very basic help w/ volume levels

[jsv08]

Hey, i've been messin round with recording strictly for composing purposes and i got a question.. let's say i got 2 rhythmn guitar tracks layed down for a few bars.. then i add a melody line down on each channel for a couple bars after that.. then i play it back.. the volume is, of course, way louder during the melody parts, as there are now 4 tracks playing.. What's the easy way to even out the volume when more tracks are added so that it doesn't suddenly kill your ears during the melody part?... ok, i'm sure you know what i'm talking about!! heh.. any help would be appreciated! and if it matters, i'm workin with n-track. thanks!

JS

 

[rocky outcrop]

mix

I think its called mixing. Do youjust leave the levels the same as when you recorded them. With this excess volume does it sound bad?I would bring down the level of the melody it dont have to blast over the other parts as its a melody and not the hole thang. maybee you should look at some mixing threads to get some ideas ,hope this is of some help

 

[jsv08]

ok, i was tryin to keep it simple, but in the last hour or so i decided to move the harmony tracks and the rhythm tracks that play during the harmony, to different tracks.. so that instead of having the rhythm guitar play only on, say, tracks 2 and 3, they now play on tracks 2 and 3, but then with the melody, they play on tracks 4 and 5 and the melody plays on 6 and 7 so i can adjust the volume of those tracks to compensate.. and i decided that maybe there isn't a simpler solution, but since i'm just using this for comp..... you know what? heh.. i think i just figured it out.. i think my question was kind of .....well, i can't think of the word, but basically i think i was just looking for a solution that didn't exist or is to simple to exist, such that i wouldn't have to go through any extra work with volume envelopes or adding extra tracks or something.. but hey, still, while i'm here, if anybody has any suggestions that may help me simplify things other than utilizing multiple tracks, then please, any suggestions welcome! heh..

JS

ugh, making music is HARD!!! heh...

 

[Chriss]

there is no other way bro

 

[zip]

Correct....mix and...

Watch your panning as well as volume. If you have your rhythm guitar panned somewhat to the right don't pan your solo or melody right on top of it...

Keep in mind there are no rules to mixing if it sounds good but a few norms which can help...

GENERALLY...pan

- vocals
- kick
- bass
- snare

up the center. Other than that move stuff around both right and left until they find their own "space". By this I don't mean JUST hard right and hard left...

But of course...experiment and do what sounds good. Just watch throwing things on top of one another. If everything is panned center you'll have problems keeping everything from being loud.

Hope this helps...

zip >>