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Specific Production Q's
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| cl0ckw3rk |
Hi folks,
I was hoping to maybe start a thread where ppl could ask specific/detailed questions regarding various production techniques. These questions should be (ideally) to the point and not too broad. I'm hoping to get an insight on how YOU go about things. Yes yes, I know to "use my ears" and "go with what sounds best," but lets face it here - nobody gets where they are without some sort of guidance...unless your a prodigy, which, lets also face it, isn't too common.
And also, although I have since long browsed this forum, I don't memorize every single question that's asked, unless its blatantly been asked MANY times before. If there IS a question that is really vague/general and has been asked many times before, how about we skip the flames and just not post a reply? Thanks! :toocool:
So, just off the top of my head, here are some questions I'm curious about:
1) When you come up with a really nice sound patch, but it just sounds too weak and you want to thicken it (i.e a lead), whats the FIRST thing you turn to doing thats usually the most effective and not too imposing? (effects, eq, etc.)
2) When you're in the beginning stages of production, and you start putting lots of sounds together, whats the first to do to partition out the space in the spectrum? EQ right then and there? Or is it better to mess with reverb/delay effects first since they impose a lot of space in the mix?
3) Compression on leads/pads? This is a little general so I'll specify: say a lead has a really spikey attack, and only the attack causes the clipping. Should I run to compression?
4) If a bass is completely offbeat, is there any real point to sidechaining?
5) To deal with clipping in the early stages of an arrangement, is it better to mess with each of the individual tracks' levels right then and there, or should I just lower the master and leave craploads of headroom and then turn up my monitor levels? I think this is pretty subjective.
That's it for now...Once again, I appreciate all advice/criticisms! |
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| davidbuhau |
hmmm i'll have to think about these... but i know for a fact that for question one, you have to figure that out for each sound individually...
david |
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| St. Michael |
Just a quick answer to #1. Maybe I might see if I can increase the voices on the synth to see if that has any effect (depending on the source and the sound). Since I use Logic, I would try out the Exciter and the Stereo Spreader for mid to high range elements. These two thicken things nicely and add dynamics quickly. I adjust the parameters and then move on. Also, I try to keep reverbs down to a minimum to start with. Too much reverb can thin out and push a sound too far away.
Okay, I know you said the First thing but I also might duplicate the track and instrument and try some variations on effect plug-ins such as different settings on reverbs, panning, harmonic keys, etc.
Sometimes too much eqing early on can leave you in a hole later on. If you "perfect" the sound too quickly you may not have room later to adjust in a more complex arrangement. I've had to scrap elements for this reason. Sometimes the elements we start with take the back seat to others later on. On the other hand if you know exactly where you are going or you are a remixer, you might have the frequency spectrum all planned out already. |
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| davidbuhau |
let's also keep in mind here that you can't make a sound "phat" (whatever that means) if it isn't "phat" in the first place... "garbage in garbage out" they say...
david |
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| david.michael |
| quote: | Originally posted by cl0ckw3rk
1) When you come up with a really nice sound patch, but it just sounds too weak and you want to thicken it (i.e a lead), whats the FIRST thing you turn to doing thats usually the most effective and not too imposing? (effects, eq, etc.) |
One way is to double the instance of the lead and detune one of them a bit. Also, adding chorus.
