the "week or so break"

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ollie99

ollie99

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I was just wondering about when I get to the mixing stage of the song I'm working on. From reading other posts it seems its a good idea to leave it a few days or a week before you come to mix it. I know quite a few songs that have a similar feel and sound that I want my song to have, so I was just wondering whether it would be a good idea to listen to these songs during the waiting period, or listen to songs that arent like them, or completely take myself away from music?
 
Definately listen to them. It will help give you an idea of the style you are going for and what that final product sounds like. Then once you've gotten into mixing you are familiar with what you want the sound to end up as. The waiting period is to get your ears away from the same stuff you've been working on. When you go through tracking and overdubs and all of that you have the sound burned into your head. Taking a break from it will help you see it with a more objective outlook and have the sound be somewhat fresh again when you're working on it.
 
Take a break away during the mixing process. Listening to the same track over and over again, you hear less each time, not more.
 
um, two different answers. bearing in mind I know enough songs to make a whole album that sounds similar, would that be okay? or could I just listen to the same amount and type of music I normally would in a week?
 
No, same answers - dive right into mixing after tracking, but don't try to complete the mix in (or 2 or 3) sessions. Take a break from the song DURING the mixing. You can listen to other music, mix other songs, track other songs.
 
ollie99 said:
um, two different answers. ?
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That's because people are just giving their opinions. If 12 people answer, you'll probably get 15 different opinions. This ain't the Bible, just people giving opinions based on what they've experienced.
 
I sometimes take a month or more to finish mixing. Hell, I've been mixing my next album on and off for over a year. Unless you're on a deadline, which I really doubt many of us are, there's no reason to rush it. Gettting it right is better than getting it fast.
 
In addition to taking a break after tracking, I like taking a break after "finishing" a mix as well. Many times those "great sounding" mixes sound like crap after a week. I think they go stale on the shelf.
 
I'll be honest guys... I'm stuck.. I got so frustrated last night that I almost scrapped the song I was working on. I need to save my mix...

I believe that I am getting too "compressor" happy. I have done most of the things posted on here before on previous projects. I have rendered it and listened to it on other speakers and this is very disheartening because I can't seem to get the volume close to what commercial mixes are. I've read to posts that say "dont even try unless you have hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gear" But I would like to get it somewhat close "VOLUME" wise without squashing the beJesus out of it...

I think I'm going to try the bounce down technique (with some grouping) and squash each track just a little bit to bring them up, and maybe slap a compressor, EQ on the master track... but when I have done that in the past, it just make certain part of my mix inaudible...

Any tips???
 
Kideverything said:
Any tips???
Click to expand...

Yes. You're going to drive yourself crazy if you're trying to get "volume" out of your MIX. Mix your song without worrying about volume, it doesn't matter how low it is. You get volume AFTER the mix is FINISHED, and you take that finished mix into the mastering stage, which is a completely separate stage and process.

You're ruining your mix by compressing individual tracks or groups for the sole purpose of trying to get more volume out of your mix. If you want to compress those tracks or groups, that's fine. But you should only be doing it because you think the MIX needs it to sound good, not because you wnat a louder mix.

Mixing=One process
Mastering=Another process.

Don't try to master while mixing, and don't try to fix a mix while mastering.
 
Kideverything said:
I'll be honest guys... I'm stuck.. I got so frustrated last night that I almost scrapped the song I was working on. I need to save my mix...

I believe that I am getting too "compressor" happy. I have done most of the things posted on here before on previous projects. I have rendered it and listened to it on other speakers and this is very disheartening because I can't seem to get the volume close to what commercial mixes are. I've read to posts that say "dont even try unless you have hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gear" But I would like to get it somewhat close "VOLUME" wise without squashing the beJesus out of it...

I think I'm going to try the bounce down technique (with some grouping) and squash each track just a little bit to bring them up, and maybe slap a compressor, EQ on the master track... but when I have done that in the past, it just make certain part of my mix inaudible...

Any tips???
Click to expand...

Don't get crazy with the volume during the mix. Try to make a great sounding mix that's as loud as it can be without sacrificing dynamics. Then either send it to be mastered or do a basic master yourself. I've never sent my stuff to a mastering house, but I've heard the worst thing you can do is send them a mix that's already squashed. Let them do the squashing, that's their job.

I find that I can easily boost the whole mix 3-4 dB with a limiter without any noticeable change in the sound (other than being louder). If I don't mind changing the dynamics, I can push it a litter farther. It seems to me that the first thing I start losing is the beater click on the bass drum. As soon as I hear that change, I've gone too far.
 
Wow! Great replies... I love this site!!

Here is my feeling... The vocals definitely need the compression as well as my lead guitars. They sit much better in the mix. I like what the compressor does to grouped drums because it makes it punch more. But this may be my perception (louder = better - which is not true) - so when I compress everything else, it means that some of my other noises get lost in the mix. Do they need to be compressed now too?

And what if I want to release a rough track with no mastering... Just a teaser. Is there a solution that can get me some short term loudness without squashing??
 
Kideverything said:
And what if I want to release a rough track with no mastering... Just a teaser. Is there a solution that can get me some short term loudness without squashing??
Click to expand...

put it on itunes, right click, get info, end tab - turn volume up, use that copy and make a blank video with a few words and put it on youtube
 
Kideverything said:
Wow! Great replies... I love this site!!

Here is my feeling... The vocals definitely need the compression as well as my lead guitars. They sit much better in the mix. I like what the compressor does to grouped drums because it makes it punch more. But this may be my perception (louder = better - which is not true) - so when I compress everything else, it means that some of my other noises get lost in the mix. Do they need to be compressed now too?

And what if I want to release a rough track with no mastering... Just a teaser. Is there a solution that can get me some short term loudness without squashing??
Click to expand...

Right, a lot of the individual tracks still need compression. You should use it during the mixing process. But don't just use it to make things louder. The basic use of compression on a bass drum, for example, is to make it more even overall without making it sound like garbage. The tricky part is not making it sound like garbage. Less is more if you're still figuring how to set a compressor. It can also be used to purposely change the way different instruments sound, but it's easy screw things up.

If you're releasing a rough mix teaser, put a limiter on your master bus and set it to give you a little boost (3-4 dB), or whatever the mix can handle without sounding different. You just want it to sound like you turned the volume up. Some people mix through a limiter anyway, not just on a rough mix.
 
Thanks for the replies guys! I feel like I ruined my mix a little so I am going to bounce down and start it over... I posted in bounce down too. Does bouncing effect my panning?
 
Here's a good article for you to read:

Compression & Limiting

It has a chart with the magic numbers that everyone is looking for on compression settings. You can use it as a guide to get better with compression.
 
What's the chances that I could try your 7th floor recording special of "first song for free" and compare it to my mix? I'm going to read that article right now. Thanks for all the knowledge!
 
I'd be happy to try mixing a song for you. We just need a website to transfer the stem files. I used to use mega upload before they were shut down. Anyone have a suggestion?
 
How about megashares.com? Looks like you can sign up for a free account, upload the stems, and send me a link to download them. PM me if you have questions about how to prepare the stems.
 
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