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sharpness in the mix!
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Adi-Quantize
Quantize
Started Topics :
27
Posts :
216
Posted : May 15, 2004 03:11
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how come masered cds have allways the high
freq floating above the mix evrything is so thin n clear.
i ve been trying to achieve this smoutness in the high freq on my mix but still can get it right.
any tips? |
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saxopholus
Started Topics :
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79
Posted : May 15, 2004 12:20
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try multiband compression, reverb and an eq boost at 10-12khz on your mix to see if that helps. Don't forget the pros use some pretty advanced kit (hardware mostly) to get that quality of sound.
Sax James.
www.dartrecordings.co.uk |
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AvS
Started Topics :
9
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464
Posted : May 15, 2004 14:24
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Untrue. The digital hardware synths has got one advantage. The signal gets DA convertet and runs throug real cables and perhaps a mixer, and is then feed into your AD converter (soundcard). If the digital hardware synths had digital out then your statement would be true. That's just my opinion.
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EYB
Noized
Started Topics :
111
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2849
Posted : May 15, 2004 14:42
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You can try to add a little bit of saturation to your mix, with for example Voxengo Warmifier or Lampthruster.
Maybe this gives you the sound you want to archieve.
BTW Warmifier tries to simulate real analogue hardware, which sounds pretty good.
Lampthruster is not trieing to emulate something, has its own sound, that is very good too.
Last times i use almost one of these, or both, for my songs and get good results 
 Signature |
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Adi-Quantize
Quantize
Started Topics :
27
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216
Posted : May 15, 2004 18:55
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eyb
what do u mean by adding saturation to the mix and what do ttttttttttthose softs do exactly i never hered of it.
any chance u can pm me n send those programs?
appreciate if u do thanx anyway |
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PsYmAnTiCs=]
Started Topics :
8
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88
Posted : May 15, 2004 20:22
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Infected Mushroom have listed their equipment on the site. They use a 2 channel NEVE pre - amp to run everything through (or maybe a whole mix?).
Any professional sound engineer will tell you that NEVE EQ is by far the best, which is why it is so expensive & used in most top-end mixing consoles (SSL, A&H etc).
I know Simon Posford (Shpongle etc.) puts his mixes through a TC Electronic Finaliser too (multi band compression & spectral imaging).
I agree that software can do amazing things for sound, but hardware operates on a silghtly different level. Most analog hardware adds or changes your sound when you run it through, in fact, all the classic studio hardware give a character or change the harmonics of the sound. This is why the studio's pay lots of money for them!!
In fact, even if you just record your favourite analog synth DIRECT onto a studio multi-track tape machine, the tape machine will add some compression plus record frequencies above and below 20Hz-20kHz (I think 2 inch studio tape records between 1Hz - 80kHz). It is those frequencies we don't hear that make cd's sound brighter but feel colder than tape recordings because the extra harmonics (above and below) affect the soundwaves between 20hZ & 20kHz.
Definately using "tape saturation" programs such as vst's True Tape 32 is a good way of adding warmth but put your Nord lead through Infected's NEVE pre-amp or similar hardware and it will never sound better!!
Waves plugins (L1 & C4 compressor) have some great pdf manuals to download. Even if you don't use these plugs, the information in the pdf's is very good.
Sorry for the post being so long, I really did try to make it short!  |
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saxopholus
Started Topics :
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79
Posted : May 15, 2004 23:56
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PSP Vintage Warmer is an analogue emulator, but doesn't expand the sound - it is a compressor and I believe it also models a subtle distortion similar to what a tube or tape can do. I don't know the other plug-ins that you mention EYB, but I would be keen to try them if I can get my paws on them. Such tube/valve emulators may not give you a super clean mix, but if you want a driven, edgy, energetic sound then it's perfect. Still it may be best to use it on certain instruments rather than the whole mix.
Incidentally I always use Vintage Warmer on my sax and flute, and other digitally recorded instruments, because they sound dull without it, even when recorded on a good capacitor mic.
The thing with software/hardware is that the good software plug-ins with complex algorithms and good sound quality use up a lot of processing power in your computer. Even then they not be as complex as those in a hardware module, and cannot expect to compete with a good quality analogue machine like a Neve. Using hardware will save your cpu for other things and it will normally sound better.
What interests me though is the new DSP modules like TC Powercore and UAD-1 which take on the load of the processing from your computer's cpu performing the calculations for reverb, compression, etc. UAD-1 has had very good reviews and funnily enough is made up of emlators of classic pieces of hardware to give a warmer analogue sound.
Sax James.
www.dartrecordings.co.uk |
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saxopholus
Started Topics :
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79
Posted : May 16, 2004 00:24
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yes when the ratio is set below 1:1. You don't have that option as far as I know on the Vintage Warmer.
Sax James.
www.dartrecordings.co.uk |
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PsYmAnTiCs=]
Started Topics :
8
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88
Posted : May 16, 2004 15:47
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sorry Das Fung, I think I didnt read the post properly, I was really commenting on the original post in this thread (acidkof) and thought that the subject was mastering related.
Sorry for the confusion |
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Stuff
Started Topics :
3
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17
Posted : May 17, 2004 17:29
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PSP Vintage Warmer is a Limiter which is used after a compressor in the chain.
Agreed with 'PsYmAnTiCs=]' about hardware and mastering. Why is it that every PRO-studio is running all their tracks through expensive-as-hell-machines (even software produced tracks) when the final mix is to be done?
The reason is that when using different amps and emulators you get a distinctive, fresh and most important unique sound. By using a computer only to everything you won't find any unique character in the sound, and a digital emulator can't reproduce what the "analogs" do.
It's like eating microwave dinner all the time it's too limited. Analog hasn't this digital bounds as it's independent and stand alone pieces (of physical equipment) with it's own power and life.
And yea Infected Mushroom is running all their software through hardware tools in the final mix too.
They especially use this Eventide Orville machine (Posford too) which does alot. Compare the sound from the latest two albums - with the first two albums where they didn't own this Orville machine. Even if the music (and ideas) itself may not be better nowadays, we can't deny the fact that their sound is way better (especially "B.P. Empire" alb, good mastering!!). |
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Boobytrip
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
39
Posts :
988
Posted : May 17, 2004 17:30
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To get those high frequencies floating above the mix you can use an harmonic exciter. Hyperprism has one among its effects. If you use this effect sparingly during the mastering process it can make your mix sound more 'alive'. However, if you over-use it it may make the mix too shrill. It takes some time to get to know the effect, but it can be very rewarding. |
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