Advice on Mixing/Mastering

JesseHolmz wrote:

Lampdog wrote:

Lampdog wrote:Putting an 80khz low cut on every track that doesn't need lows, ie; hhat, conga, ride.

This is usually the cause of mud.



If you have different things going on in left and right (sounds or effects) then that sample needs to stay stereo.

Is that some sort of filter? i mean I'm really a big newb when it comes to this aspect of making music. What do i look for in pro tools to do this?

Honestly, if you don't understand that, you really need to get out there and study. I learned how to mix by experimenting, reading, experimenting, watching tutorials, experimenting.

The truth is that there are no hard and fast rules to mixing. You have to do what sounds good. Filtering out at the same frequency on the named tracks are really only a starting point and may not work on every song.

What you should do is import a song that from your music library that you like the mix of in Pro Tools, and LISTEN to it. Try to really hear what is going on in the mix. If you've got compressors and limiters on any of your tracks, remove them. Actually, you should remove any effects from all tracks and start over. Put all pans back to center (except stereo of course).

Then import a song from iTunes or whatever and LISTEN TO IT for about 20-30 minutes. Make notes of what instruments are where in the mix. LISTEN to how the drums are sitting in the mix and where the bass is and where samples/instruments are. Then vocals. Make notes. Then, after you have a good idea as to what your mix should sound like, start working towards that. If you don't have a plan then you are shooting in the dark.

I still suggest LEAVE COMPRESSION AND LIMITERS ALONE. If you don't know what you are doing, you will do more harm than good. In mixes I do for people, I barely use any compression, and I don't use a limiter at all.

If you can't listen to the same song for 20-30 minutes, then you really should have someone mix it for you. Mixing a single song has taken anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of days. You have to be able to hang in there and listen for any issues, clashing, phasing, etc. Learn to use your eq. That is your best friend. Everything else will come after eq.

And mix at low levels. Mixing loud will give you a false sense of energy. The bass will be banging and the drums cracking, until you move it to another system, and everything will sound flat, and the drums will be anything but present.

Sorry for writing a book, but you need to get out there and experiment and study. You aren't going to learn what you need to know by asking here. You got to get your hands dirty Grasshopper.

What you should do is import a song that from your music library that you like the mix of in Pro Tools, and LISTEN to it. Try to really hear what is going on in the mix. If you've got compressors and limiters on any of your tracks, remove them. Actually, you should remove any effects from all tracks and start over. Put all pans back to center (except stereo of course).

Then import a song from iTunes or whatever and LISTEN TO IT for about 20-30 minutes. Make notes of what instruments are where in the mix. LISTEN to how the drums are sitting in the mix and where the bass is and where samples/instruments are. Then vocals. Make notes. Then, after you have a good idea as to what your mix should sound like, start working towards that. If you don't have a plan then you are shooting in the dark.

Read that, then do it. If you don't understand the technical jargon in this thread, you are going to be lost reading a book or blog on mixing. You are better off doing first, and trying to get the hang of the tools until you hit a brick wall. Then search for the answer to that one problem. Then keep going until you hit another brick wall. Repeat.
Reading a bunch of info that you don't understand will have you back here, or somewhere else asking for clarification, when if you just get in there, you will be able to answer your own questions.

There's a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path. -Morpheus


Sorry, I just always want to use that...haha

learn what busses (sends) do and what aux tracks are.
you usually put timed based efx on aux tracks, like reverbs and delays.

your usually gonna put your eqs/compressors on insert tracks.

at the start of the mix, turn all faders down, and then mix them up.

put a master fader and make sure its not clipping while turning the levels up.

i use pro tools m powered too
mess around with the basic EQ and compressor
learn how they work and what they do

i learned by random youtube vids, experimenting, TIME, and asking questions.
keep at it

EDIT: and i'm still learning everyday

a couple of things you should consider before embarking on learning to mix:

how much time you got?

learning to mix and master to a decent level, on your own will cost you more time and money than getting someone to do it for you.

time and money that you could have spent on marketing and getting your name out there, or writing more tunes.

there are "engineers" out there who'll do half decent mixes for peanuts,.... we're talking $50 a track. while i'd personally stay away from them if that's all you can afford then fair enough.

at the same time, an ep with only a couple of brilliant tracks that are mixed and mastered well, is much better than an album of 12 songs that are kinda mehhh,... unless those 12 tracks are all superduper dope,.. which is highly unlikely.

but if you have the time and you cant cut a few frivolous expenditures in your life to come up with a couple hundred dollars, .....

mixing and mastering are 2 different things and never the twain shall meet.

a good mix is a mix that is balanced, and all the snazy vst fx/outboard mumbo jumbo isnt going to make an unbalanced mix sound good.

for a balanced mix, this usually gets me there quicker,.... turn your monitors down,.. really low, so you can barely hear it,.. like someone in the next room is playing it. also if you're on headphones, do the opposite,... take your headphones off, place them on the desk, and turn them up a bit,...

then bring up your tracks one by one,...until you can hear all the elements in the mix, and it all sounds balanced. ( for headphones, this might sound counter intuitive but it works for some reason).

once you're there, and it sounds balanced, and nothing is overbearing or missing, turn it up and it should sound fairly balanced.

from here, there are a silly number of options available to make things sound "better" but you can learn that as you go.

google for the stuff that the others have said that you didnt understand,... i would start off with EQ sweeping and filtering as you'll need that to get rid of any muddiness.

good luck!