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i really tried to get an 'PHAT' mixdown... any pointers to make it bigger?
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richg101
hey guys.

after getting great response from you with my query on obtaining that pro mix level.. and a professional sound. i followed what people said. played with eq and looked at what was eating up precious headroom. cheers guys!

so i got the mix pumping up to -0.7db and then did a little eq and compression, and a +2db boost to the final output pot before hitting the limiter.

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.p...7D3F87670B94133 - its just a 2 meg 192 sample.

please could you check it out and let me know what could be improved in the mix? and maybe a/b test it against a pro track to get a better idea of what i have missed.. i been trying but im in need of fresh ears.

look 4ward to your help!

rich:)
thecYrus
sorry, but the mixing is not really great (wrong volume balance of the single tracks) and the eq'ing of the synths could be better optimised (or fixed a bit in the sound design process).

overall sound could be a bit fuller and complexer.

well the professional sound is not really easy, it needs a lot of experience and very accurate monitors/room acoustic. so just keep on trying to improve your sound.
ASFSE
alright listened a couple times.

i have to agree with what theCyrus said. i think that sidechained pad/bass thing sounds pretty cool, but that little synth in the background, i guess ur lead or whatever, playin the stabs...that sounds kinda covered up, i think it would sound better if it cut through.

i dunno.
richg101
quote:
Originally posted by thecYrus
sorry, but the mixing is not really great (wrong volume balance of the single tracks) and the eq'ing of the synths could be better optimised (or fixed a bit in the sound design process).

overall sound could be a bit fuller and complexer.

well the professional sound is not really easy, it needs a lot of experience and very accurate monitors/room acoustic. so just keep on trying to improve your sound.


i kinda knew everything you just said. what i was looking for was like a 'well your snare is too quiet' or 'lower the 5000-9000hz of your main synth by about 3db'

i know it sounds far from perfect so i need someone to tell me why. and how i can improve it.

cheers for the replies:)
echosystm
man theres nothing in there, layer up the frigging bassline sidechained doodad (before the other string layers etc. come in - first 20 seconds or whatever).

imo, you should cut what youve got there higher and ad a separate layer for the lower frequencies. actually i cant tell if its more than 1 layer already, but it doesnt sound very big regardless.

the layers that come in after 30 seconds or so, put more stereo effects on and make it really wide and stuff

put some distortion on that bitch too :P
actually, put distortion on everything

OVERDRIVE MAKES EVERYTHING SOUND GOOD, USE IT AHAHA

kick is way too thin, snare is too quiet.

compress the out of the mix too, it sounds a bit too... un-tight?

nice idea though, it will be cool when u finish it :)
DigiNut
^ Haha, you're kidding right?

Well I don't agree with everything he just said, but I do agree on one thing: the most prominent problem with that mix is that there's just not enough in it. There's very little occupying the upper frequency range and no amount of EQ or compression will replace actual sounds. Distortion will, but I wouldn't recommend that as a solution.

It is also a little mono, but again I think that'd be solved by having more in the mix, not just a few effects.

Unfortunately I don't think you're going to get much more specific advice because production is very much an iterative process. Maybe there are some super-pros who can tell you exactly which instruments to change the EQ or levels on or which effects to add just by listening once or twice, but for most of us, there's a lot of trial and error and we don't necessarily know exactly what's wrong/right until playing with the mix.

Sure, sometimes just one instrument is too loud and I can say "filter that bitch", but when the problem is very general (mix is not loud/clear enough), then the solution is also going to be very general (work on it!).
echosystm
ok my compression statement was a bit rash :P

but i still think a bit of distortion on the highs would go a long way, if you listen to most songs like this made lately, they whore the distortion.
richg101
thanks guys:)

im liking the honesty! - i just noticed i had not added any comp to my output - and OMG - i been tweeking and found that i can really push the fullness up with no adverse sound changes. any tips on comping the final output? i got my ratio set to 8:1, my attack to 10ms and my release set to 'auto'.. make up is to +6db

this seams to work well... is there a basic guide to comping a full track? i take it that what i am doing is hitting the loudest sounds with a harsh 8:1 ratio and boosting the rest with the makeup.. is this right?

im seeing the gain reduction hit 3db maximum when the thresh is set at -10db..

id love to hear any points on compression with respect to full trax.. im only really experienced with compressing the kick and percs..

cheers!
DigiNut
quote:
Originally posted by richg101
any tips on comping the final output? i got my ratio set to 8:1, my attack to 10ms and my release set to 'auto'.. make up is to +6db

Although I'm generally inclined to say that there are no best practices, 8:1 is just way too much for a mastering compressor. Believe me, that will have adverse effects.
Forbes
from a dj side off things i quite like this track its just missing something though, i'd like to hear more.

You could do with making your synths a little more wet sounding
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