I have been mixing the whole track on cans and I can't get a good feel for the bass. They are giving me a false sense of the loudness of the kick. I like the semi over compressed sound but, I dunno if this is way to compressed. The kick is compressed pretty heavily and I have multiband compressor on the master also. Its hard for me to tell if its too much. I'm not far into the track, just trying to get the sound right before going any further. Or I may just reset all mixing tools and start the mix job from scratch again. Any help appreciated.
Bryan
johncannons1
i havent listened to it as of yet because im at work.
However you shouldnt really worry that much about the multiband compressor on the master IMO. If you get the track sounding top notch it shouldnt need much master work. I know some people here start with compressors on the master i used to but i got some good advice from people on here and others and i havent done it since. i just do it when i bounce for my own listening purposes etc. If your aim is to get the track signed it will get mastered anyways so try and get it sounding ace without anything on the master.
ill take a listen later today if i get a chance :)
Eric J
quote:
Originally posted by johncannons1
I know some people here start with compressors on the master i used to but i got some good advice from people on here and others and i havent done it since.
Its really just a matter of how one prefers to work. I know a LOT of producers (including myself) who have a few saved plugin chains that are on the master from the start. Its just easier to work that way in most cases, IF you know what you are doing. That being said, some people prefer to do it in 2 stages, write, then apply master out plugins. Personally, I found it much more difficult to work that way.
However, I also avoid multiband compressors like the plague. Its very easy to screw up the tonal balance of your track if you dont know what you are doing. I never really bothered using one because i was able to get satisfactory results with standard compressors (when compression was needed).
quote:
Originally posted by johncannons1
If your aim is to get the track signed it will get mastered anyways...
I wouldn't count on that. The vast majority of labels nowadays expect a finished product, even a large chunk of the bigger ones. It's simply not economically viable to do so in the digital age. Very few provide "mastering" like it was back in the vinyl days.
EddieZilker
Ditch the multi-band. The more you get done on that track, the more you're going to be propelling yourself into chaos, with that in place. I don't even start bus-processing tracks until I'm done with the composition process and everything is mixed to unity. That said, it sounds pretty good on my head-phones but on my speakers your mid-and-high range are way up front, relative to the kick. Love the sounds you have on their though.
johncannons1
from personal experiance myn have all been mastered but i guess thats just me. AND they probably would do alot different job if it were for vinyl.
See i always did put a comp on the master but i found my songs souding better if i made the song without and then put the mastering plugs on. Each to their own i guess.
Lucidity
Usually I just put a single-band compressor on the master with just a couple db to kinda gel it together more but, I thought to try a multiband compressor since I never really used one. When using the singleband I get too much pumping in the mid and high end from the kick so I figured I would try this out.
I didn't start out with the compressor on though, once I had the bulk of the sounds in place for the build up I just felt like everything needed to be glued together more or I couldn't continue. I like when its kinda pumping, thats how i get into the zone to start finishing it. If there is no grove or pumping it's hard for me to get into it. (my own tracks that is) I also did not use any sidechain in this track, and am wondering if I should on a few sounds. Maybe for the sounds that have alot of reverb but, I don't wanna take away the sense of space that I hear, not sure if its too much. And also Eddie, I usually do have the kick more up front, but when I go and reference the track on other hi-fi's the track usually sounds too bassy, so this time I meant to turn the kick lower, but, I guess maybe its too low.
I really need a new room and maybe new monitors. The place I live in right now, I can't put foam or anything on the walls if its gonna ruin the paint, and even if I could the room is shaped so weird on the one side. I'm using Event Sp8's when I can actually get to turn them on, otherwise i'm using either my Sennheiser 280's or the AKG 701's. I'm really hating using can's for mixing it but, I'm always up makin tracks at like 12am-12pm, when everyone is sleeping.. ugh
Atlantis-AR
quote:
Originally posted by Lucidity
Its hard for me to tell if its too much. I'm not far into the track, just trying to get the sound right before going any further.
So don't do it! Also there's no reason why you should be multi-band compressing a half finished mixdown. It's reasons like this that effects are used the wrong way.
That being said, I don't find your sample particularly bad sounding...quite pumping actually. The kick has quite a loud transient you could always limit either before or during mastering. I also hear some noise, and the hats don't sound particularly clean either, but I'd say keep going in this direction. The bass at 0:50 is a little loud, but you could work around it provided you lower the master volume enough to allow for room of the other elements.
