Orchestral mixing

  • Thread starter Thread starter ditroiamusic
  • Start date Start date
D

ditroiamusic

New member
Any tips on orchestral mixing would be very much appreciated. I'm referring to "mock" orchestra here. Thanks!
 
Well, for a start, here's a general orchestra seating chart:

orchseating.jpg


This can help you manage where you place your sections. What you're essentially trying to do is make the orchestra sound like one cohesive unit in the same room as you would hear it in real life.

Also, although the above image shows the contrabasses and the cellos off the right, I would personally place them in the middle to balance out the low end coming from the speakers and then place the violins and violas around them. Of course, this is just preference so if you want to place them to the side, then go for it.

As far as reverb goes, you'll probably want to use a nice impulse response of a real life concert hall like the Concertgebouw or other greats and apply it in doses as one would hear it in real life. It's also a good idea to pan the reverb send opposite to the source, i.e. if the harp is on the left, pan the reverb to the right. This is how it would be heard in real life. Also, it's probably a good starting point to give sources further back on the stage a little more reverb than those in the front but as always, let your ears be the judge.

Hope that helps.

Cheers :)
 
Back
Top