Potentially Embarrasing NOOB Mixdown Questions
I know that forum posts are supposed to be short and precise, but to explain my dilemma, I have to go into some amount of detail. Please bear with me; I'm really desperate for an answer.
So, I've been recording an album of my own material at home with my PC for eventual distribution on CD. Early on in the recording phase a studio engineer listened to some rough recordings and recommended that I reduce the volume of all the other instruments when vocals are present or when a solo is happening. He also recommended that I reduce the higher EQ's during these passages somewhat if I felt the background interfered with either the vocal or the solo. (Like I can tell...)
Following his suggestions, I've been going in and "splitting" the tracks for each vocal line and reducing the volume (but not high EQ - I can't tell) 1-2db for each line or instrument solo. While I grudgingly admit that the overall sound is improved, I'm very distracted by the volume reduction. Following his advice, I didn't reduce volume until the vocal/solo part started in the waveforms, and faded back up again before the end, so it's not so noticeable. But, I still (think) I hear the reduction, and it sounds...um...processed or unnatural to me. (Worse yet, I think I've been noticing these fades in commercial music, now, too!)
I guess I'm looking for confirmation from the pros out there. Do you guys do this? And while I'm at it, this seems to be an extremely tedious and crude method of mixing and I've got to say that, if this is standard methodology, we need some type of automated system.
I guess my question is this: If I go through each track and remove transients and everything sounds OK (and of course there's no clipping), are such modifications necessary? I do not grok. Any assistance would be most appreciated.
NooB Mixdown Question
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- Banned
- 12367 posts since 30 Apr, 2002 from i might peeramid
hmm.. for all i know this might be standard practice in some field, but i've never heard of either as standard procedure.. oc they're implied with compression and various spectral balancers around, but i'd almost wonder if the guy hates you.
that'd bug the hell outta me.. on a daw, that 1 db at least my s/w uses means a different 'colour' of transformation.. i always try and keep my meters at 90db/unity to reduce transforms, which i'm sure most people will consider unnecessary.
i'm not pro, but i've traded notes with a lot of people w/ electronic releases, i'd smile and nod.
that'd bug the hell outta me.. on a daw, that 1 db at least my s/w uses means a different 'colour' of transformation.. i always try and keep my meters at 90db/unity to reduce transforms, which i'm sure most people will consider unnecessary.
i'm not pro, but i've traded notes with a lot of people w/ electronic releases, i'd smile and nod.
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