Tips on mixing
I'm a beginner and I recently have started doing a lot of research on mixing and using tools like compressors, parametric eqs, and stereo imaging. I found these websites that not only explained these tools but also gives some good information on when and how to use them.
One tip that was gold for me was putting a high pass filter on almost every track to cut out the uneccesary low frequencys that can muddy up your mix. Most of these sounds you can only hear when the track is solo but in the mix you can't hear it at all. The more instruments you add will eventually cause that frequency range to start messing with your mix.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://howtomakeelectronicmusic.com/mixing-tip-use-high-pass-filter-to-clean-up-your-mix">http://howtomakeelectronicmusic.com/mix ... p-your-mix</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mixing-mastering/8-easy-steps-to-better-eq/">http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mix ... better-eq/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mixing-mastering/an-introduction-to-3d-mixing/">http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mix ... 3d-mixing/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://productionadvice.co.uk/using-eq/">http://productionadvice.co.uk/using-eq/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/production/how-to-use-a-parametric-equalizer/">http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/pro ... equalizer/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mixing-mastering/the-beginners-guide-to-compression/">http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mix ... mpression/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://tarekith.com/assets/mixdowns.html">http://tarekith.com/assets/mixdowns.html</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://tarekith.com/assets/dynamics.html">http://tarekith.com/assets/dynamics.html</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.independentrecording.net/irn/resources/freqchart/main_display.htm">http://www.independentrecording.net/irn ... isplay.htm</a><!-- m -->
If anyone has any other tips I would really appreciate you sharing them. More info and different perspectives can never hurt.
One tip that was gold for me was putting a high pass filter on almost every track to cut out the uneccesary low frequencys that can muddy up your mix. Most of these sounds you can only hear when the track is solo but in the mix you can't hear it at all. The more instruments you add will eventually cause that frequency range to start messing with your mix.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://howtomakeelectronicmusic.com/mixing-tip-use-high-pass-filter-to-clean-up-your-mix">http://howtomakeelectronicmusic.com/mix ... p-your-mix</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mixing-mastering/8-easy-steps-to-better-eq/">http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mix ... better-eq/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mixing-mastering/an-introduction-to-3d-mixing/">http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mix ... 3d-mixing/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://productionadvice.co.uk/using-eq/">http://productionadvice.co.uk/using-eq/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/production/how-to-use-a-parametric-equalizer/">http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/pro ... equalizer/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mixing-mastering/the-beginners-guide-to-compression/">http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/mix ... mpression/</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://tarekith.com/assets/mixdowns.html">http://tarekith.com/assets/mixdowns.html</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://tarekith.com/assets/dynamics.html">http://tarekith.com/assets/dynamics.html</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.independentrecording.net/irn/resources/freqchart/main_display.htm">http://www.independentrecording.net/irn ... isplay.htm</a><!-- m -->
If anyone has any other tips I would really appreciate you sharing them. More info and different perspectives can never hurt.
Comments
Instead, change how you see the eq....
It is a tool to cut away competing frequencies, also to remove UNUSED frequencies.
I think you will find this will yield better results than putting hipass filters on everything.
Low frequencies are hard to manage because some of them do not become obvious to the listener until the sine wave vibrate fastenough we can hear it...
High frequencies are hard to manage because of the difference in system to system hi end tweeters...
Very high and very low frequencies tend to sum....meaning they tend to pile and pile and create ghostly stuff that isnt in your mix...
Its very easy to get a mix too shrill or too boomy or boxy.
Also the MOST IMPORTANT THING WHEN MIXING....MIX AT LOW VOLUMES, AND TAKE A BREAK EVERY 45 minutes...tinnitus is a bad forever type situation...avoid getting it.
step 1: record each track making them all sound good individually
2: make sure all effects are off
3: ask yourself, what's wrong?
go from there...
Do make sure each track sounds good, but by good we mean make sure the essense is on point... Every individual track shouldn't be all crispy and bassy from the get go. That leads to nightmares at mix. Remember that when you are mixing, you aren't just using the stereo field, but by adding or subtracting frequencies you are mixing front to back as well!
Happy new year all!