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How important is Volume levels, Automation?
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| Biatchzxz |
Ok, Now i do not know if it has been asked before, because i didnt bother searching. I am looking for fresh responses and new experience's...
Anyway, My question to everyone based on there opinon and experience's. How important is your levels reguarding percussion sounds,pads,hats etc.. etc.. I am wondering if fading in or out pieces of your track as it goes is important. Do you normally use any filters for introducing a new element of your track? Do many people automate there elements(referring to anything,Ride,Shaker,Blah,Blah)Before they let them play at a steady level?.
These are the things i am wondering about. I know that it is very important to really keep them coming in and out smoothly with out any rough transitions. If i am asking a broad question please bare with me. I guess its all around mix down as you go i am looking for just good ways to keep the track sounding smooth when i bring a piece of percussion i am adding or a backround pad. I just been really hearing lots of talk of high pass filters,low pass and so forth. Makes me think i am missing out on some good tips..
Very much appreciated |
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| Massive84 |
don't think really this has been posted, it's a good question though.
i don't think there are any rulez, it's just i prefer.
But there is a difference which can make the feel.
Take a melody, you introduce it with a filter automation, youl hear all the notes morph from calm to bang for example.
Volume however does not alter the sound, just the volume output, which keeps the sound the same.
I don't really think about it, i just automate sometimes i make it stop sudden and sometimes i make it start sudden, and sometimes i automate fade in and out or use filter.
My only tip and advise is, never wonder but just do it or try it.
Makes life easier, i never compress, or hardly, in this summer i made 4 tunes, and i only used Reason compressor once.
ya i can go figur what does it do exactly, should i use it, important? blabla, meh if its good itIS good then :) |
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| Biatchzxz |
| Yeah i try to experiment as much as i can, but sometimes i just want to be sure i am heading in the right direction and not going out of proportion. Music is a science in my eyes, we experiment. But if someone has a cure for a certain something, might as well as the person for how he did it. I take it all in baby, and make the best of it. This is the only way i will learn and open my mind to new situations. |
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| Dj Thy |
I automate (or not, when using analog mixers without automation, then just do it on the fly) a lot. Like Massive said, it may not sound as dramatic or as obvious as filters and such, but volume balances have an effect, sometimes even psychologically.
In most music, dynamics between the different parts (this is sometimes called macrodynamics) play a very important role in music. And that's both a function of composition (if many and loud instruments play, of course it will be louder), but also of volume riding.
Listen to most tunes very critically, and you'll notice that the good ones usually have lots of stuff going on, in different levels. It could be as simple as just a little volume boost on a hihat once in a phrase, or it can be much more complicate. And indeed, there's no rules there. But it can create a feeling you can't really explain, but it's undeniably there.
If you just set your levels once and leave them static, you'll find your tune to be pretty static too. Music must breathe, be alive. There must be a flow going on. And you can achieve that with all sorts of stuff, including automation of levels.
Of course, there are also times you'll automate for technical reasons. One instrument fits fine at that level in the first part of the tune, but gets masked later on. Most people will jump on the compressor immediately, but that could take out the life of the sound. Volume riding can solve this.
I keep repeating it, but I find it to be continuously true : music is an illusion which you create. If you can fool us into believing it sounds great, it SOUNDS great (except for some audiophiles that are always a pain in the a** when it comes to this :D ). |
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| music2dance2 |
I agree that you have to do what sounds right and experiment. I havent been producing long and by looking at your posts Biatchzxz maybe you are the same? Anyway its always good to know you are heading in the right direction so its best to ask. I find that Its much needed to intoduce elements of your track gently or suddenly or vice versa, but that depends on what element of the track it is.
Trial and error is another good way to see what sounds right, or listen to you track in different surroundings; like your car or someone else's if you havent got one, a different sound system to you own etc. That way you can pick out what may need altering or changing completly. How long have you been producing by the way? |
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| Vizay |
automation is many times what brings that little extra into your tracks...
instead of just banging on a new sound you let it build into the mix wich makes it much smoother :)
when it comes to volumeautomation I mostly use it for percussions and such and stick to filters when it comes to synths but as people have stated before, there are no real rules :)
stick to what suits you best and don't be afraid to try different solutions out :) |
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| Biatchzxz |
You have all made very good points. I wanted to really try some good volume automating and really fit everything in with the right level. I have also realized something as well, sometimes a piece might not sound as good in a certain part of the track which either causes me to dump the whole thing, but instead i should try to focus more on the levels.
Dont get me wrong i dont just smash things in all muddy and what not, but just really was wondering about if there are certain parts of a track or a certain piece that someone would recommend. Trial and Error has always worked for me in the past.
-music2dance
I have only really been producing for maybe a year or more, Ive djed for a few years as well before i started also. I started straight into Logic, Wow what a learning curve i had. As of recently i have started to find my place, Not close but getting there. |
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| Etherium |
| I'm a big proponet of eq automation. Anyone do this? I find it to be almost essential. |
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| Biatchzxz |
| I really need to work on this, because i realized it can help a track stay interesting |
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| Haak |
i think it's a good idea to use variation with this
don't fade in everything, have some stuff bang in out of nowhere too |
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