Mixing Basics: Knowing Your Plugins

I thought the following information would be very helpful to some, so I am starting this new thread based on some of my responses to questions posed in Jeff Markham's "Different Shade of Blue" thread in the Songs forum.

I posted this in the Songs forum as well.

------------

Ok .. while we're pickin' your brain .... what's your choice of compressor, reverb and eq? you used sonitus sometimes, waves, timeworks and lexicon .. i'm not entirely sure of the sonic qualities of anything but the lexicon and the sonitus FX ...

Okay.... Hang on and faster your seatbelt!

This actually comes down to knowing your plugins like the back of your hand, as well as knowing what they will do to a track before inserting them. That is the real key!

FWIW.... Though I know my plugins inside and out, I still may have to change a plugin on occasion if it is not working for the mix as a whole. This goes for EQ, verbs, delays, compression..... You name it.

Okay..... Continuing on.....

The best way to learn what a plugin sounds like is to take, for example, a Waves RCL, Timeworks CompressorX & Sonitus:fx Compressor (or any additional compressor(s)) and insert them into any channel strip. Set up each compressor the same or as close to it as possible. Now, listen to what each plugin does to the track when it is soloed by itself, then in the mix as a whole. You will find that the RCL has a much more robust/beefier & warmer sound to it. The Timeworks CompressorX has a brighter sound. The Sonitus:fx Compressor has a more neutral sound. Each has it's own place in a mix. It just depends on what type of "sound" you are going for in the mix as a whole.

Now do the same with different EQs. Again..... Set them all up as close to each other as possible, then listen to each one individually on the track, then in the mix as a whole. (Note: I have found out that the Timeworks EQ works best for me on piano/keyboard tracks.)

Now do the same for verbs.

I personally like plate verbs on vox tracks, as well as acoustic instrument tracks. The verbs that I use the most are the Waves RVerb (another Renaissance plugin) & TrueVerb, and Cakewalk fxReverb. And though I personally never liked Lexicon verbs (and still don't), I do like using the Pantheon for spatial enhancement. In fact, that is the only way I use it! And I always, always follow my verbs with a highpass filter!

About the only plugin that I use for Chorus is the Cakewalk fxChorus, as I really like what it does for a track in a mix! I also use the Sonitus:fx Delay on a lot of mixes as well. And I am still experimenting with other plugins as well.

Get the picture? It is all about knowing ahead of time what a plugin is going to do to the track on which it is placed. Again..... You still may have to change it, but that does not happen very often once you get a good idea what the plugin sounds like and what it will do in the mix as well.

Okay..... That is enough for now.

Hope this helps.

End of Dissertation 1.

what's your choice of compressor, reverb and eq? you used sonitus sometimes, waves, timeworks and lexicon ..

In case I did not answer this in my post above..... It is what works best for the mix. And it changes from mix to mix, depending on the genre for which I am mixing at the time.

Thanks for the dissertation Chaz, but upon reading it, I do have one question.

Why do you always always use a HPF after a reverb?

It seemed like you were pretty strong about it and I was wondering why since I am currently playing and learning my Reverbs. I have the Sonitus fx and Patheon (among a few others) and am experimenting with them for vocals.

Any *enlightening* would be appreciated.

It helps to "sculpt" the verb in a mix.

Verbs have a tendency to "wash out" (i.e. blur) things in a mix, so you have to get them out of the way of everything else that is going on. I control that with a HP filter.

On the other hand, placing an HP filter after the verb can also help to "enhance" certain things in the mix as well.

Add a HP after a verb....preferably on a return buss.... and listen to what haapens when you set the HP filter at different freq points (150Hz, 200Hz, 250Hz, 300Hz and so on). Do this with a soloed track, then with the full mix.

And make sure your verb is set to 100% wet.

Okay..... Hope this helps.

End of Addendum 1.

[Edited:Thread title & added link to listen to DSB]

Pure gold!!!! man!!!

Later Chaz!!
ROlo.

Thanks Chaz, very infomative!

Great Post Chaz.

Once I get a new plug I spend a couple of days listening to all the stock settings then tweaking it and making notes to myself. Later I can refer to these as to what type of sounds are available, what it may sound good on, general impressions, mood creation notes. That way I can look at my notes and get right to the meat at a later time. This also has the added benefit of telling what sounds are useless in the plug in.

By doing this it saves time later when I am recording.

By doing this it saves time later when I am recording.

And during the mixing stage as well.

Looks like you are right on track then!

Chaz, thanks for responding to my post in so much detail. It was good advice. I should stick with my original plan and wiat till I have something I think is really worthwhile spending money on. thanks again.

ORIGINAL: chaz

FWIW..... Click here to listen to a mix that was done entirely with nothing but plugins that have come with a Sonar version. If your mixes do not sound this good with those same plugins, then you need to work more on your mixing skills, rather than going with "better" plugins.

Hi chaz,
did you mix this song? very nice.
what plugins are used for vocal and guitar(el & acoustic) tracks?
thanks.

broken link man.... the mix song dont work

Chaz,
I wish to thank you for your advice and helpful replies on these boards.

I had read in one of your replies about using delays to create that sense of space and position on the sound stage. After listening to your example I started experimenting with some of the plugins I have I am beginning to understand what you mean about cross delays.

I am posting my response here because I didn't readily find where you had discussed it, but I have since found the thread.
FX3 Sound Stage discussion

Between your patient replies and Spheris' socratic dialogs, I am beginning to make sense of what you both are trying to teach.

Once again, thank you.

Dennis

ORIGINAL: mlockett

I'm not sure what hte problem is with Chaz's link, but you can also hear it at my soundclick site. "No Connection" is at the top of the list.

I renamed the file on the server and forgot to edit the link in the post.

Thanks, Mike.

BTW..... I still like the way the tune came out.

This one needs to be bumped again.

ORIGINAL: chaz

I can tell by some of the threads I am reading that this definitely need to be bumped up to the top again.

Great thread, Chaz.

I think this one deserves a bump!

Great thread!!!! I think im gonna have to read it again though!