Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: superize Feb 10 2017, 10:16 PM

I have recently bought myself some studio equipment and started getting into recording and mixing.

This is my first try working with monitors and eq and all that stuff that goes into mixing

Equipment i used for this are

Reaper
Ez Drummer for drum
Miroslav philharmonic for keys and piano
Pod farm 2 for guitar and bass sound
pre sonus erie monitor

Please tell me what you think and what i can think about to make it even better

https://soundcloud.com/isac-lundqvist/mors-principium-est-the-awekeningdeparture

The song is Departure by the band Mors principium est

Posted by: Mertay Feb 10 2017, 11:56 PM

Hey superize, here I go

-The drum and guitars entry is super low compared to the intro, some serious explosion is needed so its best to decrease the sound of the intro. Same feel at 4.30

-The drums from there are too high as level.

-did you pan the guitars and drums? its all (guitar+drum) mono-like after the synth or at least narrow (At 5 I noticed you panned the guitar)

Your virtual instrument usage to me is cool and the guitar tone isn't bad either. My advice is first download this plug-in; http://www.voxengo.com/product/msed/

As you probably know nailing level+panning (including automation of these) is the biggest part of a mix. What I'd like you to do is place some songs you like inside a DAW and then open this plug-in.

with the plug-in; if you side-mute then you'll hear everything thats in the middle/center (no panning) of the mix and if you mid-mute then you'll hear whats on the left+right. Also you can use L/R balance of the track to hear what the mix engineer placed on the sides. So this gives you some sort of 3d perspective of a mix for analyzing what you already like to listen and implement them in your own mixes.

Since you use vsti and can handle guitar tone based on this mix I'd say don't rush into other fx yet before really nailing the fundamentals. Also, when mixing don't shoot for an exact album sound cause an album is mastered...just stay true to your core recording/vsti sound, sort of like a perfect live concert sound. Hope it helps

Posted by: superize Feb 11 2017, 04:57 PM

QUOTE (Mertay @ Feb 10 2017, 11:56 PM)

Hey superize, here I go

-The drum and guitars entry is super low compared to the intro, some serious explosion is needed so its best to decrease the sound of the intro. Same feel at 4.30

-The drums from there are too high as level.

-did you pan the guitars and drums? its all (guitar+drum) mono-like after the synth or at least narrow (At 5 I noticed you panned the guitar)

Your virtual instrument usage to me is cool and the guitar tone isn't bad either. My advice is first download this plug-in; http://www.voxengo.com/product/msed/

As you probably know nailing level+panning (including automation of these) is the biggest part of a mix. What I'd like you to do is place some songs you like inside a DAW and then open this plug-in.

with the plug-in; if you side-mute then you'll hear everything thats in the middle/center (no panning) of the mix and if you mid-mute then you'll hear whats on the left+right. Also you can use L/R balance of the track to hear what the mix engineer placed on the sides. So this gives you some sort of 3d perspective of a mix for analyzing what you already like to listen and implement them in your own mixes.

Since you use vsti and can handle guitar tone based on this mix I'd say don't rush into other fx yet before really nailing the fundamentals. Also, when mixing don't shoot for an exact album sound cause an album is mastered...just stay true to your core recording/vsti sound, sort of like a perfect live concert sound. Hope it helps

Posted by: Todd Simpson Feb 11 2017, 06:07 PM

Just saw this and these are some GREAT tips. Well done MERTAY!!! I honestly think this entire post should go in our recording wiki!! I agree with all of it.

Todd

QUOTE (Mertay @ Feb 10 2017, 06:56 PM)

Hey superize, here I go

-The drum and guitars entry is super low compared to the intro, some serious explosion is needed so its best to decrease the sound of the intro. Same feel at 4.30

-The drums from there are too high as level.

-did you pan the guitars and drums? its all (guitar+drum) mono-like after the synth or at least narrow (At 5 I noticed you panned the guitar)

Your virtual instrument usage to me is cool and the guitar tone isn't bad either. My advice is first download this plug-in; http://www.voxengo.com/product/msed/

As you probably know nailing level+panning (including automation of these) is the biggest part of a mix. What I'd like you to do is place some songs you like inside a DAW and then open this plug-in.

with the plug-in; if you side-mute then you'll hear everything thats in the middle/center (no panning) of the mix and if you mid-mute then you'll hear whats on the left+right. Also you can use L/R balance of the track to hear what the mix engineer placed on the sides. So this gives you some sort of 3d perspective of a mix for analyzing what you already like to listen and implement them in your own mixes.

Since you use vsti and can handle guitar tone based on this mix I'd say don't rush into other fx yet before really nailing the fundamentals. Also, when mixing don't shoot for an exact album sound cause an album is mastered...just stay true to your core recording/vsti sound, sort of like a perfect live concert sound. Hope it helps

Posted by: Mertay Feb 11 2017, 06:28 PM

QUOTE (superize @ Feb 11 2017, 03:57 PM)

QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Feb 11 2017, 05:07 PM)

Posted by: jstcrsn Feb 11 2017, 08:41 PM

I like finding multiple sourcing for playback as differing systems will point out loud or silent tracks , especially if your bass speakers are not big enough , you might try to compensate leaving a less than desirable mix

Posted by: Todd Simpson Feb 13 2017, 04:21 AM

After listening again on my jbl monitors with a sub, I think you may need to look at the drums again. Question, did you separate out the drums each to a separate track or are you running all the drums in t one stereo track? It's easy to run them as one stereo track, but you get very little control over them other than the built in mixer in toontrack.

If you separate the drums, you can apply fx/compression/reverb/eq individually to each drum. This can make the kit sound much more alive and less "canned". I get the sense that you are trying to make up for the drums being a bit canned by pushing the level of the drums up. I'd say mix the drums by themselves and get them sounding good. Then add the other instruments.

Also, the guitar doesn't cut through the mix very well. You may want to double track the guitars and cut back on the gain and pan them left and right. You can even quad track the guitars if ou play them. tight enough.

They keys sound good to me The synth patch for the strings works for me too

I think you may need to look at the bass guitar as well. It may need more compression and perhaps a bit more grit/gain to give it more life. You can bus the bass to two separate tracks and have one track be the "grit" track with a overdrive and eq on it.

Also, are you using a compressor on the master bus to push the entire mix? if not, it could probably use just a pinch.

I like the composition and I think this could be a really cool track!!!

Todd