Mixing is the process of manipulating individual tracks so as to make the combination of multiple tracks more appealing.
37
votes
14answers
1k views
The most common mistakes for newbies recording
What are the the most common mistakes that new engineers tend to make when recording and mixing down their tracks?
12
votes
3answers
532 views
How do I get a mix with two heavy bass elements to not sound muddy?
I often struggle with mixes where I've got two very bassy sounds, usually a very 'big' kick sample and either a hip-hop-style sub bass or a rhythm sample involving low-pitched drums.
What's the best ...
11
votes
4answers
3k views
What is the best volume to work with studio monitors?
What is the best volume to work with studio monitors for mastering and mixing tracks?
I own a pair of M Audio Bx8 Studio monitors and I always produce with the volume knob at the middle.... so here ...
10
votes
9answers
6k views
Should I use 44.1KHz, 48KHz or 96KHZ sampling frequency for hobby projects?
I use a firewire audio interface with a decent microphone pre-amp and the ability to sample up to 96KHz in 24-bit.
I get why I'd want to use 24-bit for the added dynamic range, especially when using ...
10
votes
2answers
206 views
0db mono vs. 0db stereo
Let's assume I have a mono track in my DAW software. The track contains an audio file which was normalized to 0 db. If I play the track the volume gauge on the stereo out channel will go up only to ...
9
votes
2answers
89 views
What does panning do in a stereo system
I use pan a lot, but would now like to understand what it does.
My question is spurred on by being told in a mix (a rock band for example) everything needs to live in its own space. Well, surely it ...
7
votes
5answers
2k views
Rules of thumb for EQing?
I often create tracks that consist of lots of layered (electronic) sounds. This gives me a hard time EQing the tracks so that the mix still feels right.
Instead of forming a solid wall of sound, It ...
7
votes
4answers
245 views
Is it a good idea to use headphones for audio production?
Is it generally a good idea to use headphones in the production/mixing of audio?
And what can I do if my speakers are terrible (e.g. laptop speakers), and I'm on a shoestring budget?
7
votes
3answers
3k views
General rules for panning?
I'm working on a family project right now. Most of the songs have the following tracks:
4 kids (on separate tracks of course)
strings/pads
acoustic guitar (on about half the songs)
electric bass ...
7
votes
3answers
306 views
Getting the kick drum to really come out in the mix?
When I get done with a mix, no matter how much I work on the bass drum it barely comes out. I'm mainly working with metal bands, so I was wondering if anyone could give me pointers/ suggestions/ ...
7
votes
1answer
651 views
What exactly is a “bus” on a Behringer Xenyx mixer?
I'm looking to buy a Behringer Xenyx 802 which is an 8-Input 2-Bus mixer.
My question is.. what does it mean by "2-bus"?
I understand the concept of the word "bus" in this context as to mean ...
7
votes
4answers
280 views
Are outboard processors dead?
Do outboard processors such as compressors, reverb units, etc. have anything distinct advantages in any area today? I'm especially thinking of analog units because of the added D/A-A/D round-trip and ...
7
votes
3answers
154 views
How should you mix / master when producing music for Video Games?
Should anything be done differently when mixing and/or mastering for Video Game music, considering it will play along with various other game SFX?
Should a certain range of frequencies (or multiple ...
7
votes
1answer
66 views
General advice about sound spatialization
I am composing music by layering various instruments of different types. Percussions, strings, lead, etc...
Is there a generally-agreed "best" way of putting those instruments in the auditive space? ...
7
votes
2answers
314 views
Why are drums generally panned to the listener's perspective but piano panned to the player's perspective?
i've posed this question to many engineers (even a few who are drummers) and i'm still without an answer. what's even more befuddling is that i have a few recordings where the drums are panned to the ...
6
votes
3answers
928 views
Mixing piano and guitar
I'm trying to blend acoustic guitar and piano as background tracks behind vocals. Individually, both tracks sound excellent, but when I combine them they step on each other and sound really bad.
Any ...
