Hello everyone!


I'll do my best to address everyone.

Sharke, I can definitely see that being the case, and that certainly can keep mixing from getting boring! 
Also, that multi-analyzer looks amazing, but $73 is a little steep for one plugin, at least for my current budget, unfortunately. Right now, I've been using Voxengo's SPAN plugin for multi-track analysis, and have had moderate success. The routing is a bit tricky, though, however I suppose that's to be expected, with it being free.

Rimshot, thanks so much for the links! I suppose until now I just never thought of looking for more personal help, for some reason. In any case, could you provide some clarification, please, concerning listening to other's work? What would I be listening for? Is it for comparison to my own work, as you mention later in your post, or something more nuanced? 

Batsbrew, up until recently I was using the analyst tool that came with X2 Essentials, but, as mentioned earlier, started working with Voxengo's SPAN at least enough to see that those type of plugins can be extremely handy! So if I understand you correctly, as far as masking is concerned it's primarily about deciding which frequency in which interacting parts should have the focus in that area? Also I must admit, I've never heard the term "complementary EQ," and would love to hear your personal take on it. I'll definitely be doing research on it, though!

Thank you all so much for your time! I really appreciate it.
-Hypocrita

Bapu get's no love.

Hey Bapu!


Sorry, I didn't see your post in time to include it!
So I'm assuming that you've used or are using Melda's analyst tool? Is it something you also would recommend, and do you feel it has a long-term use? My main hesitation when it comes to buying it is that I want to use something that pricey for years, not just, say, a month or two.


Take care!
-Hypocrita

Hypocrita

Rimshot, thanks so much for the links! I suppose until now I just never thought of looking for more personal help, for some reason. In any case, could you provide some clarification, please, concerning listening to other's work? What would I be listening for? Is it for comparison to my own work, as you mention later in your post, or something more nuanced? 
-Hypocrita

You will learn that many good engineers and producers are very familiar with production techniques, sounds, arrangements, etc. based on listening to other commercial music.
You will also find some of us that suggest importing a commercial song that may be in the same genre as the song you are working on as a stereo file into your DAW.  You can then work on your mix and A/B against the commercial song. This will give a some good ideas about frequency levels, volume, how the instruments and vocals "sit" in the mix, etc.
It just helps to have something right in front of you to compare to.
When your mix starts sounding good in comparison, it is time to export it so you can listen to it in your car, on earbuds, and in other places you normally listen to music on to see how it holds up. Then you may go back ans tweek your mix again.  I do this actually many times until I am either happy with it or burned out trying!
There is no need to rush it. Just take your time and learn.
 
My biggest nemesis is the bottom end. I am getting better at it but I don't own a subwoofer but do have decent headphones so it is not easy for me to get the bass right the first time. I have to listen in other environments to know if it is close to what I want.
 
Hope this helps. 
 

Hypocrita
Hey Bapu!


Sorry, I didn't see your post in time to include it!
So I'm assuming that you've used or are using Melda's analyst tool? Is it something you also would recommend, and do you feel it has a long-term use? My main hesitation when it comes to buying it is that I want to use something that pricey for years, not just, say, a month or two.


Take care!
-Hypocrita

How long you will use it (or any tool) is hard to define. Actually impossible. 
 
If you're a hobbyist you could (conceivably) use it for years on months. That would depend largely on how much of your free time is dedicated to learning the art of mixing.

Hypocrita

Sharke, I can definitely see that being the case, and that certainly can keep mixing from getting boring! 
Also, that multi-analyzer looks amazing, but $73 is a little steep for one plugin, at least for my current budget, unfortunately. 

 
Keep an eye out for Melda sales. I'm pretty sure I paid about half price for mine. 

sharke

Hypocrita

Sharke, I can definitely see that being the case, and that certainly can keep mixing from getting boring! 
Also, that multi-analyzer looks amazing, but $73 is a little steep for one plugin, at least for my current budget, unfortunately. 

 
Keep an eye out for Melda sales. I'm pretty sure I paid about half price for mine. 

Yup, I know I did pay 50% off.
 
Melda is doing a 5 plugs a week @ 50% off sale. Probably just need to sign up for mailings.

bapu

sharke

Hypocrita

Sharke, I can definitely see that being the case, and that certainly can keep mixing from getting boring! 
Also, that multi-analyzer looks amazing, but $73 is a little steep for one plugin, at least for my current budget, unfortunately. 

 
Keep an eye out for Melda sales. I'm pretty sure I paid about half price for mine. 

Yup, I know I did pay 50% off.
 
Melda is doing a 5 plugs a week @ 50% off sale. Probably just need to sign up for mailings.

Yeah I miss a lot of the mailings because for some reason I signed up with an email address I hardly use....

Good morning everyone!


I must say, you've all given me a good impression about this forum. I honestly didn't expect so many people willing to help. I suppose I just haven't gone to the right places for advice!

This time, I'll make sure I address everyone!

Rimshot, that makes a lot of sense. I've heard about that technique before, but never fully understood it enough to implement it. As far as taking one's time, that's the good thing about where I am currently: I have no real urge to make new music, so I'm just remixing older ones in order to learn a few new tricks.
The bottom end is a problem for you and I both. I might be a little strange, I love low end in heavy metal music (think like a dubstep sort of low end,) for instance, so I find myself constantly giving a heavy metal song too much or too little low end.
Thanks for your insight, it definitely does help!

Bapu, you make a good point, I suppose it was improper of me to expect an answer concerning its usefulness. If it's one thing I do know, it's that since day one, I've used analyst tools to make my mixes sound and feel more defined. I've actually been trying to properly mix audio for about five years now, believe it or not! Granted, with varying degrees of success. Nevertheless, now that I think of it, I can see a use for that plugin for many years to come. Currently, I've bought myself some studio monitors (I've been mixing for those five years on the same set of regular desktop speakers) and as such, don't really have any funds in the foreseeable future to buy this plugin. That is the problem with my current financial situation: it's rare I have money, and when I do, I have to be very careful with it. In fact, to be fully honest, I was gifted most of the money for the monitors, and that's the only way I was able to get them.
In either case, as far as time is concerned, I have a few months of nothing but free time, and I definitely plan on using it for learning mixing, as well as a few other assorted projects.

Sharke and Bapu, I noticed they have a sale going on right now when I checked out their multi-analyst tool. $36 is much better for a plugin, so if it does come up, I may have to scrounge up some extra money! Credit companies probably love me by now. So you just need to sign up to a newsletter type of thing to be notified of the new line of discounted plugins?


Thank you all for your time, once again, and for your willingness to assist!
-Hypocrita

Good afternoon!


Here's a thought and question I just had regarding the topic of mixing: is it less about getting a particular sound in the mix, IE more bass, more highs, etc. and more about getting a balance with all the different instruments? So for instance, guitar A is masking guitar B in this frequency, cut it out of guitar B, and bass is masking kick in frequency X, clean it up and remove that frequency in the bass? As opposed to, for instance, kick isn't plump enough in frequency Y, so boost it in that frequency to add some more bass to it?
As far as more bass, more highs, etc. is concerned, is that more for the mastering stage?

I suppose to put it another way, is mixing more about putting the puzzle pieces together, and mastering is adding the picture to the pieces?


Take care!
-Hypocrita