Tutorial on mixing?

  • Thread starter Thread starter djddb
  • Start date Start date
D

djddb

New member
Hey all,

I'm finding my mixing sucks. I don't expect much of anything better because I'm just recording recreationally in my bedroom with little to no equipment (PodXT + Cakewalk). I find that my recordings just sound really bad...I know the problem is mostly EQ, I'm just not too sure how to fix it. I mostly will fool around a bit with eq settings after I'm done recording, then export to mp3.

I would like to get a more methodical way of mixing, i.e. I'd like to know exactly what using a compressor can accomplish, what different bands of eq mean, etc. Basically I'd like to start doing a more informed and methodical approach to mixing. So if any of you could point me towards to some good beginner tutorials, I'd greatly appreciate it.
 
Your problem isnt eq. Its probably a bunch of things mixed together. One is acoustic treatment. Two is probably not knowing how to properly mic instruments in a way that would yield the best results for your situation. and three is mostly you dont have experience mixing.

The only way to get better is to keep practicing. There aren't really tutorials because they wouldn't really help unless it was like a 20 hour tutorial. The only way to learn is experience.

Oh yeah being able to hear your stuff accurately is a big help. So get the best pair of monitors you can afford and set them up correctly.
 
Like DAS19 said, keep practicing... Mixing is not something that you can just get really good with over night. Neither is recording though. One thing you will read a lot on this board is that a good mix starts at the source recording, and that is very true. In your case, you're using a POD into a DAW, so acoustic treatments may not be AS applicable during recording, but it will be extremely important when you monitor the playback of your mixes. If you want to learn more about what certain things do, i.e. compression, then browse around on here, read and take what you can from what people post. There is a wealth of knowledge on here, so use it to your advantage and learn from other people's trials.
 
A good mix starts at the source - the source tone,
then its the recording chain/recording techniques - then the mixing.

Of course the monitoring set up and room both are both important at all stages.

Eck
 
There are a couple good tutorials - Russ Long's guide to recording and MILAR by Charles Dye. Like they say, this ain't rocket surgery.............
 
My guess would be you're not starting off with good sounding tracks and you're expecting too much from effects like EQ, etc. If you have quality tracks to work with it isn't hard to get a good sounding mix.
 
Good Playing + Good mic placement = Good tracking = Good mix = Good master

That's what you must have on mind before any recording project. Shit in = Shit out. Signal processors are not gonna correct a bad track.

So, mixing is all practice but you need a good source. I also recommend to buy some books where all the process of recording is explained. Guerrilla Home Recording by Karl Coryat is a good point to start.
 
But guys, he's using a podxt, so he's probably not micing a bunch of stuff.

Think of eq less as a tool to make things sound good (although it can be used like that) and more of a way to fine tune stuff later. Also think of it as a way to place different instruments. ie, the fundamental notes of your bass guitar are going to ballparking around 800 hz and lower, so try cutting guitar at 800 hz and lower to make room for the bass.'

Also, focus more on getting your stuff to sound good before you hit record, and not trying to make it sound good afterwards with plugins.

Also, with the podxt, there is a crazy fuzzy, hissy sound at 2k and 4k. Try cutting a bit around those freqs. I find it helps to put the podxt is bose ps1 mode. Check your manual if you don't know how to do this.
 
well, to be exact, you're right, the bass guitar fundamental is much lower than that. Around 100-200 hz. But I've usually found the "meat" of the bass sound that adds punch in my mixes is around there.
 
ecktronic said:
NOthing wrong with a boost on the bass at 800(ish)Hz.

Can work real good.

eck
Click to expand...


He was referring to the post stating that the fundamentals of the bass would be at 800 hz and lower.....Which, maybe some of the highest notes may be, I'm not sure, but low B is like 31 Hz or something like that. Which now that I think about it, I don't think fundamentals will get anywhere near 800hz......
 
djddb said:
I'd like to know exactly what using a compressor can accomplish, what different bands of eq mean, etc.
Click to expand...
Head over to www.independentrecording.net and check out the "Online Resources" column. There you'll find "Compression Uncompressed", a comprehensive begenner's tutorial on compressors and compression.

As far a the EQ bands, the best bet is to sit down with a couple of CDs of music containing samples of everything from classical to rock to hip hop and run them through a 15-30 band graphic EQ. Leave all bands flat, and one at a time, slide one band slowly up and down and listen closely to character of the sound that band controls and how it affects each instrument. Do that for a half-hour to an hour a night for one week and you'll be off to a greast start. *After* doing that, head back to the independentrecording.net website and check out the "Interactive Frequency Charts" to take that ear training you just gave yourself, and fine tune your understanding of what you just heard.

EDIT: Oh, and according to that chart (;)), the fundamental range for the bass ends at F4, which is about 343Hz, meaning the high end of the first overtones is under 700Hz. However, the attack frequency and pick noise from hitting the string is concentrated in the 700Hz to 1kHz range, which is probably the punch that Dax is finding.

G.
 
Last edited:
NL5 said:
He was referring to the post stating that the fundamentals of the bass would be at 800 hz and lower.....Which, maybe some of the highest notes may be, I'm not sure, but low B is like 31 Hz or something like that. Which now that I think about it, I don't think fundamentals will get anywhere near 800hz......
Click to expand...

Oo my bad. ::)

Eck
 
I'm not sure if its available on the amps or not. Maybe someone else can clarify?

Anyways, bose ps-1 mode is a setting on podxt to optimize it's output signal for a bose ps-1 PA setup. (the soundsticks)

To my ears, this setting, when used direct for recording, sounds way less "fizzy" and much warmer.

I still make cuts a 2k and 4k, and usually end up adding some 8k-12k, but it gets my original sound much closer.
 
NL5 said:
He was referring to the post stating that the fundamentals of the bass would be at 800 hz and lower.....Which, maybe some of the highest notes may be, I'm not sure, but low B is like 31 Hz or something like that. Which now that I think about it, I don't think fundamentals will get anywhere near 800hz......
Click to expand...

Yes, you're 100% right. It's actually the "nice" harmonics that end up being around 800hz. Over time I've kind of trained myself to think of these as the "fundamentals" because boosting the actual fundamentals usually just ends up adding mud, I've found. Sorry for the confusion! Haha, my acoustics teacher would have beaten me for explaining it like that!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top