| Author
|
Levels...
|
aciduss
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
112
Posts :
1490
Posted : Jan 25, 2011 17:19:09
|
Hi... recently i've been a little confused about the relationship between volume level of different elements.
Mostlye percussions and synths over the bassline...
My bassline usually peaks -10db...
Percussion I try to make it sound balanced, hihats, snares, claps, ohats and others... but sometimes I find it to be OK then listen next day to find it too high or too low.
Also, when synths play percussion loses a lot of presence, I have noticed this phenomenon on comercial tracks too but don't know exactly how to deal with it because i'd lower my synths levels or hishelf/cut them to let percussion show up but then they lose spark and presence...
Would like some advice or maybe even numbers to know how high should synths be, talking about general mid C3-C5 synthlines or any suggestion in workflow / mindset to decide how loud should elements be...
Long mixing sessions and playing my track over and over makes my judgement blurry and i can't objectively make decisions. Even with fresh ears I have it a little bit difficult to get a balanced level ratio between main elements.
Thanks in advance. |
|
|
Nomad Moon
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
134
Posts :
1516
Posted : Jan 25, 2011 19:05
|
I'm having the same problem, for years now 
it makes me sad, i'm working on this song,and its all fine, i'm amazed at myself  , i stop, i listen to Wizack or Tron or DH, bump! I GIVE UP! get really upset, everything is sooo clear, the kick bass, man! the lows are so controled, in my right ear a really fat synth passes by and it ends on my left ear in an amazing effect, just below the percussion, but above the kickbass there's an FM lead complimenting the snare hats wow! i give up! |
|
|
|
supergroover
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
39
Posts :
1505
Posted : Jan 25, 2011 19:17
|
Try to cut your sounds where the percussion is. For example lowpass all your synths around 10 khz for example (depends on your hihats where exactly). This will create room for your hihats. Basically you create a little place for everything in your mix. Use left right, volume, eq etc.
 soundcloud.com/supergroover |
|
|
|
woodster77
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
119
Posts :
1733
Posted : Jan 25, 2011 20:41
|
|
try some MID-SIDE mastering and eq |
|
|
|
Shiranui
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
116
Posts :
1219
Posted : Jan 25, 2011 21:05
|
find the frequency peaks of your hihat and notch those frequencies down from your other synths.
You could also split the synths into a low and high component and sidechain your percussion to the high component. |
|
|
|
minus
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
103
Posts :
1614
Posted : Jan 25, 2011 21:41
|
i goto eq in cubase and genreally boost some freq ranges in the percussion, or other way round, is that ? to fuk around in eq? i mean wil it effect to end mastered product? should i not be touching eq at all?
anyway man, it will help if u have good monitors, then u can use ur ears and get the setteing just right,and if synths's/leads are cutting into ur percussions then i guess this can happen, but the only way is to use ur ears, and have the best monitoring system or phones, to get the levels just rite.
i never really go and look at my db levels in the mixer, i just use my ears, i start with a kick/bass combo.. first i tweek the fuk out of those to get it right, then iadd 1-2 percussion layers, and i tune the levels with my ears,then i slowly add the rest of the sounds as and when they happen, altering my percusiions/bass along with the flow
bomzo |
|
|
|
aciduss
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
112
Posts :
1490
Posted : Jan 25, 2011 21:55
|
Yeah, thanks for your answers guys but apart from percussion how loud are your synths over the bassline level?
That really messes with my head and ears... |
|
|
|
Axis Mundi
Axis Mundi
Started Topics :
75
Posts :
1848
Posted : Jan 25, 2011 22:25
|
My kick is usually at -10 db.
My bass is usually at -7 to -6 db (depending)
My snares/hihats are at -10.3 db (usually after some compression/eq/limiting)
My synths are usually -12 to -8 db (depending)
I hope this helps somewhat.
|
|
|
|
aciduss
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
112
Posts :
1490
Posted : Jan 25, 2011 23:16
|
Hmm... so Synths might go louder than kick in your tracks... interesting.
Thanks, anyone else? |
|
|
|
Freeflow
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
60
Posts :
3709
Posted : Jan 26, 2011 00:58
|
aciduss - i hear a lot of nice tracks with bass and kick much lower in volume compared to the leads and other sounds, I think some mature producers make this very nice. They use the sounds to tell the story more than pumping the bass and kick loud as BAM.
But i think its about the groove and what you are after, sometimes its very nice with a loud kick and bass that is driving and forceful.
The worst is when baseline is too loud compared to the rest and it just annoys your ears.
Balance is what we speak about, and its very hard to attain, only critical listening and stepping outside your normal mixing patterns and what you "think" is the only way, its like its set in your mind to mix in some ways sometimes and you really need to try something else. But i think as a rule is that you should hear all the sounds and minimal masking, You should be able to hear it all on low volume.
This is what i spoke about with compression. This is where you will notice if a sounds need to be compressed. To be heard fully in the mix without raising the volume to get its full freq. But of course like said, Eq is the main tool apart from sound source/sound design..
|
|
|
|
PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Jan 26, 2011 01:40
|
i think it all depends the sounds you use, our earing curve and the balance of the track (juts the octave of the sound is playing can change everyhting,that why i think it all depend the sound), monitoring too. if you find some sound too loud or to low just asdjut volume /equing and compression, they all influence volume perception, if it really dont want to sit in the mix you can try limiting sometimes it does the trick or just use other source...
volume/eq/compression are all linked closely, you touch one you may have to tweak the others 2that maybe why you don t find the right balance for the sound to sit well
|
|
|
|
wizanda
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
24
Posts :
283
Posted : Jan 26, 2011 01:58
|
Thanks for the list of db's, numerical values from a few more pro users is really helpful to compare. 
Stopped writing lately, due to many people saying different things about overall levels, that its caused discombobulation. 
www.wizanda.com www.soundcloud.com/wizanda |
|
|
|
PoM
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
162
Posts :
8087
Posted : Jan 26, 2011 02:17
|
aciduss try using a track as reference,might help .
choose a track you know translate well ,match the loudnes of the kick/bass of the track to the one of your track. then push the volume of your monitors until you find the volume the reference track sound great in your room, the more linear and all that (to calibrate monitoring a la roots style),use this level to mix and a/b ( you better use a reference track with same bassline root key to be more safe, if you dont have a great room just the key you use can change lot of things) |
|
|
|
daark
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
58
Posts :
1397
Posted : Jan 26, 2011 11:22
|
|
Upavas
Upavas
Started Topics :
150
Posts :
3315
Posted : Jan 26, 2011 11:55
|
[quote]
On 2011-01-26 01:58, wizanda wrote:
Thanks for the list of db's, numerical values from a few more pro users is really helpful to compare.
Stopped writing lately, due to many people saying different things about overall levels, that its caused discombobulation.
@ wizAnda
The worst thing you can do is stop making music because of what other people say. Stick with it, in time it will come.
As far as levels are concerned, it depends on your mix. The s- frequency around 8-10 kHz does play a role, but it really depends how much room you give each sound in the mix. That is also the place where the question " whIch sound goes well together with another, and that is often how I start a track. It also helps to give each percussion it' s own tonality, play with it, your ears will tell you when it fits.
Upavas - Here And Now (Sangoma Rec.) new EP out Oct.29th, get it here:
http://timecode.bandcamp.com
http://upavas.com
http://soundcloud.com/upavas-1/ |
|
|
|
