My mixing is still horrible... Can you analyze whats wrong?

[tranel]

Okay, will take a read through your answers deeply but I am abit in hurry.

Here's a private track, just as an example of how it usually sounds like:
https://soundcloud.com/thehappyfarm/outcast/s-Ec0CP

I think it sounds decent but not clean...[/url]

More feedback:

From 0:15 there's a tinkly piano-ish sound in the upper registers that's barely audible - the trancey pad drowns it out completely both volume and frequency-wise.

Again, turn off all EQs and compressors and just concentrate on balancing levels and panning - start there. You'll probably want to either turn up the piano or lower the pad, whichever. Regarding panning, the pad should obviously be wide stereo, but does the piano need to be? Maybe it can be closely centered (including whatever reverb/delay tail you have on there). If so, to enhance the center - wide stereo contrast between the two you can use a M/S EQ on the pad to cut the frequencies occupied by the piano in the center space, while leaving the sides untouched. To give each sound it's own frequency space, you will also need to boost the highs a bit on the piano while making a corresponding reduction on the pad.

Once each sound has its own space, panning and EQ-wise, move on to compression.

Do you mix on headphones? I may be wrong but it sounds a bit like you do. Or, maybe you only monitor on one volume (ie LOUD)? In my experience, you should monitor on several different levels - quiet, mid and loud. If things sound defined on all three, the mix is in all likelyhood well balanced.

Another trick is to do a mono check. Things that are too loud but don't stand out in stereo will suddenly jump out at you when you listen in mono.

Best,

Anders

[yolande77]

Looks like a lot of good tips above... I like your overall formula.

What I generally do with EQ since I usually have the same kind of issues, is to use a notch filter with a quite narrow Q on the lead and/or main synths and crank it all the way up to find the tone I really don't want, the pull it down (from zero) by about 20db. It's usally in the 300~700 Hz range, and this is before any compression or other effects.

Would like to hear what you're doing!

[tehlord]

Judging by the clip you've not been mixing very long, and possibly on not very good monitors.

From the description it sounded like you were mixing without listening to, or at least without being able to hear what it is you think you're supposed to be doing.


It takes years of practise to get good.

[Phase47]

A great mix begins at the arrangement phase. All the parts of your track seemed like they were in the same freq. range, no wonder it sounds "crowded" to you.

[1-2-Many]

People who make successful Dance tracks pay a LOT of attention to the Bass & Drums. In your example these the kick is weak and a little flaccid (not tight punchy), the bass is too spread out (time and freq).

I'd solo out the kick and bass and concentrate on really making them standout together, while at the same time thinking about providing space (time and freq) for what you're going to be putting over them.

[fgimian]

People who make successful Dance tracks pay a LOT of attention to the Bass & Drums. In your example these the kick is weak and a little flaccid (not tight punchy), the bass is too spread out (time and freq).

I'd solo out the kick and bass and concentrate on really making them standout together, while at the same time thinking about providing space (time and freq) for what you're going to be putting over them.

+1 on this, the track doesn't punch

Some pointers from me:

* The kick drum must stand out significantly more than it is now and sit tight with the bass sound
* The bass sound likely could do with another highpassed layer which has some unison and is stereo, the bass sound is a bit too "raw" in the current mix
* Generally, the percussion must also be much more prominent, it sounds like there's a clap under there or a closed hihat? We need to hear it
* Your lead sounds a bit weak due to the EQing. Firstly, ensure that you run a highpass filter on the lead to keep the bass region clean, add a noise oscillator to provide better grit and finally boost the high mids to give the sound more presence.

I don't actually feel that your melody and sound design are very far at all. It's all about the mixing.

If you upload some stems, perhaps everyone can help you out even further

Cheers
s

[DNeal]

If you upload some stems, perhaps everyone can help you out even further

I like this idea!

As to the OP: I'm not great at mixing either, but here's my two cents:

It sounds a bit too compressed to me (I'm on headphones at the moment though, I can't fire up my monitors at the moment - the baby is asleep) and it seems that you have a lot of sounds fighting for space in the same frequency ranges.

This can happen a lot with preset packs (and I'm not saying you used presets, this is just an example): The sound designer makes an awesome, epic, huge synth patch that sounds fantastic on its own, but it often just doesn't sit in a mix very easily because it has so much harmonic content.

Also with respect to compression settings, be mindful of the attack and release times of the compressors on individual sounds and not just the overall gain reduction. (Too fast an attack will reduce transients and that's definitely not what you want on certain elements)