Q relating to compression & audio v VSTis in the mix

[Alchemist3k]

I have been working on a track recently and although I have basically now got all the parts worked out and I am relatively happy with the arrangement my mixing skill is pretty poor.

After trying some mixes that I wasnt too happy with I read some material and decided the best thing to do was reset the mixer in Cubase (VST 5.1) and get all my levels sorted out to avoid clipping. Now they are all set nicely and all instruments are hitting just under the 0db mark with no red lights showing.

The mix is currently dry. i.e. no effects or EQ yet.

My problem is that the track is basically entirely made up of VST instruments and this poses a problem because:

a) it uses a lot of processing power (luckily its a powerful PC)

b) more importantly, I keep hearing about compression and how you should use it on practically all tracks. However, Cubase only allows you to use its built-in compression on audio tracks.

Should I convert all parts to audio? I'd like to know what other users tend to do. I am having trouble making my LM4 drums sound very loud. They are at the 0db mark but all other sounds seem much louder.

I know I could run plugins and add compression to VSTi's that way but that would mean using up all 8 Send slots on compressors alone leaving me no room for reverbs etc.

PS I am still slightly confused as to what compression does anyway other than make tracks louder?

Lots of questions I know. Can someone clarify?

 

[volltreffer]

High Alchemist!

Wow, a lot of questions! At first: I don't know anything about Cubase, but try to answer your other stuff...

I think there may be several issues in your mix. If your drums are not loud enough, it may be an EQ issue OF ALL TRACKS! Have you cut the lower frequencies on all tracks except bd (or bass depending on what you want). If the mix fights in these low frequencies, it is likely that you get problems getting drums loud that use mainly these freqs. Very often, the problem is caused by listening to your single tracks in solo mode. Most synth stuff is set up in a way that it sounds gorgeous when played alone, but takes up too much sonic space in a mix. IMHO, less is almost always more when it comes to freqs that an instrument should have in your mix. (I do punk rock/nu metal/other rock stuff with loads of heavily distorted guitars, and there you simply HAVE to cut a lot. Your needs may vary totally, if you do rather acoustic or sonically sparse sounds... Nevertheless, try to cut away what you don't need, and suddenly your mix will become much 'airier') OTOH, your drums might have very high peaks in them that you might get rid of with compression/limiting... And here we come to the next topic...

Compression is not only used to be able to get things 'louder' on tape, but also to have it at a more steady volume. This can improve the 'sitting in the mix' greatly, especially whith vocal tracks. The only problem is, that sometimes it may be necessary to compress all tracks, as all have too many changes in volume. I know that lots of guys say that its better to be fixed in the song/arrangement, but I like the compressed sounds... Backing vocals are very often very hard compressed to improve them being heard when at lower volumes. It may be useful to blend an uncompressed track with a strongly compressed one, to not loose the feeling of 'live' tracks.

As you probably see from my response, it will take MUCH time to be able to handle EQ and compression as those valuable tools as they are. So probably you will have to read a lot a puzzle a lot around. Sorry, but the probability that you will take your mix to 'bought CD' level in a very short time are not too high, IMO. I still do not seem to reach this level (well according to my bandmates, the latest songs are 'almost' at bought cd level, but almost is .... ), though I tried a lot in the last couple of years...

So perhaps convert the tracks to audio, and play around a lot. You'll learn a lot, improve your mixes and have fun, hopefully... And the fun should be what it's all about...

Ciao

Axel

 

[Alchemist3k]

Hi,

thanks for the reply. Seems like good advice. I will give it a go. The music I have made for this track is very synth orientated. Think of a cross between Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails. Not as spare sounding as DM but not anywhere near as complex as Reznor's work.

I think the fact that I have one or two chords on the synths that span literally the entire span of the keyboard may be makig things tougher than normal.

 

[joedirt]

Converting your midi to audio will definetly free up some power. Tip: save your midi files before converting, this way you can come back later and make changes if nec.

Also, try routing your lm4 to different outputs this way you'll have more control over each individual sample. Hope this helps