26-06-2013, 03:22 AM
Hi, David.
There's a very full range of frequencies in the tracks themselves, but, unfortunately, they've not translated over in this particular mix very well at all. I don't mean to sound harsh, but try not to 'emulate' a particular style / genre and use that as the guiding light to direct you towards what a mix 'should' sound like. Your mix will 'evolve' quite nicely on its own - and your own creative input will will make sure that happens over time as your experience grows. Put your own 'stamp' on the mix. It all takes time - and we're all still learning no matter how long we've been doing this stuff.
I 'know' this mix too and would suggest starting with the drums and bass to get the foundation and solidity of the song - and then work (or 'hang') the instrumentation and vocals on that solid structure you've just created. It's a relatively easy song to work on. Don't feel disheartened if your own mix doesn't sound as 'strong' or sound 'thicker' - or 'louder' than some others at this stage. Making a mix 'louder' is easy these days - but the problem is that 'bad' mixes do not become good ones because they're perceivably louder. Getting the initial mix properly balanced and sounding good should come way before putting anything on the master buss to create that loudness. It will just reveal how bad a mix is too.
Putting too much reverb on anything will just 'smear' the sound and make it harder to distinguish one instument from another. Once you've done that, EQ becomes pretty useless. I can guarantee that when you can mix 'dry' (without reverb), it makes it a whole lot easier to use EQ. In time you'll learn just how little reverb is needed and your mixes will take on a new clarity.
I hope this helps a bit :o)
There's a very full range of frequencies in the tracks themselves, but, unfortunately, they've not translated over in this particular mix very well at all. I don't mean to sound harsh, but try not to 'emulate' a particular style / genre and use that as the guiding light to direct you towards what a mix 'should' sound like. Your mix will 'evolve' quite nicely on its own - and your own creative input will will make sure that happens over time as your experience grows. Put your own 'stamp' on the mix. It all takes time - and we're all still learning no matter how long we've been doing this stuff.
I 'know' this mix too and would suggest starting with the drums and bass to get the foundation and solidity of the song - and then work (or 'hang') the instrumentation and vocals on that solid structure you've just created. It's a relatively easy song to work on. Don't feel disheartened if your own mix doesn't sound as 'strong' or sound 'thicker' - or 'louder' than some others at this stage. Making a mix 'louder' is easy these days - but the problem is that 'bad' mixes do not become good ones because they're perceivably louder. Getting the initial mix properly balanced and sounding good should come way before putting anything on the master buss to create that loudness. It will just reveal how bad a mix is too.
Putting too much reverb on anything will just 'smear' the sound and make it harder to distinguish one instument from another. Once you've done that, EQ becomes pretty useless. I can guarantee that when you can mix 'dry' (without reverb), it makes it a whole lot easier to use EQ. In time you'll learn just how little reverb is needed and your mixes will take on a new clarity.
I hope this helps a bit :o)