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Piano mixing question!?
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| substorm |
Hey guys!
This might be a stupid question, but i searching for some guidelines in piano mixing.
Meaning, that im thinking of putting a piano in my latest production, but i dont have any experience in mixing acustic intruments!
I have played around with some eq and comp, but i cant seem to get it to cut thrugh the mix when all comes around, and i lacks of dynamics.
So, if someone have any experience, i really would appriciate some help here!:)
Thanks
C |
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| BOOsTER |
as far as my experience goes is try to balance as much as you can with volume only ... and with EQ and compressor there should be something like "less is more"...
if you EQ too much, you lose "naturalness"
if you compress too much you lose dynamics...
just my thoughts...sorry can't help much more :-) |
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| substorm |
Thanks Mr.Booster ;)
All experience share are welcome, now i atleast know that i been working to much with the eq and comp. :)
Cheers
C |
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| DJFreaq |
NEVER almost never
COMPRESS
A
PIANO
Unless you are compressing creatively to make a strange effect, You will kill the beauty of piano which IS dynamic range.
EQ should also be used sparingly. Depending on the piano, and how old or what shape its in, you might need to do a high shelf lift to bring out some sparkle in a duller sounding piano.
However.
If you're using a VSTi synth piano, or sampled piano, it might not matter. Some people don't care to vary the velocity of their piano performance.
So if you're just having your piano VST stab G over and over again at 127 velocity, compress it to all hell if you want, since there won't be any dynamic range anyway.
I am learning a lot, and I'll be getting my associates in audio engineering at the end of fall. So I do know a thing or too.
BUT it's also personal opinion thrown in there as well. Meh. Just thought I'd give you my input.
Happy producing! |
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| BOOsTER |
one thing that came to my mind (and I did that before)
is Camelspace...it's a multi-effect kind of plugin...with a trance-gate, filters, lfo, delays, reverb etc...
you can use this to extremes and still have kinda sparkly piano sound...
try to build from the preset called INS Padbeater or something like that
it sounded damn cool... |
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| substorm |
Thanks for sharing that DJFreaq.
No i dont want to effect the original sound, i want it as clear and pure as possible. But i dont have a real piano though, well i have one, but i dont have any room for it, and my studio isnt geard up to record one eather :P.
So im stuck with my sampler and im working on to get the most natrual sound out of it. :)
Thanks again guys!
C |
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| DJ Shibby |
| quote: | Originally posted by substorm
Hey guys!
This might be a stupid question, but i searching for some guidelines in piano mixing.
Meaning, that im thinking of putting a piano in my latest production, but i dont have any experience in mixing acustic intruments!
I have played around with some eq and comp, but i cant seem to get it to cut thrugh the mix when all comes around, and i lacks of dynamics.
So, if someone have any experience, i really would appriciate some help here!:)
Thanks
C |
Light compression and eq is a blessing with piano softsynths. |
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| kitphillips |
I've done a live piano before and I know they're a pain. It really depends on what sort of effect you want. Piano can be produced to be either a stabby lead type thing or almost a pad type effect. If you want a lead type instrument give your compressor a long attack and really squash it. If you want something more mellow, don't even touch the comp. Again if you want lead boost the treble if you want mellow cut it a little. Also depends on what samples you got etc... Hope this helps. Good luck!
(EDIT)
Sorry I should clarify, I know substorm you were originally talking about vsts, I don't have experience with that, but maybe some of what I said applies to vsts as well as the real thing. |
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| DJFreaq |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ Shibby
with piano softsynths. |
word |
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| PutBoy |
Acctual recorded pianos are REALLY hard to mix mostly, because there are so many under/over-tones. Even the wood should be heard when dealing with real pianos imo. As is the case with violins and so on.
Acctually, most accoustics, but I'd say pianos and violins in particualar.
Don't EQ too much, don't compress to much. If the piano clashes with another instrument, consider EQ'ing the other intrument first.
Also, if you're recording on your own, mic the room as well instead of just adding reverb. |
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| substorm |
Thanks alot for all good replies, i really appriciate it! I not aiming for a really complex piano roll. Just that, could you say "avb" kind of piano fill, single keys playing! :) Just to ad some nice acustic dynamics in the song with some pad and string mixing in the background before the lead synth kick in. :)
Anyway, thanks again for taking your time to reply. I think i just should go easy with the eq, and then leave some room for the paino to play!
Cheers!
C |
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