SeveredVesper
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Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
When do i add them?
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
2009/09/30 07:17:11
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mattplaysguitar
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Re:Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
2009/09/30 10:09:19
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I got both of those books (only ones I own) and they are good. First one, mixing audio, you will get much more out of. That will make the biggest difference to your mixes. Mastering audio is another level of understanding - but still important.
Your mixes will sound much much better from reading Mixing Audio. It also comes with a CD with very useful examples, including the entire mixing process of four different songs.
Highly recommend you get Mixing Audio for starters.
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bitflipper
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Re:Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
2009/09/30 10:41:00
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 All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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SeveredVesper
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Re:Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
2009/09/30 10:44:48
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SeveredVesper
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Re:Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
2009/09/30 10:47:19
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My main sickness with Reverb, EQ and Compression are all regarding drums. It's either too noisy, too quiet, can't get through the mix, cymbals are overpowering, bass is overpowering, or i can't hear the snare. 
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
2009/09/30 11:15:03
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Start with your kick, get it how you want it, then add the snare, then hi-hat.
Get these working as a unit before moving on.
Don't add reverb too early - concentrate on your dynamics & EQ.
Don't pan things too wide unless you're after a special effect.
Why are your drum tracks noisy? Is it bleed from other mikes?
If yes, then gates might be your answer. But gating isn't a magic pill either - the sudden descent into total silence can be, and often is, unnatural and disconcerting. instead, only attenuate the noise part by 10Db or so - whatever it takes.
You need to be aware of the masking effect.
If you're working with stereo samples, you might benefit from bouncing the individual drums down to mono before mixing
Mix at a sensible level - I've got my faders down as low as -20Db in order to preserve headroom on my master bus.
You need to try and get an idea in your head as to HOW you want the drums to sound.
This is a VERY short introduction to mixing drums.
Search this forum for loads of posts on the subject - another good resource is the FXpansion forums, and of course, Google.
HTH
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SeveredVesper
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Re:Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
2009/09/30 11:29:22
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Bristol_Jonesey
Start with your kick, get it how you want it, then add the snare, then hi-hat.
Get these working as a unit before moving on.
Don't add reverb too early - concentrate on your dynamics & EQ.
Don't pan things too wide unless you're after a special effect.
Why are your drum tracks noisy? Is it bleed from other mikes?
If yes, then gates might be your answer. But gating isn't a magic pill either - the sudden descent into total silence can be, and often is, unnatural and disconcerting. instead, only attenuate the noise part by 10Db or so - whatever it takes.
You need to be aware of the masking effect.
If you're working with stereo samples, you might benefit from bouncing the individual drums down to mono before mixing
Mix at a sensible level - I've got my faders down as low as -20Db in order to preserve headroom on my master bus.
You need to try and get an idea in your head as to HOW you want the drums to sound.
This is a VERY short introduction to mixing drums.
Search this forum for loads of posts on the subject - another good resource is the FXpansion forums, and of course, Google.
HTH
Thanks alot! BTW i only use software drums, so i don't mic anything. Like my snare is not really getting through and i can't seem to get the right crash volume (i have parts where i use crashes repeatedly on the 'rageful' part of the song). I had never had problems with hi-hats and chinas and also with kicks. Ironically, with the part of my songs that actually have notes in it, they all cut through well. No overpowering, they have they're own place, they don't compete with each other. Anyway thanks again for the heads up!
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dmbaer
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Re:Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
2009/09/30 14:02:56
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SeveredVesper
How bout the 'Mixing Engineer's Handbook'? It's pretty good as well, but not as comprehensive as the Mixing Audio mentioned earlier. I probably won't read Mixing Engineers Handbook a second time, but I'm definetly going to do so with Mixing Audio.
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
2009/09/30 15:00:56
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I'm on my second read through the Izhaki book - this time trying to put into practice some of what I'm reading.
The Bob Katz offering, well I'm still ploughing through it for the first time.
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jayhill
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Re:Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
2009/09/30 18:21:05
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The Mixing with BFD pdf is also a fine 40 page guide for mixing drums - whether you use BFD or not.
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Guitarhacker
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Re:Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
2009/09/30 19:28:04
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I do it in both places..... actually.... kind of....
What I mean is that in my tracking and recording.... I shoot for the best sounding track as possible. I rarely use a plug in EQ or reverb in a track. I don't like to add to much in this stage. Nothing is recorded "through" the reverb or EQ..... all signals in are dry.... except guitar...
Exceptions include guitar...I get the EQ and reverb in my incoming signal, just like I would do onstage..... not as a plug in on the track.
I will use a reverb or EQ in a buss for the vocals at times..... generally pretty common now.
In my mixdown, mastering stage, oh yeah. I pop O4 into the master buss.
So if you consider getting the best sounding tracks first... yeah I focus on that coming in... and apply what I think it might need with EQ & Verb & compression...... etc in the master buss at the end of the mix.
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jacktheexcynic
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Re:Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
2009/09/30 20:15:39
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SeveredVesper
When do i add them?
unless you are making an album it may be best not to think in terms of "mastering". applying plugins to the master bus is not mastering. it can be part of it, but mastering goes beyond final mix touches. that aside, it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. ask yourself why you want to add reverb. what is the goal? most of the time you will add it to individual instruments to give a sense of space. but you can add it to the final mix to give it a bit of shimmer, or to get a mix to "gel". with reverb, a little goes a long way. some will say that all EQ should be done at the track or bus level. i say, "never say never"  sometimes you may have a tight mix but you want it slightly warmer or a little brighter or a bit more airy, etc. there is no problem doing that at the final mix stage (just do it before your limiter, not after). notice though that i'm mentioning what you want to add - these are very small adjustments. if you are thinking your mix is too muddy, or harsh, or tinny, then find the offending track and fix it there. basically, do not attempt to solve problems at the final mix stage. use it for finishing touches.
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dmbaer
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Re:Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
2009/10/01 13:34:26
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Bristol_Jonesey
I'm on my second read through the Izhaki book - this time trying to put into practice some of what I'm reading.
The Bob Katz offering, well I'm still ploughing through it for the first time.
This would also be a good time to mention the free Ozone mastering tutorial, to be had here: http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/ozone/guides.html It's got a lot of general information about mastering. It's a very worthwhile read even if you don't use Ozone.
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Bristol_Jonesey
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Re:Reverb and EQ: Mixing or Mastering?
2009/10/02 06:59:45
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Tell you what Dave, I'm pretty sure I've got a copy of that tutorial, somewhere amongst the maze of paperwork that never seems to get filed properly.
One of these days I'll get round to sorting it out.
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