Hi Cychan,
there are some very useful fx chain presets in Sonar X1 which are giving an idea
how instruments can  be mixed.The quality of the  included effects is really O.K.
If you have an idea , how the mix should sound, this is an easy way to get into it, but not
a tool which is doing all and eyerything. The quality of the effects  of the EZ Mix(Overloud effects) is imo not better than these of Sonar X1.
 A tool that works like you imagine to me hopefully will never be created,cause than all the mixes which are edtited with this tool sound nearly the same, or, what do you think ? 

Peace ,Pragi   

M_Glenn_M: Actually, I can do mixing purely on Sonar X1 Producer without any other extra plug-ins or device. However, I am trying to see if there is any sort of device that can speed things up a little, and perhaps all I need to do after the process done by a device / plug-ins is to fine tune it a bit. Any ideas? Thx. konradh: Thx. That is a good idea of mixing by comparing other track. jerrypettit: Thx. I will check out those softwares. Cactus Music: That is why to me, the ideal mixing tool will be to have a combination of presets mix and human intervention for best outcome. daveny5: Just out of curiosity. If I were to have a studio, is there any device that I can use to automate mixing a little bit? Thx. Pragi: I think the closest thing I can find is the Ableton feature where they make the sound very elastic. Although I am not familiar with Ableton, however, I was hoping that after Ableton process it with the elastic sound, I would love to edit the EQ and Compressor, and other stuff of each track.

konradh

What would really be cool would be a software plug-in that was smart enough to analyze the main components of a CD and then set your levels and EQs after you told it which tracks were which.  

Ever heard of Har-Bal? In theory, that's it's purpose. It's not a plugin though. It's stand alone.

The hardware device you're looking for is called a mixer.
You plug musicians into it, make them do the work and set the style and all you have to do is keep track of it all and push the right buttons and sliders.
You have to acquire some knowledge of mixing and recording even when you're using samples and loops.

Go to Staples and get an "Easy" button for $9.95.

BretB


Go to Staples and get an "Easy" button for $9.95.

did the price go up?  It musta gotten harder to do that easy thing for the price to go up....

I thought it was about $5.... but then again, I never bought one...I always do things the hard way.

konradh


lt would be cool, but I don't know of such a thing.  I usually get a CD that is in a similar style to what I am mixing (and, of course, one I like and think sounds good) and then use it as a reference.  Is my bass louder or quieter?  Are my kick and bass in the same relative level to each other?  Is my mix brigther or less bright?  How do the vocal levels compare? etc.

What would really be cool would be a software plug-in that was smart enough to analyze the main components of a CD and then set your levels and EQs after you told it which tracks were which.  I can imagine something like that happening in 5 years.   The first step would be an automation tool that would keep things consistent across an album you were mixing.

I saw some kind of thing from Roland in a magazine the other day, a mix product I think, that was aimed at pulling different things out of a mix, kinda like karaoke, that would be a step in that direction.  I can' recall details or name though...

To the OP's wish - there are some templates in various places, a good one here from JSaras for Sonar and I suspect others for other products, prolly ez-mix too, that will get you in the ball park. You really do need some ability to refine or extend any kind of preset though

Michael Five

konradh


lt would be cool, but I don't know of such a thing.  I usually get a CD that is in a similar style to what I am mixing (and, of course, one I like and think sounds good) and then use it as a reference.  Is my bass louder or quieter?  Are my kick and bass in the same relative level to each other?  Is my mix brigther or less bright?  How do the vocal levels compare? etc.

What would really be cool would be a software plug-in that was smart enough to analyze the main components of a CD and then set your levels and EQs after you told it which tracks were which.  I can imagine something like that happening in 5 years.   The first step would be an automation tool that would keep things consistent across an album you were mixing.

I saw some kind of thing from Roland in a magazine the other day, a mix product I think, that was aimed at pulling different things out of a mix, kinda like karaoke, that would be a step in that direction.  I can' recall details or name though...

To the OP's wish - there are some templates in various places, a good one here from JSaras for Sonar and I suspect others for other products, prolly ez-mix too, that will get you in the ball park. You really do need some ability to refine or extend any kind of preset though

Michael Five, FYI: the OP said he did not like EZMix. 

@Michael Five:  I think you are talking about a new Roland product called R-Mix, which I got excited about due to the videos and pre-ordered for, as I recall, $199.

Worst purchase ever.

I thought it would be able to isolate the various different tracks, but as a practical matter it is only vocals (in the center) that you get any success in manipulating.  Fine for making karaoke, but...that's it.

I think it was Computer Music magazine that gave it a 6/10 lackluster review.  To me, it was the worst $199 I ever spent.

Of course he doesn't like EZ mix, because... (drumroll) there is no easy mix. Every mix is different and there just isn't a universal mix template.