wmb,

Understood ...makes total sense! 

STinGA


I always have it at the begining BUT given Craig's pedigree I think I will change it from now on to see what difference it makes to my mixes. 

I was quite suprised when Craig AB'd the S type I get nowhere near that level of difference in my tracks using it.  Off to try again later. 

First, thanks everybody for the props! In case you're wondering whether this is a hint of a potential mixing and mastering video...well...
 
Second, try the CE at the beginning and the end, there aren't any rules. I prefer it at the end because what I'm really looking for is a constant effect. It seemed to me that if I put it earlier in the chain, adding subsequent effects altered the "character." That wasn't always a bad thing, but it added an unpredictable element. Adding effects before the CE doesn't change the CE's character.
 
But really, it's not a religious experience, it's just an effect. I didn't mention this in the video, but I do use the CE as an effect for bass prior to EQ to give more of a "transformer" sound. I turn the trim and character up to fatten the low end, then use EQ to take out some of the sizzle in the high end.
 
As to the having more of an audible difference with the S type, much depends on the program material. I chose that song because it was very "CE-friendly" for showing the effect.
 
Finally, as to recording through the CE, "back in the day" I went direct into the recorder in the studio whenever possible. 
 
One more thing: I've unploaded a new song to my YouTube channel, a modern cover of "We Gotta Get Out of This Place." The reason why I mention it (aside from the fact that I'm preetty proud of it!) is that the video accompanying it is all movies of what's happening in Sonar during particular parts of the song - you can see where there's automation, the console emulator and the effects used on the kick, the vocal chain, etc. It's not intended to be a tutorial, but you might find it interesting to see what one person's mix LOOKS like, not just what it sounds like

Anderton

STinGA


I always have it at the begining BUT given Craig's pedigree I think I will change it from now on to see what difference it makes to my mixes. 

I was quite suprised when Craig AB'd the S type I get nowhere near that level of difference in my tracks using it.  Off to try again later. 

First, thanks everybody for the props! In case you're wondering whether this is a hint of a potential mixing and mastering video...well...
 
Second, try the CE at the beginning and the end, there aren't any rules. I prefer it at the end because what I'm really looking for is a constant effect. It seemed to me that if I put it earlier in the chain, adding subsequent effects altered the "character." That wasn't always a bad thing, but it added an unpredictable element. Adding effects before the CE doesn't change the CE's character.
 
But really, it's not a religious experience, it's just an effect. I didn't mention this in the video, but I do use the CE as an effect for bass prior to EQ to give more of a "transformer" sound. I turn the trim and character up to fatten the low end, then use EQ to take out some of the sizzle in the high end.
 
As to the having more of an audible difference with the S type, much depends on the program material. I chose that song because it was very "CE-friendly" for showing the effect.
 
Finally, as to recording through the CE, "back in the day" I went direct into the recorder in the studio whenever possible. 
 
One more thing: I've unploaded a new song to my YouTube channel, a modern cover of "We Gotta Get Out of This Place." The reason why I mention it (aside from the fact that I'm preetty proud of it!) is that the video accompanying it is all movies of what's happening in Sonar during particular parts of the song - you can see where there's automation, the console emulator and the effects used on the kick, the vocal chain, etc. It's not intended to be a tutorial, but you might find it interesting to see what one person's mix LOOKS like, not just what it sounds like

Thanks for the video and information.  Look forward to "a potential mixing and mastering video".
 
Like the tip about using CE with bass, I'll have to try that.
 
Also like the fact that you referred to the"Drive" knob as "Character" knob.  That is far more descriptive, IMO.
 
Off to listen to your song now. 

Hey Anderton
I have not seen the CE vid yet, but i watched your youtube vid of Got to get out of this place.
A great work of art and so interesting and informative to see all those X2 shots showing the action!
I really enjoyed it, thanks.

jb101


 
Like the tip about using CE with bass, I'll have to try that.
 
Also like the fact that you referred to the"Drive" knob as "Character" knob.  That is far more descriptive, IMO.
 
Off to listen to your song now. 

The CE also makes a good effect with drums that are recorded very dry or have a "dull" sound. In that case, kicking up the trim acts a little more like a saturator, but the low end brings out the kick, and the high end the snack "crack "and such.


When using the CE as an effect and outside of its "comfort zone," it seems best to follow it with EQ to tame some of the excesses.

Anderton

jb101



Like the tip about using CE with bass, I'll have to try that.

Also like the fact that you referred to the"Drive" knob as "Character" knob.  That is far more descriptive, IMO.

Off to listen to your song now. 

The CE also makes a good effect with drums that are recorded very dry or have a "dull" sound. In that case, kicking up the trim acts a little more like a saturator, but the low end brings out the kick, and the high end the snack "crack "and such.


When using the CE as an effect and outside of its "comfort zone," it seems best to follow it with EQ to tame some of the excesses.

Thanks again, that's another one I'll have to try.
 
Liked the song a lot, BTW.  Always been a big Eric Burdon fan.  "I'm Cryin" is one of my favorite vocal performances ever..
 
Now, when's the mixing/mastering video going to appear?

One of the best if not the best blog type videos I've seen. Great job and thank you Mr. Anderton!!

musicroom


One of the best if not the best blog type videos I've seen. Great job and thank you Mr. Anderton!!

Thank you! I wanted it to at least be close to the same level as the videos in the Advanced Workshops. 

jb101

Thanks again, that's another one I'll have to try.
 
Liked the song a lot, BTW.  Always been a big Eric Burdon fan.  "I'm Cryin" is one of my favorite vocal performances ever..
 
Now, when's the mixing/mastering video going to appear?

Here's another "make Console Emulator do things it's not supposed to do" tip: Kick drum! I did it on "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" and I figured it was just a fluke, but I tried it on the kick in my latest song that's going up next week and by golly, that sounded really good too. So I don't think it was just a fluke. 

I often use saturation on kick, but the CE, when pushed, does a more subtle and "clever" job.

As to the mixing/mastering video, I've been working on it for a while, and hope to have it out in late January. It will be a similar format to the Advanced Workshop videos in the sense of having chapters devoted to specific techniques, but the emphasis will be on the art of mixing combined with the techniques needed to realize that art...all using X2, of course. I'm trying to give something with more depth than a "here's how to use features" type of video.

Yes, thanks Craig, very informative and educational! Just happened to find your CE tutorial on the toob and learned quite a lot.

Btw, please teach the CakeTV people how to zoom in for their screen views, it really does make it easier to see what's what. Pleeze?