Equalizer Question

oo, where to begin :) you should also try to play with not only eq, but things like compression.

how about looking at someone else while they are mixing? this video is done in sonar 8.5, but it might be a start? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtheK1OZvcc

C:

Pull up a chair, get a Starbucks or a Rockstar drink and read on:

(apologies in advance, I am preparing my audio course for the fall semester and I am in the 'professorial' mode)

#1 Mixing a pre-recorded Karaoke track that I suspect is already 'pro' mixed and mastered will make a very difficult layer in which to add a vocal over top if you are new to the process.  But - the difficulty is where the best learning will come from - so stay on course.

#2 Track Equalization and the Track Volume slider are very very similar in some ways and very different in others.  So to simplify your question, "Can I just turn up the track volume to balance it with the backing tracks"  I suspect you have tried that and the vocal track goes above DBFS (red above 0).  EQ is 'volume' in frequency bands and Volume is volume across the bandwidth of the track - summary EQ is probably not your issue since gain doesn't' always fix balance.  EQ mostly aids in clarity not balance.  General track volume can will assist in balance after clarity is established.

#3 As mentioned above the technique you have as both a vocalist and as an engineer can have an enormous impact on how a vocal will sit in a mix.  The equipment makes the next impact and can make or break a good mix as well.  However, todays in the box technology can compensate for some very wide quality in both performance technique as well as the capturing chain.

#4 Specifically what I believe is happening is that the crest ratio in your vocal track is too wide to mix with an existing Karaoke track.  The crest ratio is the range of dynamics between the softest section of your vocal recording and the loudest.  If that range is too wide, you are forced to reduce the track volume to prevent clipping and the softest sections are lost below the backing track(s).  So you need to focus on two things - The lowest amount of energy in your vocal track and compare that to the highest amount of energy in your vocal track - voila - that is what track automation envelopes do in broad sections.  Here a broad section is defined as 4 seconds or longer. 

#5 Solutions

A. Use Track Automation Envelopes to manager 'broad' sections of the vocal track to adjust the placement of it in the overall mix

B. Insert a single band compressor in the vocal track and work with both the makeup gain and ratio to reduce the crest ratio of the performance.  The difference between a compressor and track automation (for this discussion) is one of the duration of the process.  Compressors work in milliseconds and track automation works in multi-seconds.  The effects are wildly different in different circumstances and applications.

Finally, I would add that the process of adding a vocal track to a preexisting track is a great lesson in Tracking, Compression, EQ and Mixing.  Each of those subjects have a months worth of attention in my courses - great question.

Best

-D

DonM earlier today:

John T


DonM earlier today:

J:

Funny .... and .. how about if my mix is garbage ... here is a Compressor for that:



Best

edit - weird why do the image links keep breaking ... maybe my absence from the forum has resulted in a moderation lobotomy 
-D

AT


Don,

sure, you can fix it in the mix - sorta.  But I have the feeling that the OP probably had more basic problems.

@

Yep, that's why my initial post was fundamentals based.  And, I do teach my students to reach for automation first then work with the dynamics.  Since the automation is down channel from the inserts it can be somewhat counter intuitive but I rather avoid problems before creating more.  I go through seasons where channel strips are my choice tool (I use the Waves SSL and Renn stuff frequently) but then I'll break away and go modules for a while - I can't figure the pattern - but the approach remains pretty much the same with the tools becoming more artistic for me


-D

Hi everybody. Thanks for the reply. However, I am a total beginner. So, all the info above have actually got me confused. I am just wandering, if there is anyone who can guide me step-by-step, or if there is any shortcuts for me to bring the vocal to the front? This is bcoz I really don't know how to make the vocal come to the front. Thanks.

BTW, I am using a Roland DR-80C as a mic input connected to my UA-55 Quad Capture (also from Roland). I am using Sonar X1 Producer on a Windows 7 laptop.

I agree 100% with Bristol Jonesey.  That book is the bible of audio mixing.  Comes with a CD of examples that are very instructive.