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how you ajust your levels ?
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arish
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
18
Posts :
36
Posted : Jun 28, 2007 06:07
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what i learn about mixing, is that always you ajust the level of the chanels by pushing the fader down til it balanced with each other,
cos in the end we will limit or compress the total level up, right?
but i saw my friend pushing the level of the faders up getting close to -1db(no red light)
and get better level in the total mix.
What is my indication for balancing the levels for better results?
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Seamoon
Seamoon
Started Topics :
23
Posts :
314
Posted : Jun 28, 2007 11:24
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hm i don't know if this method will be better for you, but i can just say how i do it:
first i loop a passage in the song where the most tracks are played together (mostly the main part).
then i put all sliders to zero.
then i balance the kick and the bass and make shure that the group of them peaks at about -5db (mostly the kick is about -5db and the bass about -9db).
then i start pushing the sliders one after another and stop them at a level where i think they are strong enough (i always take the lowest level possible, where i thing they are just now strong enough).
i first start with the drums (first closed hihats, then openhihats, then the percussion elements and at last the snares), then the pads (which are most more in the background) and fx tracks, and at last the ass-kickin leads.
good luck. |
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Tomos
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
84
Posts :
981
Posted : Jun 28, 2007 11:40
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I do it all by ear and mix around the kick, which I initially drop to about -10db, as its the first element I start with. It gives me room to move it up, as I find as I the song gets built I can push it a bit more.
I only look at db levels a few times during the whole process and never use them as a guide. Unless I see red as something goes into clipping, in which case a compressor/limiter or lowering the fader does the trick.
I constantly mix as I go, listening after a good nights sleep you realise that the snare, or some continuous element is too loud, and needs adjusting. It really helps to listen on different speakers too, so I burn it to a cd and check it in the car also, making loads of mental notes as I drive 
A/B comparisons to commercially released material is handy, but it all depends on your style. I don't like my percussion too loud in yer face, more a rhythmic mid-level thing, so mine end up a bit quieter than a lot of stuff. I like my bass quite high and its mostly more prominent than other peoples tracks.
Theres no perfect mix style, but there are good mixes, I do different mixes sometimes and then close my eyes, spin around and pick the one which sounds better.
Don't forget, when you are bouncing, unless you capture the loudest signal you can (ie, you haven't turned the fader down below 0db before you bounce) the level is going to be much lower post-bounce. So pushing your fader to 0db or higher, isn't a representation of the peak in the audio (unless you normalise, which I've heard isn't good for sound.. someone else might know better). |
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pilgrim
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
19
Posts :
218
Posted : Jun 28, 2007 11:59
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Afaiak, if your final mix is already close to 0 db, there is not much room for control to your mastering engineer. Compressors are acting more natural if there is some room and space to breath for them then if the mix is already close to 0 db. How to fine-adjust the settings of a compressor, when everything is maxed or clipped out already?
..sounded logic to me
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Speakafreaka
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
18
Posts :
779
Posted : Jun 28, 2007 12:51
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Quote:
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On 2007-06-28 11:40, Tomos wrote:
I constantly mix as I go, listening after a good nights sleep you realise that the snare, or some continuous element is too loud, and needs adjusting. It really helps to listen on different speakers too, so I burn it to a cd and check it in the car also, making loads of mental notes as I drive
A/B comparisons to commercially released material is handy, but it all depends on your style. I don't like my percussion too loud in yer face, more a rhythmic mid-level thing, so mine end up a bit quieter than a lot of stuff. I like my bass quite high and its mostly more prominent than other peoples tracks.
Theres no perfect mix style, but there are good mixes, I do different mixes sometimes and then close my eyes, spin around and pick the one which sounds better.
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+1
And also add that everyones ears are different - where the different elements sit in a mix will be different to each and every person.
When you are not sure which is better there normally isn't much in it. Or leave it and come back to it with fresher ears.
Unless of course, by better you mean louder, which is an entirely different battle altogether.
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http://www.soundcloud.com/speakafreaka |
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Elad
Tsabeat/Sattel Battle
Started Topics :
158
Posts :
5306
Posted : Jun 28, 2007 14:44
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usualy i tune my kic and bass group first when it comes to volumes.
i will limit this group at around -8db
then tune each instrument sepetraly to the kick and bass.
then play all together and make some small adjustments.
usualy i get the hihats on -14db to -16db for example. pads are often enought even in -20db, leads usualy is the most free and wild ones.. i will have leads sounds around -15d to -5db.
with the right eq's it will sound good start.
www.sattelbattle.com
http://yoavweinberg.weebly.com/ |
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