Most important lesson about mixing?
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2590 posts since 19 Mar, 2008 from germany
Hi folks!
My Poll is directed at those who got experience in mixing in the last years. And my question is:
> What is your most important lesson you learnt during
the last years concerning your skills of mixing? What is
the most important point you learnt?
If none of the above suggestions fits to you, feel free to tell me
what you think is the most importart lesson for you?
My Poll is directed at those who got experience in mixing in the last years. And my question is:
> What is your most important lesson you learnt during
the last years concerning your skills of mixing? What is
the most important point you learnt?
If none of the above suggestions fits to you, feel free to tell me
what you think is the most importart lesson for you?
free mp3s + info: andy-enroe.de songs + weird stuff: enroe.de
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- KVRAF
- 1666 posts since 28 Jun, 2007 from Amazon rain forest
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- KVRAF
- 1888 posts since 13 Aug, 2011 from Berlin
Most important to me about mixing is that I learned to some extent the importances of the parts that make the sum. Like...
Listen first
Use faders second
Listen third
Learn the rules
Break the rules
Make some rules
So mostly nothing spectacular but just the basic things that make it working.
Edit: I chose the knowledge of frequencies in the poll. Makes things easier for me.
Listen first
Use faders second
Listen third
Learn the rules
Break the rules
Make some rules
So mostly nothing spectacular but just the basic things that make it working.
Edit: I chose the knowledge of frequencies in the poll. Makes things easier for me.
- KVRian
- 581 posts since 21 Feb, 2005 from Upper Left USA
1 - less is more. Biggest mistake I hear most beginning producers do is put way too many effects on the mix, or use too many sounds/tracks.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2590 posts since 19 Mar, 2008 from germany
Haa, this seems to be point 5: To know how to listen and notice a song.chacka wrote:Most important to me about mixing is that I learned to some extent the importances of the parts that make the sum. Like...
Listen first
Use faders second
Listen third
...
Knowing the parts of a song + their functioning for the sum.
But is this your most important lesson - after many years of working on mixes?chacka wrote:Edit: I chose the knowledge of frequencies in the poll. Makes things easier for me.
free mp3s + info: andy-enroe.de songs + weird stuff: enroe.de
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2590 posts since 19 Mar, 2008 from germany
Today, 18.02.2012, most votes go to point 8:
== To know how important patience and durability are ==
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My point here is:
In the early years - when you get in touch with music + gear, you
are really astonished and surprised about everything: The sound,
the knobs, the mixing-console and the DAW. It's a celestial kingdom
of gadgets, devices and vsts.
But then there comes the time when you first want to mix a song
severely. And you turn all the knobs and move the sliders - you use
all the effects and gadgets. But it still sounds poor.
You try and try - but still: It sounds poor. Poor compared to the
antetypes and guide-songs.
For me it took really really long time and efforts to move little steps
forward to a better mix-sound. And the decisive things were not the
gear - or all the expert-advices - or the knowledge about audio or daws.
The most important points were my ears and the effort to really
dive into sound and frequency and into hard work. So for me the most
important point is:
Patience and durability.
I envy those guys who have an easier and more comfortable way
in their "mixing-career".
Greetings, enroe.
== To know how important patience and durability are ==
--------------------------------------------------------------------
My point here is:
In the early years - when you get in touch with music + gear, you
are really astonished and surprised about everything: The sound,
the knobs, the mixing-console and the DAW. It's a celestial kingdom
of gadgets, devices and vsts.
But then there comes the time when you first want to mix a song
severely. And you turn all the knobs and move the sliders - you use
all the effects and gadgets. But it still sounds poor.
You try and try - but still: It sounds poor. Poor compared to the
antetypes and guide-songs.
For me it took really really long time and efforts to move little steps
forward to a better mix-sound. And the decisive things were not the
gear - or all the expert-advices - or the knowledge about audio or daws.
The most important points were my ears and the effort to really
dive into sound and frequency and into hard work. So for me the most
important point is:
Patience and durability.
I envy those guys who have an easier and more comfortable way
in their "mixing-career".
