Your advice when mixing

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JBr33zyMusic

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Hey guys, I was watching a Sweetwater video on youtube and they were interviewing a famous engineer. They started talking about what he did with his mixing. He said that he would never listen to the track until he was done mixing it and he mixes at a very low level of volume. Do any of you have so little tips or tricks that would be nice for a beginner like me?
Thank you!
-Joe
 
JBr33zyMusic said:
Hey guys, I was watching a Sweetwater video on youtube and they were interviewing a famous engineer. They started talking about what he did with his mixing. He said that he would never listen to the track until he was done mixing it and he mixes at a very low level of volume. Do any of you have so little tips or tricks that would be nice for a beginner like me?
Thank you!
-Joe
Click to expand...

I think my best tip is to never get attached to a track it may sound awesome alone or may be your "best mic" but it just might not work in the mix don't get emotional with it. Try not to look at faders to much and use your ears instead. Also don't go straight into mixing after tracking take a break. Mix like you'd eat an elephant one bite at a time. I like to start with vocals and bring every other track around it up. Don't overdo it with effects and don't be afraid of hi pass and lo pass filters it may not sound right solod but as a whole mix it may work. Be carefull when using noise gates. I don't ever use any I usually use automation for things like noise.
 
guitarded2 said:
I think my best tip is to never get attached to a track it may sound awesome alone or may be your "best mic" but it just might not work in the mix don't get emotional with it. Try not to look at faders to much and use your ears instead. Also don't go straight into mixing after tracking take a break. Mix like you'd eat an elephant one bite at a time. I like to start with vocals and bring every other track around it up. Don't overdo it with effects and don't be afraid of hi pass and lo pass filters it may not sound right solod but as a whole mix it may work. Be carefull when using noise gates. I don't ever use any I usually use automation for things like noise.
Click to expand...

Okay thank you!
 
Given that I track things fairly slowly, usually over a period of weeks, I tend to mix as I go... doing adjustments to EQ and dynamics in particular whilst listening for what I'll be doing with the next track.

At the end, once I have everything tracked, I'll drag my machine and monitors out into the lounge room, away from all the walls and mix properly... whereupon I may change some of the things I've already done....

Everyone does it differently... find what works for you.
 
JBr33zyMusic said:
He said that he would never listen to the track until he was done mixing it
Click to expand...
Taken literally, that not only makes no sense, it's scientifically impossible ! So I must conclude that what he meant was something else. I'd like to know what.
 
Armistice said:
Given that I track things fairly slowly, usually over a period of weeks, I tend to mix as I go... doing adjustments to EQ and dynamics in particular whilst listening for what I'll be doing with the next track.

At the end, once I have everything tracked, I'll drag my machine and monitors out into the lounge room, away from all the walls and mix properly... whereupon I may change some of the things I've already done....

Everyone does it differently... find what works for you.
Click to expand...
:D One of the last things I do, everything's in place, is get my ass up out'a my comfy spot and do the final tweaks to 20-100Hz.
 
- 'Faders up, rough in's, first impressions/global mode. 'Where might this song go? What sets well, where/what are the most obvious places tones to remove?
- First layer(s) of automation pre insert (AKA 'gain clip envelopes. Good for general leveling and cleanup.

Carry on :)

Yeah I like mixing low too- Try it in the about the lowest you dare range
(Damn sight easier said than done with TheBand around
 
i dont think there is any real formula, you kinda follow others until you have your own


I try to take a day off between tracking and mixing though I have a rough mix already done when tracking so I can listen to it and see what works

then I bounce it down to audio and mix it in a separate DAW...mainly because I have two, I have three in fact lol, and partially because it feels like a different stage and helps me focus what little attention I have

I colour code all the tracks and insert the buses before I even start...this has been the single most biggest improvement in speeding up my workflow


the rest is experience..after over two years of doing this there isnt a track/mix I havent learned from...i wonder if it gets boring when you just do it all perfectly lol
 
kcearl said:
I colour code all the tracks and insert the buses before I even start...this has been the single most biggest improvement in speeding up my workflow ..l
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Templates? Then you track (mostly) right into whichever pre asigned sub group.
 
mixsit said:
Templates? Then you track (mostly) right into whichever pre asigned sub group.
Click to expand...

no, im not sure a template would do as my projects tenbd to vary in size etc....but setting the project up's therapy anyway

mixing a track day is always a good day :)
 
Mixing ONLY at low volume? Mixing at low volume is a good idea, I could miss something if I don't have a listen at higher volume.
 
I don't know ..... If I'm not up dancing around ..... I've done something wrong!
 
JBr33zyMusic said:
He said that he would never listen to the track until he was done mixing it and he mixes at a very low level of volume.
-Joe
Click to expand...

So what I am thinking he does is turn off the monitors, moves the fades and eq around until he likes what he see's then turns on the monitors? :confused: I suppose it saves your ears.

I think what he means is that you mix without listening to the separate tracks individually, get the overall mix happening then later have listen to individual tracks if there are any individual problems. Quite often a track soloed (ie bass guitar) may have a great sound on its own but does not cut it in the mix, and an instrument that soloed sounds like crap when put in the mix rocks.


Alan.
 
Take lots of breaks to avoid ear fatigue. Things always sound different with fresh ears.

Every so often, push your chair back, close your eyes and just LISTEN to what you have without all the visual clutter a moving cursor, waveform displays, meters, etc. etc. give you. You'll be surprised how much more you hear that way.
 
Bobbsy said:
Every so often, push your chair back, close your eyes and just LISTEN to what you have without all the visual clutter a moving cursor, waveform displays, meters, etc. etc. give you. You'll be surprised how much more you hear that way.
Click to expand...

^^^^
This..... one of the little mixing routines I have is to wait until night time, turn the sofa around to face the monitors, getting as far away as possible, turn all the lights off, the volume up and just listen...
 
Never record tracks and mix on the same day.

Start first mix at low volume, but always crank it up and leave the room to get an idea what the overall mono sound is like. You'll hear some room flaws this way (if your room is not really made for mixing) but you'll get a good idea what gorillas are in the mix.

I mix the rhythm section first, make it sound like the band is playing live without the singers or the soloists. If that sounds good then it's easy to frost it on top with the vocals and solos.

Always check your mixes on at least 3 different systems........studio monitors, your friends home stereos, boom boxes, and cd player in the car are the usual choices. Take notes, and get it where it sounds "mixed right" on all 3 systems.
 
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