13-01-2014, 11:01 AM
I am self-taught both in video/film editing and audio engineering, having been experimenting with audio and video since my teen years back in the 1980s.
My guiding principle in mixing I call the "principle of least treatment."
Having heard the crystal clean sound of CDs from the earliest days of consumer digital sound in the 80s, comparing it to the overprocessed, overcompressed mess many commercial mixes are today, I have come to believe that current mixing techniques rely too heavily on processing, particularly in the use/abuse of compression in mastering.
In general, I go as gently as possible on all processing, using only the minimum EQ, automation and compression necessary to get everything to blend smoothly, and under no circumstances do I EVER apply processing or compression of ANY kind at the mastering stage; my goal is to preserve 100% of the dynamics of the original recording.
I joined this forum in order to get all of YOUR thoughts on what I've done with these multitracks. Criticism is welcome so long as its polite and constructive.
I already did Johnny Lokke's "Whisper to a Scream," which is also posted in that thread. Personally, I like this one better; not only are the tracks of higher quality (Mr. Lokke himself has said that the tracks for "Whisper" were only demo quality) but this song has a more dynamic feel to it, and much more evocative of that 80's hard rock style I just love.
One problem, though, that I'd like some opinions on. When Johnny hits the higher register in his vocals towards the end his voice shifts to the left. This is not something I did; it's something I noticed after the mixdown was complete. I double checked and there was no problem with the panning automation (I didn't use any). The only thing I can figure is some of the fundamental frequencies of his voice must be masked in the right channel somehow. But I can't seem to find the culprit.
Anyone have any ideas on this?
Opinions on the mix otherwise?
My guiding principle in mixing I call the "principle of least treatment."
Having heard the crystal clean sound of CDs from the earliest days of consumer digital sound in the 80s, comparing it to the overprocessed, overcompressed mess many commercial mixes are today, I have come to believe that current mixing techniques rely too heavily on processing, particularly in the use/abuse of compression in mastering.
In general, I go as gently as possible on all processing, using only the minimum EQ, automation and compression necessary to get everything to blend smoothly, and under no circumstances do I EVER apply processing or compression of ANY kind at the mastering stage; my goal is to preserve 100% of the dynamics of the original recording.
I joined this forum in order to get all of YOUR thoughts on what I've done with these multitracks. Criticism is welcome so long as its polite and constructive.
I already did Johnny Lokke's "Whisper to a Scream," which is also posted in that thread. Personally, I like this one better; not only are the tracks of higher quality (Mr. Lokke himself has said that the tracks for "Whisper" were only demo quality) but this song has a more dynamic feel to it, and much more evocative of that 80's hard rock style I just love.
One problem, though, that I'd like some opinions on. When Johnny hits the higher register in his vocals towards the end his voice shifts to the left. This is not something I did; it's something I noticed after the mixdown was complete. I double checked and there was no problem with the panning automation (I didn't use any). The only thing I can figure is some of the fundamental frequencies of his voice must be masked in the right channel somehow. But I can't seem to find the culprit.
Anyone have any ideas on this?
Opinions on the mix otherwise?