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-- why does my mixing/mastering fail?

why does my mixing/mastering fail?

guys I REALLY need help on mastering. The only people I can really get help from are the people in the online community, I don't really have anyone in person who can teach me about this stuff. I've looked at many videos though, they havn't helped much, but at least have helped a little.. I'm trying to get my tracks to sound professional.

I purchased some JBL monitors (they're REALLY good), but I can't make much use of them since I just don't know much about mixing/mastering.

I'm going to post one of my tracks and show you a song I would love it to sound like (mixing/mastering wise); it frustrates me I can't get certain elements in my songs to really seem bright and stand out and such..

My track :
Hausen- Lieben (Original Mix) by HAUSEN

what I look up :



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i'm not sure what i'm doing wrong.. hope you guys can give me some pointers+ tips . I don't know why when I listen to my track, then a well-mastered song- it seems like my track sounds muffled. I can't seem to make elements stand out as much like you can hear in well-mastered songs..
would love it if you guys can help - thanks!

1) Bass has too much sub
2) Too many synths occupy the mid low range... (500 hz area)


You need to run some EQ through a lot of the synths. Roll off any frequencies below 30 hz. Cut a lot of the mid low frequencies by -3 or -6 db. That percussion drum thing that runs through your track also needs a bit of cutting of the lower frequencies.

One trick I do is I take the entire track and I run a notch filter and check every frequency to see how it compares with a "pro" track.

Your mix is way too saturated on the mid-low frequencies which is making the entire mix louder than it needs to be.

quote:

Originally posted by J.L. 1) Bass has too much sub 2) Too many synths occupy the mid low range... (500 hz area) You need to run some EQ through a lot of the synths. Roll off any frequencies below 30 hz. Cut a lot of the mid low frequencies by -3 or -6 db. That percussion drum thing that runs through your track also needs a bit of cutting of the lower frequencies. One trick I do is I take the entire track and I run a notch filter and check every frequency to see how it compares with a "pro" track. Your mix is way too saturated on the mid-low frequencies which is making the entire mix louder than it needs to be.

what about all the percussion and hi's? are they all good? and the sound panning and everything..?

how exactly can you notice when you have too many instruments or sounds going on in the same frequency range that it's causing problems? Because I would've never been able to notice that

It takes time.

Keep producing, keep referencing your songs against great sounding songs. Listen to the intros of songs (which generally have fewer sounds playing) and compare them to your intros. Once you have those elements in place, listen to how the other sounds you then bring in interact with the sounds you already have.

Generally, all of us start off not realizing how important it is to cut away the parts of each sound which aren't important to that sound in the context of the mix. So we leave a whole bunch of sub, low and mid frequencies in there (and a few high frequencies) which aren't required, and that ends up muddying up our mixes.

It gets easier with time. It's all related to mixing, not mastering. Start looking at mastering when your mixes already sound clear, detailed, powerful. Mixing will help you get fantastic results, mastering can't help to anywhere near the same degree.

quote:

Originally posted by utdarsenal what about all the percussion and hi's? are they all good? and the sound panning and everything..? how exactly can you notice when you have too many instruments or sounds going on in the same frequency range that it's causing problems? Because I would've never been able to notice that

It takes time and practice. I just stated the most prominent things. Also, you want to leave your mixdown at a much lower volume and don't apply any master effects on it until you know the mixdown is great since it becomes harder to apply effects.

I tend to to compress a lot of kick drums and basses and apply lots of EQ, put some mild tube/saturation/distortion in the mid end, and leave the high end hi pass filtered while keeping the hats sparse, which have been yielding a much better mixdown for me.

Re: why does my mixing/mastering fail?

quote:

Originally posted by utdarsenal i'm not sure what i'm doing wrong.. hope you guys can give me some pointers+ tips . I don't know why when I listen to my track, then a well-mastered song- it seems like my track sounds muffled. I can't seem to make elements stand out as much like you can hear in well-mastered songs.. would love it if you guys can help - thanks!

The solution is really simple: more high frequency content.

You either have add more layers or add more instruments.

It isnt the mastering, it isnt the mixing, its the sound design and choice of sounds.

run it through an EQ and have a look at where your mix sits in the spectrum, you'll probably find it sits in the lower half, pull some of them freq's out and boost the highs.

it looks like your track is squashed too..

If you're having trouble with the frequencies, consider using some analyzers like these: http://bit.ly/pcGSRJ

Those will hopefully get you started but in the end trust your ears

I'd try to reference with a track that doesn't use vocals. Seems to me as you made something similar just without the vocals, thus your simplistic approach doesn't work out if you lack a hook. Your problem isn't the mastering at the moment, your problem is that your listener might end up not being able to remember your track at all if there is nothing to remember it by such as a hook.

I don't know where to start either with mixing. Really frustrating

quote:

Originally posted by OOPS! I don't know where to start either with mixing. Really frustrating

Usually starts with the actual production of the song and choosing the right sounds that mend well with each other from the get go.

I recently started keeping that in mind from the very beginning of starting a new idea and it has been helping the loads.

quote:

Originally posted by .JEKL. Usually starts with the actual production of the song and choosing the right sounds that mend well with each other from the get go. I recently started keeping that in mind from the very beginning of starting a new idea and it has been helping the loads.

I agree. I just would like to learn how to mix properly. Tired of sending my tracks off to mixing/mastering engineers :\

quote:

Originally posted by CalvP Also a "multitrack parts" search on a few unnamed sources may yield some surprising results, but you didn't hear me say that alright

Eh?


Ive grabbed a few of these, great for hearing how elements sound when not in the mix, and seeing where they fit into the spectrum.

I put a limiter on it which is maybe why it sounds squashed?

what are other good ways of raising the volume of your song without having to put a limiter on it? I don't know much about this..

quote:

Originally posted by utdarsenal I put a limiter on it which is maybe why it sounds squashed? what are other good ways of raising the volume of your song without having to put a limiter on it? I don't know much about this..

use it on the elements and not the final mix

quote:

Originally posted by utdarsenal I put a limiter on it which is maybe why it sounds squashed? what are other good ways of raising the volume of your song without having to put a limiter on it? I don't know much about this..

Mixing well is the main way to get a loud mix. Cranking the limiter up on a poor mix will quickly make things worse, and still won't get the song to a perceived "competitive level".

Running a limiter over a good mix is fine. Some people like to work this way, others don't. It's a personal choice.

OP - I think you are being much too hard on yourself. Your track is good and the mixing is just about there. Just keep churning away and you'll have no problem.

The only crit I have is a couple of the synth sounds were a bit basic and cheesey, but easily rectified.

Your percs and bass are right up my street.

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