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spectrum / dynamics / gain management / process after mixdown
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sideFXed
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
22
Posts :
430
Posted : Dec 21, 2005 18:57
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Hey Isratrancers another question of mine.
Maybe you have some ideas to improve my work flow. Take this text not for granted, as I would like to hear what exactly is wrong in my workflow.
To compare my music from time to time to other quality releases, I use analyzers like the one from voxengo (SPAN) or waves (PAZ)
There are several different ways of mixing as far as I could see and newer stuff is way louder than old psy music.
Some newer music is almost peakless, transferring most of the music at -0.3 db to +1 db, rms at about -6 to +4 rms. Most of the leads and higher frequency regions peak at -12 db and the kickdrum is slightly louder than the rest. Probably due to the use of a multiband compressor and limiting those levels tend to be evenly distributed.
I still wonder how to achieve an equally balanced frequency spectrum, most of my problems are inbetween 1000-8000 hz. Often snares and leads take up this space, right?
I know that this has to be fixed in the mix if problems of this nature appear.
Maybe it helps if I explain in short how I build my project, what levels I go for. These levels are not actually in any of my projects, it's just a start where I tweak with my ears.
Headroom:
I try to leave a headroom for the whole mix (-3db)
Kick / Bassline
Both go through a group and peak together at no more than -5 db
Kick is the loudest part of the track, peaks at -6 db, minor eq adjustments
Bassline is slightly less in volume, sidechained with a trigger, short notes so the energy/frequencies of the two don't interfere. EQ adjustments: highpass 90 hz, eq reduction at 250 hz and a lowpass.
Percussion
Less in volume, mostly tweaked with use of my ears, Highpass EQ
hihats -8 db
snare -8 db
Synths
As a starting point for leads I aim at -12 db, from there I use my ears to adjust levels. Individual EQ adjustments with reduction of low end.
What exactly does one need to do to fill up the space between 1000-8000 hz, as almost all of my tracks lack power in this region? |
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sideFXed
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
22
Posts :
430
Posted : Dec 21, 2005 19:10
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well as far as I think exactly this region is also the most important for our ears. 1000-4000 hz is where the human voice acts if I'm correct informed.
nolightatend isnt' a general rule no boost in eqing ? |
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Freeflow
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
60
Posts :
3709
Posted : Dec 21, 2005 19:39
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sideFXed - the general rule is that there are no rules 
just kidding...
anyway where are your pads? SFX? movie samples?  hehe |
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e-motion
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
71
Posts :
933
Posted : Dec 21, 2005 20:29
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if i were you i would work on the synths: hipass (like 250-500hz) and lowpass (optional, only do this if your hats loose power when you play the synths... and make sure you're not cutting important bands from your synths) and then boost the synth volume up (let's say... to -8db).
about the no boosting rule i disagree completly... you can boost just don't use it too much... and never boost more than 5db. |
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sideFXed
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
22
Posts :
430
Posted : Dec 21, 2005 20:46
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thanx e-motion, this is according to a suggestion I recieved already, so I'm on the right path.
Still it's hard for me to get it right. I have to try harder 
Scientist
Yeah rules are here to be broken! I hope I made clear that I don't want to set up things and never tweak it again... it's just a missing piece in the puzzle.
It's not like I didn't know these things before, it's just something that is tuff for me, always was. Strange is when I do other styles like breakbeat I often get a better result. |
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Milosh
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
27
Posts :
204
Posted : Dec 21, 2005 22:10
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Ther a two nice plugs called Inspector and Equim you can try them lot of use from them.
You can always try this ( worked for me just nice):
First i set up volume separatly for every MIDI, Synth, sample... so that they sound nice to me in whole mix. Than I go to my sempler mixer and then applaying EQ,comp.... It is important that your mix sounds as bether as can without any eq,fx... so in that way you have a pretty nice start to tweak.
