Using faders during mixdown

[Mr Blues]

I am no way an expert at home Recording.
I have a Tascam DP-01FX which only has two simaltanias (sorry can't spell. lol) inputs , what I have done is used my Focusrite twin trak which I set the stereo link compressor for the guitars recorded stereo panned left and right, not hard left and right but 10 o'clock & 2'o'clock.
plus I have 2 SE Electronics 2200A condenser mics to record the guitars with.

For the vocals light compression and centre vocals,the song is just pure vocals and guitar , I have tried a bit of mic tecnique i.e going back a bit when I am getting higher and louder but still found my voice uneven a bit.Is it okay to use the faders during mixdown i.e when I sing a bit loud , turn the fader down grauduly and when singing softer gradually bring the fader up.

Am I breaking the rules or is this a common tecniuqe in studios?

Dave

 

[Cyrokk]

Not at all. It is often preferable to "ride the faders" than risk messing up the sound with compression.

 

[Mr Blues]

Cheers Cyrokk.

I felt the vocals were more pleasant to listen too this way then when I mixed down yesterday where it sounded a bit uneven.

On the Focusrite twintrak pro have settings set as follows:

What I have done for the guitar is stereo link in button on

Compression : 12'o'clock
Release : 3 o'clock
Make Up: 10.o'clock

For Vocals Mono in:
Compression: 9 o'clock
Release: 12 o'clock
Make Up : 4 o'clock
Impedence: 12 o'clock
Discreate class A : 10 o'clock

The only snag is the guitars need a bit more bottom end , I have also got a duvet hanging up on my window to block some of the outside sound , it seems to work fine. LOL

 

[killmachine]

Ride them badboy's, if you ever ever ever get a take where all the dynamics of a song stay monotonous you've got one boring song. There's really no way to avoid it and over compressing will be heard.

That's what they invented automation for........ god bless automation

 

[Mr Blues]

I know faders are used for guitar solo's etc, but I have now experimented a bit with lead vocals and it seems to work well.

Dave

 

[surfmaster]

do whatever sounds best! period!

 

[guitarist_44]

I have at times tweaked the faders on my counsle when mixing down, and the result usually works out well. Just make sure you know when and where in a song that you will move them.

 

[mx_mx]

I have at times tweaked the faders on my counsle when mixing down, and the result usually works out well. Just make sure you know when and where in a song that you will move them.

Yeah, do a practice run

 

[brendandwyer]

if you have a set of vocals, say the main and double tracked, plus back ups that must move together, submixing, removing those indiv. tracks from the stereo buss, and then riding the sub fader works the same way, and you have to do less!

Although, i don't have automation, except for my blow up copilot who cops a feel at inappropriate times, but that's not important right now.

 

[gcapel]

That is an excellant recording ethic. I do the same thing in cubase but use automation which is recording any editiing (sliding faders, and whatnot) during play back.

 

[killmachine]

Yeah you've basically just got to listen the hell out of what you have and then pre-determine just how things where go. I make a mental note as to where the peaks are on the meter and try to pre-empt those spikes and what not. And yes sub-mixing helps a hell of alot especially as a whole. Otherwise sometimes you may need 20-30 fingers that all act indiviually.

 

[Tumblin' Dice]

hey man, i have the same recorder, what program are you using once you've mixed down, I mean what kind of editing software, im asking cause I was using audacity and the sound waves are always very small and thin, no matter how loud ive mixed...

 

[Cyrokk]

Also, before riding the faders you should put a strip of masking tape next to the fader and pencil in the level(s) on the tape that the fader should move. This especially comes in handy when you have to shift dynamics between a number of channels at different times.

 

[Dogbreath]

That's a good idea man...thanks

 

[Mr Blues]

Hi Tumble

At the moment I am just using the Tascam DP-01FX plus the focusrite twin track, I have T-Racks in my computor which I may use to give a gentle final compression.

How are you finding your 8 track?

Dave

 

[beezelbubba]

I haven't touched a fader in 6 years!I use compression and envelopes as a substitute for.......









Moving a fader with my hands.More or less the same thing.It comes down to not only doing what works,but what you like.Some people are inspired by that real time feel of mixing,with hands on the faders.
Tis all good!