What is your mixing process?

[DrewPeterson7]

Haha hell yeah, that's pretty much exactly what I do Same school too, I have my standard cubase project template with all my eq's pans fx and etc. set when I start a new proj, so I'm basically dialed in from the start. I loop it for an hour while I'm having a couple beers and playing on the web or whatever.

I'm sure it'd be a lot different if I was recording someone else..

I don't even save templates. :lol: I just sort of wing each mix - I figure I'm still learning, so if I automatically start every mix with the same settings, that sort of gives me a "default" mix that may or may not be as good as what I could do if I sat down and started over from the ground up.

But yeah, at least I'm not the only one who mixes with a beer (or a scotch... or a gin and tonic... or a manhattan...) in his hand.

 

[studiogenocide]

Go ahead, blast me out of the water...!

I learned all I could on my own when it comes to tracking and mixing with just plain old trial and error. I joined this forum several years ago and learned a ton, just to find that old habits die hard.... very hard. My tracking method is very simple but it works for me, and I really don't know if I could do it any other way if I tried. Here goes my very simple method of tracking.

First, I time the piece's tempo and add a metronome, or "click" track.

Second, I map the drums (I use a machine for all my drums as of yet) and record a very basic rhythm to add backbone to the product.

Next, I add the rhythm. Whether that is guitar, piano, or organ depends on what I am trying to accomplish.

Immediately after the rhythm, I add a scratch vocal. That may or may not be an industry term, I honestly can't tell you, but it simply means I add a dry vocal so I know where I'm at and what I'm working with. I will redo it later unless it turns out stellar, in which many cases it doesn't.

After these basics are accomplished, I add instruments to taste. I always map everything on paper so the guys don't come in and walk all over each other when tracking, and so I won't have to do a whole bunch of editing. For instance, if the pedal steel is a primary instrument in the mix (I do a lot of country and gospel material) I already have his part penned, so he does not "over play" where say the fiddle or lead guitar might need to come in and take front and center.

After the completion of these, I listen to the mix and get a good idea on how I want the drums and bass to "REALLY" sound. I create the drum parts and lay it down over the "backbone".

Finally, I add the bass. When I add the bass however, I turn all the other parts down with the exception of the drums and rhythm section so I can place better. Hey, it may be unconventional, but like I said before, it works for me.

I know I'm throwing myself out there for the wolves to eat me alive, because I imagine there are many better ways to track, but like I said before: old habits die hard.. really hard!

Oh, and as far as the mixing process, I agree with and utilize Chibi's method of mixing. He covered it rather well, so I will not attempt to give you my lamen's approach!