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Mixing questions
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| pizzaguy |
Hallo all pizza lovers!
I would like to ask about mixing. So let's start.
Many, rly many ppl says that kick should mix peak around -8db. So how about others? Bass? To -10db? Hihats -20db? Lead -12db??
SVD told on his videos that it is good mastering while mixing, what you thinking about it?
Also putting HP filter on bass at 80hz will eliminate all low end, otherwise it's conflict too much with kick. Ye sidechain i know, but what those pro's do this? Did they put HP on 80hz? It doesnt sound that or look on wave analyzer :conf: |
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| Subtle |
I would not in any case look at meters for mixing decisions.
Kick and bass should be decided on a project to project basis, it all depends on what kind of bass and what kind of kick.
The general rule seems to be always roll off at 30hz on both, since those frequencies are inaudible. |
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| Nightshift |
I normally roll off 60hz for kicks and 40hz for bass so i can keep the sub frequncies clean sounding instead of too "boomy".
And basically what Subtle is saying is: dont use your eyes for mixing, use youir ears. Every song will be differnt and require different levels, EQ, etc. |
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| derail |
The levels of every instrument, including kick, bass etc, will vary, depending on the overall sound you want. You'd be amazed at how widely levels can vary.
Your best bet is to set things at a rough starting point for how you want things to sound, then adjust up and down depending on what the mix needs. Mixing isn't mathematics - it's not a case of using the right numbers and things will sound right. Your ears and experience is required to make good mixing decisions.
I sometimes cut a lot of low end out of basses, sometimes none at all, it all depends. Though I've never had an instance where everything below 80 Hz has been cut entirely. I can imagine using a highpass filter with a really gentle slope (say, 6dB) with a cutoff of 80 Hz. That would still leave plenty of frequency content at 80 Hz and below, depending on the original sound.
As to "what the pros do" - they do all kinds of things. They don't all do things the same way. There are many different approaches to getting things sounding the way you want them to. |
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| pizzaguy |
| quote: | Originally posted by Nightshift
I normally roll off 60hz for kicks and 40hz for bass so i can keep the sub frequncies clean sounding instead of too "boomy".
And basically what Subtle is saying is: dont use your eyes for mixing, use youir ears. Every song will be differnt and require different levels, EQ, etc. |
6db cut? 12db cut? Ye i know.. I should use my ears, but dunno.. i'm little perfectionist, so i keep looking analyzer all the time, and if it doesnt "look good" i bet there is something wrong. But thanks for help! |
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| Nightshift |
Usuaully a steep 24db/oct cut on the bass stuff.
Honestly I have a buddy thats sorta like my pupil im teaching him how to produce (well the more technical aspects)and he used to use an Analyzer on every channel. And since im pretty sure you're the one who started that "developing ears" thread i would suggest this same advice to you:
1.) Turn them off and do not use them.
2.) If you need to find an offending frequency in a sound use an EQ sweep.
because
3.)The more you use your eyes, the less you are using your ears, therefore the less you are developing your ears.
When my "pupil" did this, his understanding of sound started to develop way way faster. and his productions also started sounding alot cleaner. |
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| pizzaguy |
| quote: | Originally posted by Nightshift
Usuaully a steep 24db/oct cut on the bass stuff.
Honestly I have a buddy thats sorta like my pupil im teaching him how to produce (well the more technical aspects)and he used to use an Analyzer on every channel. And since im pretty sure you're the one who started that "developing ears" thread i would suggest this same advice to you:
1.) Turn them off and do not use them.
2.) If you need to find an offending frequency in a sound use an EQ sweep.
because
3.)The more you use your eyes, the less you are using your ears, therefore the less you are developing your ears.
When my "pupil" did this, his understanding of sound started to develop way way faster. and his productions also started sounding alot cleaner. |
I had to ascertain that you're right :rolleyes: I should throw those analyzer away.. i have tried it couple times, but guess what :( Like i said i am kinda perfectionist, so i like to keep them, we shouldn't forget that they also help us a lot. I have behringer truth B2030A monitors, but i dont use them so often. I like to produce and mix with my headphones. I have AKG K240 MkII. Thats why i dont hear those deepest freq at all, then analyzers would come in need.
About those all tutorial sites, videos etc.. They are kinda contradictory. Example some videos from FM where all pro's told that they do this and that in this way. Like compressing drumloop attack 30ms, release 1ms. Ratio 2 and GR 5db. Then i bought book where Rick Snowan told that attack should be 1-10ms, release 40-100ms, ratio 5-10 GR -5 to -15 db. It is just opposite way!! :conf:
this system :D Man.. I just keep doing things on my way and let see where that lead :crazy: Oh man.. |
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| derail |
| quote: | Originally posted by pizzaguy
About those all tutorial sites, videos etc.. They are kinda contradictory. Example some videos from FM where all pro's told that they do this and that in this way. Like compressing drumloop attack 30ms, release 1ms. Ratio 2 and GR 5db. Then i bought book where Rick Snowan told that attack should be 1-10ms, release 40-100ms, ratio 5-10 GR -5 to -15 db. It is just opposite way!! :conf:
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These settings will work for the particular sound that these people are talking about. They will not necessarily work with a similar sound you're working with, since you may be after a slightly different effect, or the sound may require a slightly different treatment.
If they do offer their settings, get them to explain why they chose each setting - what is their reasoning behind setting their attack at 30ms? If you don't understand their thinking, their settings won't help you much at all. |
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| johncannons1 |
when i mix down i usually mix to -3db
and i usually set the kick at around -9db
it was a suggestion someone made on here ages ago. and works nicely :) |
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| Waza |
I have no set rule but do tend to start at around -8db then adjust to suit once i've got my bassline going. But as everyone is saying it all depends on your sounds and what your trying to create.
If i'm going for a nice clean bassline i tend to do a highpass with a gentle slope at 75hz so i still get sub frequencies, but not too much that it muddy's. i also do a eq sweep and take out conflicting frequecies it's a slow process but it cleans up the low end. and your kick and bass are not fighting against each other.
But your sounds are the most important thing for this as you have to have sounds that fit well together.
But go with your ears not analyzers, me personally i do not use them for this but i use them on the master channel just as a reference if anything is spiking.
A good set of monitors are a must i would not do final mixing on my headphones.
I also cut everything from 40hz. |
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| owien |
| its all about the ears use them wisely and they will serve you well;) |
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| DJ RANN |
First, stop taking other producers notes as gospel such as this interview said cutoff here or this guy said never do this.
They're useful to see how that one person did that one particular thing but really nothing else.
You get to learn, over time, that there are a few thing that keep coming up and you begin to do them automatically, such as you know, after mixing several tracks of the same genre, that the kick sits at that level, the bass needs to be rolled off there, the hats/hi's need to panned to give space etc.
Analysers are fine to use IMO, they're extremely useful for balancing your project in terms of frequency spread and transients but don't rely on them in place of what you hear, ever. I don't do a project without one and most pro's I know use them for reference as well. |
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