6
votes
2answers
438 views
How to move a sound back and forth or up and down
It's easy to move a sound from left to right with panning. But is it possible to give the illusion the sound is moving away / toward / up / down the listener ?
6
votes
1answer
1k views
How to read and use a Phase / Vectorscope
I been using Izotope Ozone 4 for some time, but I'm still a bit intimidated by the Vectorscope in the stereo-imaging section.
When Mastering / Mixing a signal...
What "lissajous shape" are you ...
6
votes
1answer
168 views
In which situations is Audio Expansion applied (opposite of compressors)?
I've encountered from time to time some plugins that allows a threshold and a ratio to be set so that quieter sound can have an even more quieter level (or silenced altogether). Ableton Live actually ...
6
votes
3answers
204 views
Can I create multiple mixes within the same project in Logic?
I've created a drum mix based around the overheads mics. I'd like to produce another mix within the same project based around a couple of room mics we set so I can A/B the two mixes.
Is that ...
5
votes
2answers
214 views
What exactly does it mean to normalize a track/how it is done?
When exporting a song I was working on in Ableton I decided to export it as an .aiff file for the first time, just for kicks I guess, when I noticed some options that I had never really paid attention ...
5
votes
2answers
110 views
What is a snake and what are they used for?
I saw this referenced in a question about setting up microphones for drums.
It seemed to be for collecting signals from multiple mics and passing them on to a single channel in a mixing desk. Is it ...
5
votes
3answers
178 views
Live rock band having issues with vocals being buried
We are an independent touring band that has been having issues with the vocals being lost in the mix. Our singer is constantly told that she's being drowned out by the band. The band consists of a ...
5
votes
3answers
279 views
How to avoid clipping when explicitly adding audio tracks?
When two or more audio tracks are simply "added" together, they may peak at the same time, causing the resulting "sum" track to be clipped. I am looking for an algorithm or technique to bring the ...
5
votes
3answers
73 views
Can someone explain 'phase' and related terminology in audio production?
I've looked a lot of places for info about this, and I've never found anything that was clear and satisfactory.
I've been working with various DAW software for awhile and I always run into 'invert ...
5
votes
2answers
343 views
Podcast recording tips
What would be the best affordable setup for recording a 3-4 person podcast all in one room?
I think my main problems are with the hardware...
I've tried a few things: using a condenser (Samson C01U ...
5
votes
1answer
158 views
Is it wrong to use compression on the master bus?
I've read some pretty conflicting statements about what people should or shouldn't do when it comes to putting effects on the master bus. In general, what I always do is put on a compressor but have ...
5
votes
2answers
226 views
How to avoid a muddy mixdown?
Often times I am faced with a problem where I lack a decent amount of mid-range warmth in my sound. When producing a track with this in mind I am then often faced with a muddy sounding mid-range. How ...
5
votes
1answer
173 views
Mono mixing - How to avoid mono “fatigue”?
I'm mixing down a live album from a mono source. The tracks contain guitar, mandolin, vocals, and backing vocals all on one mono track. The audio was captured straight from the tape-out of a mixing ...
5
votes
1answer
151 views
I would like to learn to mix tracks into a DJ set - where should I start?
To start with I would like to learn the basics of how to mix different tracks into a whole fluent set. Then I would like to learn how maybe "remix" the track a bit so that it fits after another track ...
4
votes
6answers
1k views
I have two computers with audio output, and I'd like to monitor both, simultaneously, with one set of speakers. What do I need?
I have two computers with audio output, and I'd like to monitor both, simultaneously, with one set of speakers. What do I need?
I know I could feed the line-out of one computer into the line-in of ...
4
votes
4answers
139 views
How should I start recording my band?
For a while now I have been playing music with some of my friends. The style like a mix of Zepplin and The Strokes. Now we'd like to start recording, but I don't know how to go about things.
I bought ...
4
votes
3answers
88 views
Stereo panning, headphones and speakers difference
Should stereo panning be done differently while using headphones or speakers?
