(audio) Mix exercise - Part 1 - Session preparation

Here's my third mix - slightly tamed the bass more, addressed some of the sibilance, tweaked the panning and did some volume envelopes on the keys and horns to control the dynamics a little better -- slightly less mud overall as well. For me the balance seems better here.... less frantic and more smooth. Not sure if you guys hear that or if it's just me.

@pcrecord I really like the drums and percussion on yours and your BG vocals.

 

Here are the videos showing all steps and decision I made while doing my mix..
In the next weeks I will be working on the mastering (well pseudo-mastering ITB, you all know I'm not an ME)

Mixing part 1 :
Mixing part 2 :
Mixing part 3 :

 

I've just posted the videos of my mixing if you want to know what I did to them.. not much really.

 

Hey, i enjoyed the vids. Nice to see you adressing phase, its an important aspect to things, as mind numbing as it can be to suss out.

This song has a lot of places for effects swells and automation. I have gotten obsesssed over the static balance if things before, forgetting that most of the songs i love are full of fader rides, mutes, and automation.

This vocalist is the perfect cannidate for the summit tla-100 compressor. Its dark, silky sound compliments mid range and top end egde in a perfect way. Ill probably not ever get to own one, but grew fond of it at the studio.

Cheers.!

 

Thanks for the good words..
I know we could go crasy on this mix.. I chose going minimal for simplicity and also keeping the videos lenght down.. But frankly with that many instruments. I fear adding too many effects would just be clouding the song.. Automation of levels, mutes.. Yes, for sure !

I could probably reamp the vocal through a LA-610 and use it's compression... Might be a good experimentation, if I get time.. I could even make the vocal distort for a small part of the song .. eh eh eh !!

 

I hear ya, it took me a while to learn less is more with effects. I got carried away when i got the core 2 duo laptop and it could handle much more effects.

This would be interesting for sure.

 

All right gang.. I'm ready to enter the Mastering phase.. Should I post here or in a new thread ?

 

Post it here.

 

I will do so but, I'd like to change the title of the thread to : Mixing and mastering exercise. It would be more logical..
@audiokid could you do this for me please..

 

Hey gang,
I've done my mastering. Well pseudo mastering, you know I'm not an ME.
Also, I went minimal on it for the sake of keeping the video short and easy to follow..
Any comments are welcome.
I hope you will give a shot at mastering your mixes and put links in this thread.
I will post the mp3 mastered version this evening

 

I included basic mastering in the mixes I posted.

 

All right, here is the complete song mastered at -14LUFS
The video of the making is 2 posts up

 

Oh and here is my mix before the master so you can compare :

 

I started the mixdown and found out (or am I wrong) that the tracks are not time aligned?

Am I to late to join you guys and girls?

 

Im glad you made use of the tape sim in ozone. It really is a grossly underrated sonic enhancement device. Especially for subtle thickening on clean mixes, where you want to be hifi but not sterile. Its funny how few artifacts the proL2 creates. Great Marvel shirt, i might have to bite your style on that one!

 

My first impression mix from the song:

Not mastered yest, stock plugins from Ableton, except for Valhalla Reverb, and Focusrite Red Compressor - no automation yet.

 

Nicely done.. I like your less reverb more focus approach, can't wait to hear your mastered version

 

Thank you PCRecord!!! That means a lot to me.......

I normally do a complete differend genre, do not do many bandrecordings anymore. I had a "classic recording scholing" - attempted the SAE institute in Amsterdam 20 yrs ago, so I still know how to do it LOL.

This is also the first mix I do with the Sonarworks Reference system used.

I will keep you all informed, and will post a "mastered mix". I have no mastering gear, but will do my best.

 

Same here ! I did mine all ITB.. but still a good effort and exercise

 

Mine is done in the box too. I have to admit: I have no outboard gear anymore, except for an old Lexicon MPX-1.

Hereby I post the newest mixed, still not mastered, but now the horns are included LOL. Forgot them on the first mix.