Greetings, enroe.
free mp3s + info: andy-enroe.de songs + weird stuff: enroe.de
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- KVRian
- 921 posts since 14 May, 2010 from Atlanta, GA
I'd say the most important thing about mixing I've ever learned is to subtract eq rather than add it to change tone. If an instrument is tubby, don't reach for the treble, try a parametric eq, low shelf or hi pass filter to dig out the offending mud. THEN add a few db of highs if needed.
The easiest way to find the offending frequency is to put a parametric eq on an insert, and turn the gain control up 6db or so. Slowly sweep the frequency knob and when you hit the problem freq, you'll know!
Now reduce the gain into the negative territory to taste. and the track will get much more open and transparent. Just make sure you don't take the same freq out of too many tracks, or you'll end up with an eq "hole" in your mix!
Subtractive eq helps avoid having a single top or bottom end based on your eq plug-ins frequency curve, leaves more of your original signal chain intact, and you'll use less eq in general on your tracks.
KVR/eSoundz: Xenobt
The easiest way to find the offending frequency is to put a parametric eq on an insert, and turn the gain control up 6db or so. Slowly sweep the frequency knob and when you hit the problem freq, you'll know!
Now reduce the gain into the negative territory to taste. and the track will get much more open and transparent. Just make sure you don't take the same freq out of too many tracks, or you'll end up with an eq "hole" in your mix!
Subtractive eq helps avoid having a single top or bottom end based on your eq plug-ins frequency curve, leaves more of your original signal chain intact, and you'll use less eq in general on your tracks.
KVR/eSoundz: Xenobt
Last edited by Xenobt on Sun Feb 19, 2012 5:09 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRAF
- 1568 posts since 1 Aug, 2006 from Italy
I'm far from being decent at mixing, but I think the most important thing is being able to listen because that will guide your decisions.
Other than listening skills (which is something I'm trying to improve every day), I think proper gain staging is the most important thing I learnt recentely: using devices (plugins, in my case) at the level they are designed to operate is the way to make them do their best.
Other than listening skills (which is something I'm trying to improve every day), I think proper gain staging is the most important thing I learnt recentely: using devices (plugins, in my case) at the level they are designed to operate is the way to make them do their best.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2590 posts since 19 Mar, 2008 from germany
Moving sliders isn't bad either ...maleaco wrote:Definatly how to turn knobs....lmao
free mp3s + info: andy-enroe.de songs + weird stuff: enroe.de
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SoundSonicTeam SoundSonicTeam https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=275468
- KVRist
- 96 posts since 20 Feb, 2012 from London
It's an obvious thing but it's all about using your ears! Don't up the compression ratio or boost the low end frequencies just because you think you should do! if it sounds right then it is right.
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Dean Aka Nekro Dean Aka Nekro https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=162100
- KVRAF
- 6178 posts since 4 Oct, 2007 from Escaped At Last
Diplomacy, Even more so when engineering.
Also how to be present but be also invisible.
Also how to be present but be also invisible.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2590 posts since 19 Mar, 2008 from germany
Do you play "ghost in the studio"? What do you mean?Dean Aka Nekro wrote:...
Also how to be present but be also invisible.
free mp3s + info: andy-enroe.de songs + weird stuff: enroe.de
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- KVRAF
- 16977 posts since 23 Jun, 2010 from north of London ON
Let the music speak for itself.
Barry
If a billion people believe a stupid thing it is still a stupid thing
If a billion people believe a stupid thing it is still a stupid thing
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Dean Aka Nekro Dean Aka Nekro https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=162100
- KVRAF
- 6178 posts since 4 Oct, 2007 from Escaped At Last
Oh, No Ghost. I mean exactly what i said nothing more and nothing less. Would 'transparent' make more sense than invisible to you? If so switch 'invisible' to 'transparent'. I can not so easily quantize whatenroe wrote:Do you play "ghost in the studio"? What do you mean?Dean Aka Nekro wrote:...
Also how to be present but be also invisible.
I mean down into a post on a forum (or anywhere else for that matter!).
Dealing with alot of people with many different ideas, Alot of the times differing ideas coming from inside the same camp. Through only what I can
chalk up to experience is how I learned how to be and how not to be
Another thing also, If its not my baby then i do not get attached
Dean