 Never let computers to win a game! :)
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Freeflow
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
60
Posts :
3709
Posted : Dec 21, 2005 22:33
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Milosh - good words...
sideFXed - yeah i was just kidding, i also experience that when doing other kinds of music i get more satisfying results... nah who am i kidding, anyway...
keep working and dont rush...
i can say that the percussion can make a track very full, it depends on what you are after....
dont go for Eq first, raise the volume of the elements that you think will fill the spectrum... instead of going for Eq and stuff like that...
and its always good like you say to leave headroom... i know how many times iv fallen for "loud is best" and ending up with a fucked up mix instead....
make art first... if you got the groove then dont worry about stuff like this...i know its difficult, but its here that things like taking a break and dont rush comes to play....
cause in my experience is that when you rush, things like maximizers and compressors gets overused and you end up with a big mess, instead of having control..
sorry for getting out of topic, i know its been said a thousends times but i think that this can be told many times.. cause i my self cant even live by these pretty simple rules...
one last note, dont compare your tracks too much, cause you will end up frustrated instead.... like me
and if a track that you compare to sounds full, its might be cause there are certain timbres and frequencies in the track that makes it sound as full as it sounds... i believe that each track has its own fullness... or something like that...
bla bla bla... im getting tierd of my self now..
btw... instead of compressors or maximizers try and use distortion(especially tube dist), it will give more life and sparkle...
its the little things that matter..
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14-year old e-tard
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
11
Posts :
797
Posted : Dec 22, 2005 00:21
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I beraly use EQ besides high passing elements that conflict with the kick and the bass.
I spend more time on the synth patches, the arrangement and push faders instead of boosting stuff using EQs. I don't like the sound I get from boosting stuff as I do not have any great quality equalisers and find that software certainly does not cut it.
If I have to use lots of EQ to sort out the mix, something is wrong with my choice of pathces/samples and /or arrangement. I used to EQ stuff for days trying to sort out busy mixes and things simply sounded messy. I am guilty of releasing busy trance mixes that had too many stuff going and ultimately was dissapointed with the final result.
I find that a few good patches and lots of space is the best way to allow breathing space for sounds and their effects.
I generaly go by the "less is more" mojo in my way of work.
Me>You |
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sideFXed
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
22
Posts :
430
Posted : Dec 22, 2005 05:27
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nolightatend it was a mistake by me. actually I wanted to say don't boost more than 5 db.
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index
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
36
Posts :
548
Posted : Dec 22, 2005 07:41
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I love boosting around 1000hz +10to 16 db on my access virus patches,
squizzzzzzzz the middle range.
The better is when an already boosted middle range sound its boosted more in big PA systems by the Dj.
Tim Sentient did it on a minimal set and i heard all the teeth crackling hehe |
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element
Started Topics :
3
Posts :
43
Posted : Dec 22, 2005 08:29
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SIDEFXD.THE DYNAMIC RANGE OF THE HUMAN EAR IS BETWEEN 3KHZ AND 5 KHZ WICH ARE MID FREQS , WE HEAR LOUDER THE MID FREQS. |
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Spindrift
Spindrift
Started Topics :
33
Posts :
1560
Posted : Dec 22, 2005 16:16
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I'm not actually sure if the advice agains using boost on EQ is relevant for a digital EQ.
The reason not to boost is that if you use an active analougue EQ is that when you boost the active circuitry, ie amplifier, needs to be activated.
That results in a less natural sound so if you want the sound to stay as clean as possible you are better off reducing frequencies.
I have problem to see that a digital EQ would have the same problem.
Having said that it's still a common mistake to have sounds with to narrow a peak which creates and unbalanced spectrum.
Of course that happens easier using a narrow boost, but in general I think the advice against boosting might be mostly relating to active analougue EQ's.
@sideFXed
If you find your mixes a bit lacking in mids it's most likely due to your speakers and that you might not have gotten used to them.
Most hi-fi system have an uneven response to make bass and treble more prominent since that makes them sound more impressive and "better" to most people.
A studio monitor with flat response will sound a bit middy in comparasion and it's very common people make their mixdowns with to much treble and bass to compensate.
The track will sound better that way on the studio monitors, but when played on your average hi-fi it will not.
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