4
votes
3answers
62 views
Audio Mixer Inputs and Outputs
I'm curious about audio mixer inputs and outputs and have some questions.
Most mixers have 2 1/4" line inputs per track, one for the left channel and one for the right. If I connect a mono device to ...
4
votes
2answers
63 views
Recording/mixing/mastering drums
I'm working on a project where I am to mix/master drums to a backing track (sort of a drum-replacement project.)
I've gotten the drums to sound pretty great on their own but was just wondering if I ...
4
votes
3answers
69 views
What are the challenges in audio for the bass line?
I have a question/theory I hope some audio engineers can help with.
As a beginning cellist, I was discussing with someone the other day the fact that the bass line frequently seems to get the short ...
4
votes
3answers
511 views
When should I trust my ears over the phase/vector/lissajous scope?
Let's say I have a sound I like. I start mixing down, and I see that it is all over the place on the phase-scope; that is, the signal looks like it has some significant out-of-phase components. I've ...
4
votes
3answers
207 views
How early, how often do I need to mix-down?
Mainly asking about electronic and house genres here:
How much EQ/compression/panning/etc. tweaking should I expect to need once I've written my first few loops? Does this depend on whether I'm ...
4
votes
1answer
161 views
Sending different ranges of frequencies to separate channels?
How would I send specific ranges of frequencies to different channels like the example I made in photoshop below? Right now I'm using FL Studio 9.7
4
votes
1answer
416 views
Remixes, Sampling and The Law
I have been working on a great remix of a popular track by a very popular pop artist. However, im worried about getting sued/etc for using the original vocals from the track.
So, what is the law when ...
4
votes
1answer
457 views
Recording from Turntables to Laptop causes heavy distortion
When trying to record a mix from my vinyl turntables, to my laptop, I'm getting heavy distortion, especially during the heavy bass sections of the mix.
I'm running my turntables into a 3 channel ...
4
votes
1answer
206 views
General (studio) headphones question; impedance, tonality, mixing
I picked up a pair of beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO (250 ohm) headphones a couple of days ago. My reasoning being I don't have a decent pair (I borrow a cheaper pair occasionally, AKG K77s), and my room has ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
what is the purpose of a Aux return
I understand what Aux-sends are and are used for but I cant seam to figure out what a aux-return is and/or could be used for. I cant find anything substantial on a quick search.
3
votes
2answers
69 views
Generating massive-sounding duplicated noises
I'm using SONAR 5 Producer (I know, it's old.) to record/mix/master my recording. What I'm looking to do is with certain sounds, I'd like to create the effect of having hundreds of instruments without ...
3
votes
6answers
798 views
Makers of best-in-class DAW plugins for recording/mixing?
I'm not too concerned about a particular kind of plugin or what formats, but trying to find out who are the companies in the market that are making the good stuff.
On the high end
On the cheap end
...
3
votes
2answers
114 views
Sharing music mixes and copyrights?
Say, I record a live mix I am doing at home for practice, using tracks which I have purchased. I would like to share this mix legally on the Internet. What are the copyright issues involved and how ...
3
votes
1answer
985 views
General idea of mixing, mono mixing and stereo mixing
I am ignorant to audio recording and production. I was wondering if someone could give some general idea about mixing, mono mixing and stereo mixing? I have little idea what they are even after ...
3
votes
2answers
92 views
Bass Inaudible In Mix Through Bad Speakers
I'm working on mixing an album right now, and it's all sounding pretty good but I'm having an issue with the bass. I really like the tone I have, but depending on the speakers it's being played ...
3
votes
1answer
155 views
How to create a 2 mix in the same project (cubase 5)
I will explain my question with an example: Let's say I have 10 tracks. I want the 10 tracks to be my main mix (the one I listen with my headphones). But I would also want to take 4 of the 10 tracks, ...
3
votes
1answer
45 views
What are good resources to learn the production side for an end-user focused software guy?
I'm a software developer type of person who works a lot with systems that stream media (movies, music videos etc) to end-users over various channels. I know a lot about video files and how to play ...
