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Blending Sounds?

I was wondering if anyone had any tips to help blend sounds together a bit better. When layering sounds on top of each other they blend together but for some reason it feels tad off. I know EQ is one major factor to it, but is there any other tips to make sounds blend better? Plugins, Maybe?

Panning, levels, and EQ (notch or hi-pass/lo-pass) are the obvious ones. A little modulation effect (e.g., chorus, flange, phaser) can help them blend. For some sounds, a little distortion or saturation can help smear them. Compression can also help glue sounds together.

Also, turn off any preset effects for each sound and route them to the same effect(s) (esp. with reverbs - put the sounds in the same "space").

Get Pro-Tools and mix in mono. 97.345354% of all songs played in dance clubs were made using PT and 92.34534% of all clubs use mono systems. Oh, and don't splurge on "pro"sumer gear. Just use the stock sound-card and HP Beats headphones. Other than that, just wing it.

/Triple-Threat-Trollin'

quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker Get Pro-Tools and mix in mono. 97.345354% of all songs played in dance clubs were made using PT and 92.34534% of all clubs use mono systems. Oh, and don't splurge on "pro"sumer gear. Just use the stock sound-card and HP Beats headphones. Other than that, just wing it. /Triple-Threat-Trollin'

Cool story bro

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Originally posted by cryophonik Panning, levels, and EQ (notch or hi-pass/lo-pass) are the obvious ones. A little modulation effect (e.g., chorus, flange, phaser) can help them blend. For some sounds, a little distortion or saturation can help smear them. Compression can also help glue sounds together. Also, turn off any preset effects for each sound and route them to the same effect(s) (esp. with reverbs - put the sounds in the same "space").

Thanks. Seems as though I'm already doing most of these. But didn't know putting sounds in the same "space" will help with the blending. Good tip.

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Originally posted by Dauzy Cool story bro

Thanks, man.

you can use wavforms shapes to blend shit like saw,square and triangle for example.

http://www.mixmymusic.net/complimen...mplementary-eq/

http://www.recordingwebsite.com/rwt...hive/rw14r.html

On a serious note, Complimentary Equalization is a relatively simple process that will allow you to mix multiple instruments occupying similar spectral regions that would otherwise give you muddy masking artifacts. There is also utilizing side-chained compressors which will lower the volume on one track every time it's triggered with the track you want to emphasize in the mix.

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Originally posted by EddieZilker http://www.mixmymusic.net/complimen...mplementary-eq/ http://www.recordingwebsite.com/rwt...hive/rw14r.html On a serious note, Complimentary Equalization is a relatively simple process that will allow you to mix multiple instruments occupying similar spectral regions that would otherwise give you muddy masking artifacts. There is also utilizing side-chained compressors which will lower the volume on one track every time it's triggered with the track you want to emphasize in the mix.

I am already utilizing side-chain compression but thanks for the links I will for sure give those a read.

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Originally posted by Dauzy I am already utilizing side-chain compression but thanks for the links I will for sure give those a read.

No problem. They weren't as comprehensive as I would have liked and there are also some charts that show which instruments typically occupy which frequencies and what to turn up or down when they are problematic. I'll try to find those, when I get a chance.

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Originally posted by Dauzy Thanks. Seems as though I'm already doing most of these.

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Originally posted by Dauzy I am already utilizing side-chain compression...

OK, so if I understand you, you're already using panning, levels, EQ, chorus/flanger/phaser, distortion/saturation, and compression/SC compression, and the sounds still aren't blending? I would assume that by now you've gone beyond simple blending and you've now crossed the threshold into complete annihilation of the sounds. Maybe it's time to post a sample of your sounds with a good description or example of what you're trying to accomplish. Or, maybe just start over with the fundamentals of sound design in mind???

