25-04-2012, 08:37 AM
You can find the multitrack files for this project in the 'Mixing Secrets' Free Multitrack Download Library.
Here's some more project info you might find useful:
If you have any other general questions about this multitrack, just reply to this post and I'll see what I can do.
Before posting a mix, please read The Three Commandments!
Please post your mix as a new thread, rather than as a reply to this sticky.
Please post your mix as a new thread, rather than as a reply to this sticky.
Here's some more project info you might find useful:
- About The Raw Multitracks: This is a lovely-sounding multitrack all round, and also a very nicely paced arrangement, so it's a great one to begin with if you're just getting to grips with the fundamentals of balancing.
- The main live drum take here features stereo overhead mics, supplemented by kick, snare, hi-hat, and two tom close mics. In addition, there's a mixed-percussion overdub featuring conga, tambourine, cymbals, and shaker, all captured with a close mic (which sounds like it's near the conga and tambourine) and a stereo overhead pair.
- The upright string bass on this track is dual-miked, while the acoustic guitar is presented as separate mic and DI tracks.
- Rounding out the arrangement are a track of miked accordion, two different clarinet overdubs, and the lead vocal track.
- The main live drum take here features stereo overhead mics, supplemented by kick, snare, hi-hat, and two tom close mics. In addition, there's a mixed-percussion overdub featuring conga, tambourine, cymbals, and shaker, all captured with a close mic (which sounds like it's near the conga and tambourine) and a stereo overhead pair.
- Challenges You're Likely To Face:
- Even though this multitrack is quite simple, there are still phase considerations to take into account given the multi-mic/DI approach taken with the drumkit, bass, and guitar.
- The ride is quite strong in the tom mics, which might cause balancing difficulties. However, I'm inclined to think it's a blessing in disguise...
- Upright bass is often a little tricky to handle, because there's usually the odd note that seems to boom out over-prominently on most instruments. This applies in this specific case too, despite the fact that the bass capture is pretty nice in a general sense.
- With any acoustic music, one of the tough things is always to try to retain a solid balance and rich sustain without ending up with an over-compressed result.
- Even though this multitrack is quite simple, there are still phase considerations to take into account given the multi-mic/DI approach taken with the drumkit, bass, and guitar.
- Some Mixing Tips: Although I've not mixed this particular track myself, here are some suggestions that come to mind:
- The bass part is likely to need the most careful work in terms of trouble-shooting, in order to deal with some unevenness in the musical line. In particular, the sub-80Hz region feels rather inconsistent -- I suspect that evening that out a bit might be most of the battle won.
- Parallel compression and automation are likely to give the best results on a track like this, because of the way they can add sustain and maintain the balance without wrecking the nuances of the short-term performance dynamics.
- You shouldn't need much in the way of send effects to make this track shine. Indeed, it'd be very good practice to try to build up a mix of this track without any send effects at all.
- This is the kind of track where the vocal is so important that I'd consider automating not just the fader level, but also the EQ if necessary.
- The bass part is likely to need the most careful work in terms of trouble-shooting, in order to deal with some unevenness in the musical line. In particular, the sub-80Hz region feels rather inconsistent -- I suspect that evening that out a bit might be most of the battle won.
If you have any other general questions about this multitrack, just reply to this post and I'll see what I can do.