I don't know about you but the amount of time mixing/EQing a track takes more time than laying down the sounds (chopping samples, sequencing drums, laying down basslines, etc).
I typically think I'll be done after listening through my headphones of monitors only to listen in my car and realize my drums are too loud, or the highs are too high on my samples.
Anyone out there feel like they've streamlined this process?
Tell me about your process when finishing a track (In Ableton)
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- KVRer
- 3 posts since 19 Dec, 2023
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- KVRian
- 608 posts since 20 Mar, 2015 from Nerima, Tokyo
Nothing fullproof, but I made an fx rack by default on my master, which allows me to mono the mix, change volume, isolate frequency bands, or highpass around 300hz to give me a rough idea on how the music might translate on a cellphone/tiny speakers, and if the bass can be felt rather than heard (in which case i might need to add a mid bass replacement).
And since its a group, you can use the macro snapshot thingy to create presets (phone, car etc).
Another suggestion is to listen to your track at different volumes, for instance if at very low volume some sounds "jump" on you, you might need to tame said sound. At very high volume ear gets numbed and these differences are less clear imo.
Lastly keep in mind that aging ears won't be able to hear higher frequencies, so keep an eye (rather than ear) on the highest frequency spectrum display, to avoid nasty surprises. Clicks and pops show on isolated high band.
My .02
And since its a group, you can use the macro snapshot thingy to create presets (phone, car etc).
Another suggestion is to listen to your track at different volumes, for instance if at very low volume some sounds "jump" on you, you might need to tame said sound. At very high volume ear gets numbed and these differences are less clear imo.
Lastly keep in mind that aging ears won't be able to hear higher frequencies, so keep an eye (rather than ear) on the highest frequency spectrum display, to avoid nasty surprises. Clicks and pops show on isolated high band.
My .02