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Originally posted by cryophonik OK, so if I understand you, you're already using panning, levels, EQ, chorus/flanger/phaser, distortion/saturation, and compression/SC compression, and the sounds still aren't blending? I would assume that by now you've gone beyond simple blending and you've now crossed the threshold into complete annihilation of the sounds. Maybe it's time to post a sample of your sounds with a good description or example of what you're trying to accomplish. Or, maybe just start over with the fundamentals of sound design in mind???

I totally understand what you're saying. I've opted to start all over with the sounds I feel don't blend.

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Originally posted by EddieZilker No problem. They weren't as comprehensive as I would have liked and there are also some charts that show which instruments typically occupy which frequencies and what to turn up or down when they are problematic. I'll try to find those, when I get a chance.

Do you mean a chart like this?

http://www.independentrecording.net...ain_display.htm

quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker Get Pro-Tools and mix in mono. 97.345354% of all songs played in dance clubs were made using PT and 92.34534% of all clubs use mono systems. Oh, and don't splurge on "pro"sumer gear. Just use the stock sound-card and HP Beats headphones. Other than that, just wing it. /Triple-Threat-Trollin'

Motherfu....GOT_TO_RESIST

Just being conscious of which sounds are occupying which frequency range and where they peak at really helps. Cognitively selecting sounds and hipass/lowpassing them. An example: a clap layer. A clap sample, with everything below 800Hz cut out. Then, a snare sample, with everything above 800 cut out. Mixing them together to get an overall sound. Being aware of presence in the mix, even if you have to do it visually. Choose instruments to occupy certain frequency ranges of the mixdown, and isolate them so they only play that general frequency range. Which is pretty easy, considering different instruments can occupy different octaves which would mean they are automatically in different frequency ranges, you just have to clean it up with some high and low passing. There's nothing worse than hearing the mud of 2 synths when they could easily be EQ'd to fit together. Compression is key, as well. Mixdown is an art, takes lots of practice.

Always on such threads the same advice comes out, and it's perfectly good advice such as high passing, but I suspect the OP is well aware of such things already but still struggling.

This problem is akin to being able to read a recipe book but still failing to deliver the dish as well as expected.

In my experience what this all boils down to is sound choices, and I mean beyond the usual freq diagrams which most people can pick up quite quickly.

Whether your own sounds or presets and samples, sound selection choices are of profound importance. I'd say some producers never get beyond a certain level, perhaps they don't even percieve a partiuclar difference in thier quality control compared to others.

I know I really struggle to get the sounds I want, and I grew up with analogue synths and knowing what all the dials do, but still I find I 'make do' and often do not realise this until later listening back to a finnished track after a while.

The best chefs never make do and they understand the starting point to quality is having the finest ingriedients, which luckily for us we can make ourselves without needing to buy expensive truffles every time.

So IMO based on what you say, you need to take much more care in sound selection and design and always keep asking yourself is this really as good as I could do - even down to a hihat. One wrong ingredient in a cake can spoil it. People who make do with things like percussion, never reach full potential.

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Originally posted by Richard Butler Always on such threads the same advice comes out, and it's perfectly good advice such as high passing, but I suspect the OP is well aware of such things already but still struggling. This problem is akin to being able to read a recipe book but still failing to deliver the dish as well as expected. In my experience what this all boils down to is sound choices, and I mean beyond the usual freq diagrams which most people can pick up quite quickly. Whether your own sounds or presets and samples, sound selection choices are of profound importance. I'd say some producers never get beyond a certain level, perhaps they don't even percieve a partiuclar difference in thier quality control compared to others. I know I really struggle to get the sounds I want, and I grew up with analogue synths and knowing what all the dials do, but still I find I 'make do' and often do not realise this until later listening back to a finnished track after a while. The best chefs never make do and they understand the starting point to quality is having the finest ingriedients, which luckily for us we can make ourselves without needing to buy expensive truffles every time. So IMO based on what you say, you need to take much more care in sound selection and design and always keep asking yourself is this really as good as I could do - even down to a hihat. One wrong ingredient in a cake can spoil it. People who make do with things like percussion, never reach full potential.

I've come to totally agree

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