PC Producers: Tone/Eq on or off during mixes?

[cix7records]

Question for others recording/mixing on PC: When doing your mixing (track adjustment) for final mixdown before sending off for mastering should I be sure that my soundcard's tone controls as set at 0 dB (no boost) so that I get a more accurate representation of the final signal through my monitors or should I mix down with the PC's Eq controls the way I have them setup to my own personal liking? I'm not really sure which way I should be doing this. My PC (as well as my monitors' amp) has Eq controls, but I'm assuming that by mixing without bypassing each Eq that I'm getting a false sense of what the mixes truly sound like. Since my Eq settings don't actually change what's going in the mix, my logic tells me to mix with the Eqs turned off, but man, that sounds so dry and lifeless during mix down. How do you all mix- with an "clean" signal or with your Eq at your ideal settings? It's so funny that I've been recording (multitrack audio) music on a PC for 5 years now (7 for midi) and have never come to a conclusion about this.

Thanks for the input,

mJ
cix7records

 

[nessbass]

pro EQ

I would try to do it the way you are accustomed to. I am using my stereo for monitoring purposes at home (please don't shout at me for that), and as I am always listening to other music without any EQ, I of course mix without EQ. But would I have a standard setting on my stereo, I would definitely use it during mixdown, just because I know the sound. Your monitors seem to have a sound you like when they're EQed, and a sound you obviously dislike or just don't know enough, so that you find it strange, when they're flat. So do it, how you like it, how you feel comfortable. Otherwise you would perhaps put too much low freq into the mix, and so on.

Hope that helps,

David

 

[Tekker]

I agree, do what sounds best to you....

Also listen to CDs that you are familiar with on your monitors with the EQ set how you are going to be mixing and get used to how they taylor the sound of CDs that you know well and mix your songs acccordingly.

 

[cix7records]

Ah, that's what I'll do then. I may need to adjust to a new setup soon though as I'm doing some instrumentals for two other labels in exchange for some new monitors (which are better than the ones I have now) and a couple of other nice little things. One of these guys went out and bought all of this "state-of-the-art" gear though I warned him that gear won't make him a great musician/producer without some sort of talent. He hired some guy to create some stuff for him and soon found that the guy knew his way around the equipment but not around the music. That's why I'm taking some of that stuff off his hands in exchange for some original tracks. I'm really just helping the guy out. hehe

Thanks again,

mJ