| quote: | | 2) When you're in the beginning stages of production, and you start putting lots of sounds together, whats the first to do to partition out the space in the spectrum? EQ right then and there? Or is it better to mess with reverb/delay effects first since they impose a lot of space in the mix? |
I tend to use filters a lot, myself (high-pass and low-pass). I usually do it right on the spot and then adjust it later when all the elements are in. |
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| cl0ckw3rk |
| quote: | Originally posted by david.michael
One way is to double the instance of the lead and detune one of them a bit. Also, adding chorus. |
I've been experimenting with chorus, as I've read in some other post that this is most useful, but it just seems like it makes the lead much much more demanding in the mix! I'm sure its just because I don't know what paramater settings are sufficient for what sounds..lol
Oh and, by doubling, do you mean just duplicating and detuning the copy of the instrument? So does a doubler plugin pretty much do this for me? lol |
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| david.michael |
| quote: | Originally posted by cl0ckw3rk
I've been experimenting with chorus, as I've read in some other post that this is most useful, but it just seems like it makes the lead much much more demanding in the mix! I'm sure its just because I don't know what paramater settings are sufficient for what sounds..lol
Oh and, by doubling, do you mean just duplicating and detuning the copy of the instrument? So does a doubler plugin pretty much do this for me? lol |
I've never used a "doubler plugin", but, say you were using V-Station. In FL, I would just right click and select "clone channel" and make sure all the settings were the same in the second instance of V-Station... turn the volume down on each, and then detune one. |
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| cl0ckw3rk |
| I've also heard to do that and then pan each one to opposite sides? What's your take on that? I'm gonna experiment with just the cloning though. |
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| david.michael |
| quote: | Originally posted by cl0ckw3rk
I've also heard to do that and then pan each one to opposite sides? What's your take on that? I'm gonna experiment with just the cloning though. |
Try it both ways... easy enough to twiddle a pan knob to see if you like it. :) |
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| Zombie0729 |
| quote: | Originally posted by cl0ckw3rk
1) When you come up with a really nice sound patch, but it just sounds too weak and you want to thicken it (i.e a lead), whats the FIRST thing you turn to doing thats usually the most effective and not too imposing? (effects, eq, etc.) |
I would layer, if i have a great 'sound' but it's not big enough, my first instinct is that the patch sounds great with that range but it needs to incorporate a wider spectrum. layering works best for me.
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2) When you're in the beginning stages of production, and you start putting lots of sounds together, whats the first to do to partition out the space in the spectrum? EQ right then and there? Or is it better to mess with reverb/delay effects first since they impose a lot of space in the mix? |
space is a very tough animal... there is no right or wrong other than most bass/kick below 300hz should say mono and center and from there it's really up to you. make space for what needs to stand out, the rest just needs to not sound busy
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3) Compression on leads/pads? This is a little general so I'll specify: say a lead has a really spikey attack, and only the attack causes the clipping. Should I run to compression? |
call me crazy but i'd either adjust the attack, velocity or the cut off for that note...
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4) If a bass is completely offbeat, is there any real point to sidechaining? |
watch your gain reduction meter's... is it even doing anything?
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5) To deal with clipping in the early stages of an arrangement, is it better to mess with each of the individual tracks' levels right then and there, or should I just lower the master and leave craploads of headroom and then turn up my monitor levels? I think this is pretty subjective. |
you should have a template with the right kick volume, bass volume (avg) etc... i typically work with -3db headroom at all times.
hope that was some help. |
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| cl0ckw3rk |
| quote: | Originally posted by Zombie0729
I would layer, if i have a great 'sound' but it's not big enough, my first instinct is that the patch sounds great with that range but it needs to incorporate a wider spectrum. layering works best for me.
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Thanks for your answers!
Ok, "layering" leads me to another question. I've heard so many different takes on layering, and every time I decide to stack a sound on top of another, it just seems to muddle up the mix even more. What kinds of sounds do you generally layer? Just randomly experiment? Or are there "guidelines" for layering? |
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| Warble |
Been having issues layering to.
Showed a bru a choon ive done recently, he was all the hooks are coo.
but it sounds like . He suggested making sure my asdr where in check.
Basically the sounds where all over ahead and behind, wasnt sinking up.
Need to get my synthisis skillz up.
Mades some adjustments got it all sinked and the choon sounded way more on point.
Also EQ your frequincies, might need to filter some out if your getting conflict causing it to muddy your mix.
For sounds to layer, seems like a personal prefernce depending on what you want.
Not really sure if that helps, still learning myself.
Big ups for thread hopefully peeps will share there secrets. |
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