting for keeping instruments in the mid range without getting into the high and lows.

How much chorus is too much to use on bass, I always find i'd like to have more depth but I can't seem to find a happy medium.
 
What tips would you give or filter setting for keeping instruments in the mid range without getting into the high and lows.

Roll off the lows and roll off the highs.
 
Middleman said:
Roll off the lows and roll off the highs.


I actually tried that, i thought maybe there was a different way :)btw when are the settings for low shelf and high shelf used? As that for this purpose is shelf to ...... to shelve it and put it away where it belongs? heh
 
Lo shelf is used to pass lows
High pass is used to pass highs
Here are some examples

Hi pass
 

Attachments

  • hi pass.webp
    hi pass.webp
    40.6 KB · Views: 251
Notch filter
 

Attachments

  • notch.webp
    notch.webp
    42.4 KB · Views: 230
Bump with wide Q
 

Attachments

  • bump wide q.webp
    bump wide q.webp
    41.5 KB · Views: 209
Bump with narrow Q - Also a notch
 

Attachments

  • bump narrow q.webp
    bump narrow q.webp
    42 KB · Views: 203
Those are helpfull, I have the ultrafunk plugins actually. I use FL studio so i've just been using the free filter, setting to HP and turn the freq to 100 and 0 Q. I tried using the ultrafunk filter and it actually sounds better. I think
 
As you ad tracks, make sure each tone is distinct enough in texture and timbre so as not to clash or cover other elements in the mix.
 
Ok Middleman, i'm confused (but i'm also drunk so...:rolleyes:
The 'high pass' is a low shelf cut filter, and the first 'notch' is a combined low pass and a high pass. Am i off here?
:confused:
Wayne
 
Last edited:
mixsit said:
Ok Middleman, i'm confused (but i'm also drunk so...:rolleyes:
The 'high pass' is a low shelf cut filter, and the first 'notch' is a combined low pass and a high pass. Am i off here?
:confused:
Wayne

the first 2 pics are shown backwards, not his intention though i'm sure...
 
The pictrures are not wrong. A high pass filter passes highs and cuts lows. A low pass filter cuts highs and passes lows.

mixsit - yes, to the first question. No to the 2nd question..

Here is a good site for understanding filters

http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scots_Guide/experiment/highpass/hpf.html

A shelf is just the shape (looks like a shelf) of the filter.

Hi pass - passes highs
Lo pass - passes lows
Lo shelf - a variant of a high pass
Hi shelf - a variant of a lo pass.

Now are you really confused? All is explained here http://fargo.itp.tsoa.nyu.edu/~electria/syllabi/syll1frameset.htm

Acutally my first comment above regarding a lo shelf passes lows is incorrect. I meant to say a lo pass filters passes lows.
 
Last edited:
Fusion2 said:
the first 2 pics are shown backwards, not his intention though i'm sure...

i stand corrected, i saw this a few weeks ago working with cep filters...

from the wording i'd have/did thought/think otherwise...

excuse please...
 
Ah.:) The tip off is High and Low pass filters don't have a 'Gain' function. But it's all good.:D
Wayne
 
Middleman said:
Notch filter

Actually, this to me looks more like a bandpass setup rather than a notch (band-reject) filter. A notch would the reverse of what this picture shows.
 
69ShadesofRed

You are absolutely correct. I goofed on that one.

Notch is down and bandpass is up; opposite of each other.
 
Back
Top