neat rules of thumb for mixing

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popman

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i turn down my monitors as low as i can so i can just hear the song then i ajust my faders to the right levels.
if you can hear everything even at that little volume you got a good mix.
 
gonna have to call b.s. one....even a newb like me knows better than that.
 
The only advise that is meaningful all the time is this:
1. Visualize what you want the finished product to sound like.
2. Pick the sounds closest to what you want in the end.
3. As you are mixing, listen. Figure out the difference between where you are and where you want to be.
4. Do what it takes to get closer to your goal.

I know it seems vague, but this is the only universal truth.
 
brandrum said:
gonna have to call b.s. one....even a newb like me knows better than that.
Click to expand...

While turning it down low isn't the *only* trick or certain to work...

He's right.

If you can hear everything clearly when your level is very low, you quite likely have your levels balanced well. Mixing at that level its difficult to tell where certain frequencies are getting muddy or where certain tracks are competing with each other, but turning down is an important "trick" to remember when mixing.

Especially after a long mixing session, I typically find I've pushed my volume WAY up because it sounds better that way and its easier to listen into the mix. And it fries your ears. I almost always work more quickly if I take a break at that point then turn WAY down when I continue. I then wish I had remembered to do that earlier and saved a lot of time.

-C
 
You should mix at a variety of volumes anyway.

However, just saying turn it down and if you can hear everything it's a good mix is a little naive.
 
it's meant to be a refernce, like a check point. not a way to mix.
when i'm done mixing (w/ good volume) i turn it down to check to see if anythings standing out or if what i want to stand out is.
works like a charm.
 
Cloneboy Studio said:
You should mix at a variety of volumes anyway.

However, just saying turn it down and if you can hear everything it's a good mix is a little naive.
Click to expand...

especially with references to the equal-loudness curve
it is an old mastering trick though.
 
In addition to the "turn way down" check, I also do the "listen from two or three rooms away" check. It's amazing what you can hear from a few rooms away that you couldn't hear right in front of the speakers. Helps alot with level balance.
 
Sometimes I just switch off my monitors and mix with the meterbridge on the desk.....once everything's bouncing into +6 I usualy have a half decent mix but the only way to get a perfect mix that way is on a Behringer desk, My mixes have room for improvement :rolleyes: :D


usualy I just go and take a dump and listem from the throne. If it sounds good in there the mix is done.......saves you wearin out the control room level pot on your mixer too :eek:
 
it's meant to be a refernce, like a check point. not a way to mix.
when i'm done mixing (w/ good volume) i turn it down to check to see if anythings standing out or if what i want to stand out is.

But this will only work for sure if you wait until the next day to try it. If you mix at 30% or 40% volume for a few hours, then suddenly turn it down to 10% and expect your ears to tell you the truth, you are fooling yourself.

The analogy would be lifting a 50 pound weight 100 reps, then set it down and immediately pick up a 5 pound weight and do the same reps, then declare how easy it is to lift 5 pounds. You cannot possibly have an hoest idea how light or heavy the 5 pound weight is unless you rest a day and leave the 50 pounder alone for awhile. Ears need rest toooooo......
 
soundchaser59 said:
The analogy would be lifting a 50 pound weight 100 reps, then set it down and immediately pick up a 5 pound weight and do the same reps, then declare how easy it is to lift 5 pounds. You cannot possibly have an hoest idea how light or heavy the 5 pound weight is unless you rest a day and leave the 50 pounder alone for awhile. Ears need rest toooooo......
Click to expand...



LMFAO!!!!!!!!

a 5LB weight is a 5LB weight, no matter if you lift an elephant or a feather before it. :D
 
Hmmm, If that isn't a real word, it most definitely should be.
 
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