How do you handle your individual tracks?

[irpacynot]

I use Waveform as my workstation, but recently re-discovered Audacity's De-Clicker plugin. Hadn't really done much with it, but my vocals are getting increasingly difficult to deal with in terms of removing mouth noises. The plugin works pretty dang well, I must say.

But while I was in there, I tinkered a bit with the Loudness Normalizing plugin, Limiter, and the RMS plugin. They're tempting options, but I'm a little unsure about them with respect to using for songs, especially any kind of normalizing. However, the Loudness Normalizer seems to really only be a way of changing the gain of a track.

Just wondering how others handle their individual tracks when readying them for mixing in a song.

[harryupbabble]

i just use freeware plugins to mix my tracks
i`m really not that concerned about that

at the moment i just care about the melodies fitting the lyrics or vice versa
it takes a lot of time

mixing takes a lot of time too
i don`t want to spend time on that
i don`t want to be a mixer
i want to be a songwriter

when and if i become a bona fide songwriter...
i would probably hire professional mixers to mix my tracks
heck, if i could afford it, i would hire many mixers for one song
and choose the best sounding one from those different pro mixers

[mjolnir]

If the vocalist's mouth noises are getting out of hand, maybe it's time to consult with a voice training coach or speech pathologist or something.
seriously, no joke about that. also, some people's mouths are just noisier than others.

maybe they need more water, maybe try different indirect mic positions, maybe ask the vocalist if they have any ideas of what to do.

in the past, i would've used a noise gate on vocals.
but these days, i don't do much live recording. when i do however, i just manually delete and crossfade out the parts i don't want.
yes, it's way too tedious, but it works. and that's part of why i don't do vocals.

however, i do like using vocal sounds to convert into synth or drum sounds (without beat boxing) with DSP.
i'm still not there yet, but the noise reduction and noise gating part is one of the biggest challenges unless done right, or if you just manually cut everything out. it's hard to explain.

[bmanic]

Depending on the room acoustics you can also try to record with a larger distance to the microphone, that way you get a lot less detail and thus less mouth noises. Unfortunately, this will of course increase the amount of gain you need and bring out the room (which is not an issue in a professionally treated booth/room).

You could also try a different microphone. Sometimes the good old Shure SM58 is a better option than an expensive condenser microphone.

[cryophonik]

I agree that dealing with it at the recording stage by using the right mic and proper technique is best, but it’s not 100% foolproof. Spectral editors are often the perfect tool for getting rid of those annoying mouth noises that have a habit of ruining the otherwise best vocal take. I usually use Izotope RX to isolate those noises and zap them, but there are other spectral editor alternatives and your DAW may even have one.

[CrystalWizard]

Definitely try to get the best results during tracking. There are articles on sites like SOS that address how to do so. Mic position, vocalist position, mic choice, preprocessing (or not), and as mentioned -vocal training. Then there's Acon Digital or Rx or whatever. Sometimes just editing the hell out of it works if you have the patience. But start at the beginning.

[Uncle E]

But while I was in there, I tinkered a bit with the Loudness Normalizing plugin, Limiter, and the RMS plugin. They're tempting options, but I'm a little unsure about them with respect to using for songs, especially any kind of normalizing. However, the Loudness Normalizer seems to really only be a way of changing the gain of a track.

Normalize can be useful if you're comping multiple takes. For example, normalize all of them, clip peaks and/or apply compression (should be able to use the same setting for all of them as long as there are no serious pops or handling noises), and normalize again. After doing that, you should be able to able to mix the takes all through the same chain. Plus, you can do it all automatically using Audacity's macros.

It's pretty common for engineers to do some degree of pre-production like that, especially if there are major issues with the recordings.

[kritikon]

Instrumentals is the way to go. At least in terms of problem vocal channels.

[irpacynot]

All great replies, but again...

...Just wondering how others handle their individual tracks when readying them for mixing in a song.

[Constructed Identity]

All great replies, but again...

...Just wondering how others handle their individual tracks when readying them for mixing in a song.

I basically mix while I am arranging. I keep in mind the frequency mix and the levels I want each track to be in the finished song. These days I know the bias our ears have towards certain frequencies and I mix accordingly, I have plugins that can provide all manner of compression or saturation or eq. Each track is treated separately but in relation to the over-all mix. The last few years I know that I want some tracks to end up at quite a low volume in the final mix because it adds interest. Because I don't stick to any one kind of music, I can have issues mixing and have to remix or even remake tracks several times. But I approach it like a writer writing a story- 'writing is rewriting'.

[irpacynot]

All great replies, but again...

...Just wondering how others handle their individual tracks when readying them for mixing in a song.

I basically mix while I am arranging. I keep in mind the frequency mix and the levels I want each track to be in the finished song. These days I know the bias our ears have towards certain frequencies and I mix accordingly, I have plugins that can provide all manner of compression or saturation or eq. Each track is treated separately but in relation to the over-all mix. The last few years I know that I want some tracks to end up at quite a low volume in the final mix because it adds interest. Because I don't stick to any one kind of music, I can have issues mixing and have to remix or even remake tracks several times. But I approach it like a writer writing a story- 'writing is rewriting'.

That's awesome.

Unfortunately, I also find myself going back and remixing when I wait a week or more and listen to the tune again. But it's not surprising. My ear get pretty fatigued, and so once I've taken a substantial break and revisit the tune, it makes sense that I'll notice things I don't care for or I want to tinker with.

You mentioned frequency bias. What frequencies would you say this generation is biased toward?

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

Unfortunately, I also find myself going back and remixing when I wait a week or more and listen to the tune again. But it's not surprising. My ear get pretty fatigued, and so once I've taken a substantial break and revisit the tune, it makes sense that I'll notice things I don't care for or I want to tinker with.

Have you considered splitting the mixing over various sessions? That way you can avoid fatigue, and you get to come back fresh over the course of a few days.

[harryupbabble]

come back fresh after a few days?
not me
i come back to my songs after a few years
my assessment of them are always...
eww

[Uncle E]

Yeah, I usually just quit it if I can’t finish in one day. Just start fresh tomorrow.

[irpacynot]

come back fresh after a few days?
not me
i come back to my songs after a few years
my assessment of them are always...
eww

I feel you.