By
Eyalc
Wed Jul 15, 2020 6:05 pm
Man, I had long forgotten about this thread. Cool that it's still going.
And I'll be the one in the room that focuses on something entirely different in Lev's music.
Lev, forget all the dynamics, EQ'ing, etc... you won't get something that sounds right, unless you get the instruments on key first. The bass is off from the lead, which is off from the sample, etc etc. Even if you sonically have something that sounds "clean", it's still going to clash because the various parts are out of tune.
If you want to learn how to create a great mix, you gotta start there. No amount of dynamics is going to make it sound amazing. Just remember, that 10 times out of 10, mixes aren't good if the instruments clash, NOT because of the dynamics. You first have to get EVERY piece of the music to share the same harmonic "pocket". That way, rolling off some of the highs (for example), will allow one instrument that shares the same frequencies to sit with another. But they both still harmonically fit.
And about that word "pocket". Someone asked about it in this thread - can't remember who. BUT, there are TWO types of "pockets" when it comes to music. Harmonic pocket, and rhythmic pocket. BOTH have to be tight, else creating a good mix is impossible.
So Lev, what I'm saying is that you're trying to focus on the wrong part first. You're trying to create a good sounding mix, but your track doesn't have things in the same harmonic nor rhythmic pocket. That's something that most won't ever explain to you, because as the producer, we are expected to have a natural feel for things being "in the pocket". It's why a producer chooses a guitar with certain strings... or a drum kit with certain heads - because they have harmonic qualities that allow them to sit in the same harmonic pocket with other instruments in the song. The pattern the musician plays however, determines where they sit in the rhythmic pocket. The drummer for the Beatles, can't remember his name. He was known for NOT having a feel for playing the pocket. He could play the drums, but ask him to play "in the rhythmic pocket"? LOL. Read up on Quincy Jones - he explained it well from a session he had with him. Side note... Paul McCartney was the first Beatles drummer. And rumor is that he played drums on quite a few of the songs - but wasn't noted.
Going back to something Charles said - he said if the music is right, the mix is easy. He's 100% right. I'd adjust that a bit and say it's somewhere between "easy" and "easier". What he's saying, is that everything in the music has to be in the right harmonic and rhythmic pocket. If not, impossible to create a great sounding mix, no matter how much dynamics you use. Charles also said that all these tricks aren't needed for mixing. And he's 100% right too. People over-complicate mixing - WAY too much. Start with the basics. Learn how to compose a song, pick the right instruments that don't clash - everything else is MUCH easier after that.
In music, the instruments are played throughout rhythmic pockets. And in mixing, dynamics are used to shape everything into their harmonic pockets. And as far as mastering... NEVER master individual stems. Mastering is done on a stereo wav render of the music, alongside the other songs that will be on the project. No such thing as mastering in a mixing environment. In a mixing environment, you're mixing. In a mastering environment, you're mastering.
So, hope this is helpful. Start with the music part. You have to get that right first. Your choice of sample and instruments isn't good for that music. The lead synth is going to clash with that sample IMO. And it's much too bright with the snare being that dark. You'd either have to roll off highs on the lead, or brighten the snare. In this case, I'd brighten the snare AND roll off some high on the synth lead. But I don't know that either would work.
Listen to Kanye's early music - first album. Harmonic clashes all over those songs - which is common when sampling records. Read about the mixing engineers. Gave them FITS trying to mix those songs. And in some cases had to complete replace kicks or subs because they'd never work for a song.
Anyway, I'm rambling now. Focus on the music first!!! Get the drums in order. And then shape everything else around that (because this is hip-hop / urban). If this was rock I'd say start with the guitars.
no problem. l do my drums in Reason and in S1v4. I do my music loops in S1v4 and Reason. Everything is inside the box. Do my mixing in Reason and master in S1v4.
