Thread: "flat"/"dull" sounding mixes from my DAW

What you are hearing is a lack of understanding of the mix process.

The Tascam indeed does not have mic pres but that would not contribute to the "dull" sound you are hearing.

What you need to understand is how to make a mix full and spatial.
That, takes time and practice to teach your ears the proper frequencies for the overall mix and instruments within.

Also mix techniques to get the overall level and clarity as well. Things like using multi banc compressors, reverbs, group channels and inserts on the master fader.

Remember that what sounds good to you in your environment may not sound good on someone else's speakers. Always listen to the mix in as many places as possibly before saying to yourself that it's the perfect mix(which is very hard to do on the first go about or the 5th go about!)

Opus :D

I wouldn't pan that lead like you are in the first song. The rythm shouldn't be panned and the vox are probably ok where they are if you bring the guitars up.

its weird tho- the first song (revenge of thoth) i didnt "mix" at all really apart from levels of everything (no eq or FX) but on the second song (cross bones) i did use eq to its full and it seems to have turned out even worse.........

perhaps opus is right...........i just need more experience- but i am sure it is the no-existant mic-pres...................but unless i can get a more experienced person (like one of you) round my house to point me in the right direction i dont know what to do............

thanks

are there any good sources from where i can find out about the "mix techniques" you are talking about opus?

Buy and read this book:

http://californiarecording.com/book/book.html

Or watch the DVD's:

http://californiarecording.com/book/video.html

If you want to email me your raw tracks I'd be happy to play around with it.

that would be cool. but i dont think all the files will fit in an email- and how do i isolate the wave sound recordings i want?

arr i think ive done this wrong! right- from now on i must separate the wave sound tracks into each song folder- i have just got a big list of EM now!

because you would need both the cubase project file and all the audio files (quite a few of them!) to go with it right?!

Email a cubase project?! Eeeeek :shock:

Best way to send a project to someone is via an ftp server..

If you are sending a track to someone here's the best way to do this:

compress the entire project folder. I like to use WinRar as it's a very good and fast method of compressing the entire project. This way it sends faster over the internet.

Log on to the ftp and send it!

Now when the person doing the mixing is done all they need to do is send you back the cpr file! Easy as that!

If you want I have an ftp server which I can have you log on to send the project.

One of the things I have done is helped people with mix techniques by showing them what I do with their projects in this exact way!

It may take time to upload the entire session to the ftp but it's worth it in the long run.


Remember this...EQ should be cut not added...the more adding you do the more you are going to change things drastically.

Reverb and compression are your friends!

Opus :D