Basic Mixing Question

[zmarx]

Hi There!

One often reads the following mixing advice in tutorials: To separate two similar sounds (e.g guitar and synth line) pick a frequency, raise the frequency in one signal and drop it in another a couple of dbs. Pick another frequency and do the same, but the other way round.

Now how do you go about deciding on those frequencies? Would you choose one that is prominent in one signal anyways or does this work with any two frequencies?

Any rules of thumb here?

Thanks
Zsolt

[warrior545]

here are some rules of thumb:
http://musicdm.wordpress.com/2011/01/04 ... out-a-mix/


here are the basic/beginners series:
http://musicdm.wordpress.com/2011/01/07 ... e-panning/

http://musicdm.wordpress.com/2011/01/09 ... reo-width/

http://musicdm.wordpress.com/2011/01/12 ... pe-shaper/

http://musicdm.wordpress.com/2011/01/16 ... ncepts-eq/

http://musicdm.wordpress.com/2011/01/18 ... s-reverbs/

http://musicdm.wordpress.com/2011/01/21 ... hats-next/

http://musicdm.wordpress.com/2011/01/21 ... pure-mono/


and here you can test your skills:
http://musicdm.wordpress.com/2011/01/25 ... ur-skills/

[Kim Lajoie]

Any rules of thumb here?

My rule of thumb: don't do it.

http://kimlajoie.wordpress.com/2009/08/ ... equencies/

Seriously though - you should try to bring out the sound's character that you want to contribute to the mix. For example, a guitar might either full out the lower mids or add high-mid definition. Which approach you take will depend on your direction for the mix.

It kinda sounds silly to say it, but: If you know what you're doing, you'll know what to do. If you don't know what you're doing, you won't know what to do.

You might find this interesting: http://kimlajoie.wordpress.com/2010/11/ ... direction/

-Kim.

[soundmagus]

Hi Welcome

Check out this link for one of theb est explanationsof EQ i have found on the internet.

Mark

http://www.dnbscene.com/article/88-thin ... q-tutorial

I have created a PDF of the tutorial, if anyone wants it please PM me.

Mark

[Bhan]

Sometimes it helps to use some visualization tools, you can look at the instruments basic frequency distribution using Voxengo Span ( free ) for instance. This will likely point you to it's most resonant frequencies and by soloing the instrument you should choose if that resonant freq is adding to the sounds character or detracting from it. Then do the same for the other instrument. Now you have the option of tuning the characteristics of both instruments so that they don't interfere with each other. I think this yields the best results for natural acoustic instruments. If you are dealing with synth sounds..then you go about this by editing the base sound generator and not bother as much with EQ after the fact. Just 2 cents.

[steadyrev]

Just to extend Kim's creative direction point:

http://ryuc.info/common/creation_proces ... intent.htm

[audiojunkie]

This is very interesting information guys! Thanks and keep it coming!

--Sean