Learning how to mix recordings

[crust_cheese]

Hi guys, I've been wondering about something recently -

Just how realistic is it to learn, on your own, how to mix and master your own tracks? I'm under no illusions here that I could do it quite as well as a trained engineer, but I love the DIY aesthetic and it would be nice to record some music which probably no one would pay for, as in a small black metal project.

EDIT: Should specify here that I also mean "on a shoestring budget", i.e. with USB interfaces and software plugins.

 

[silky smoove]

There are countless resources online for this sort of thing, but nothing beats just doing it. Experience is what creates a good mixer. That and a good room. Forget about fancy preamps and fun rack units. Buy acoustic treatment, especially bass traps, or build them yourself. Get some decent, but not budget-breaking monitors, and then get to it. Your mixes will stink at first, but over time they'll get better.

 

[crust_cheese]

Well, about the room, there's literally about a 0% chance of getting a room I could acoustically treat (egg cartons), which I would think is especially a problem for the drums, as I'd like to need as few microphones as possible and directly record the guitar and bass anyway. I've got a good set of headphones which would work OK as a monitor.

I don't want to commit myself too much financially, really, and am more exploring at this point. Realistically, what I am trying to do at first is actually collaborating with someone else (guitarist) over the internet and probably program the drums, as I haven't got a kit and don't want to spend money on microphones just yet.

 

[silky smoove]

Two things.

1. Egg carton material does nothing for acoustic treatment.

2. When you say drums and mics you're referring to tracking. I was talking about mixing, which is what you mentioned in your initial post. You can mix in a bad room, but I'm of the opinion that you can never really mix well in a bad room. There are plenty of DIY resources for building your own treatments, and ways to install them non-destructively.

 

[twinjet]

Hi guys, I've been wondering about something recently -

Just how realistic is it to learn, on your own, how to mix and master your own tracks? I'm under no illusions here that I could do it quite as well as a trained engineer, but I love the DIY aesthetic and it would be nice to record some music which probably no one would pay for, as in a small black metal project.

EDIT: Should specify here that I also mean "on a shoestring budget", i.e. with USB interfaces and software plugins.

I'd say it's doable. Just plan on lots of time on YouTube.

 

[Shanebo]

I just started on this path over the last few days, with the same preference for budget.

Using Audacity (free, open-source) with my PC, it is amazing how much I've been able to learn in just a few days of plugging away at it. Getting my mind around how to make duplicate tracks to work on without changing (until I want to) the original wav files, adding and subtracting time from a track, lining up with the click track (a must-have, IMO), and even taking one tasty kick drum measure and making 15-second chorus loops out of it has been an absolute treat!

My band has begun recording a steady stream of originals, and the DIY mix approach will have untold benefits for us, not the least of which is saving money. We have access to great recording equipment, and can lay down tracks with relative ease that are in the right format to work with on any DAW. Starting with good initial tracks, and recording a click track as its own track while recording to it, is one huge thing. If you don't use a click to reference--forget it if you want it to sound tight.

Little things like taking unwanted breaths out of the vocal track during instrumental sections is cool, as is panning left and right toms to their respective sides.

Not yet into much in the way of heavy EQ'ing or overdubbing with additional harmony vocals, but that's just a matter of time.

I haven't spent a dime yet, and until I need a mic (or whatever else), I can certainly get a lot of the initial mixing chores done. Then, if desired, that set of tracks can go to someone who can master it to get the most out of it that I don't know how to do. Plus, just getting another set of ears on it can't hurt.

YouTube is definitely a big help to learn how to get around on the software, and for learning many shortcuts with the keyboard/mouse so you can work faster with both hands.

All the best,

Shane

 

[prd004]

I have good news for you, the greatest mix engineers in the world all started as beginners

The best tip I can offer is this:
Avoid the temptation to solo individual tracks and EQ the perfect bass sound, or guitar sound, or snare sound etc.

EQ to the mix. By this I mean when you are EQ'ing the snare drum, do it with the whole mix running. This way the snare will sit nicely within the mix.
Do this for all tracks and your mixes will sound much better

 

[prd004]

PS monitors are perhaps your most important piece of gear.
Get the best ones you can afford!

 

[Shanebo]

I have good news for you, the greatest mix engineers in the world all started as beginners

The best tip I can offer is this:
Avoid the temptation to solo individual tracks and EQ the perfect bass sound, or guitar sound, or snare sound etc.

EQ to the mix. By this I mean when you are EQ'ing the snare drum, do it with the whole mix running. This way the snare will sit nicely within the mix.
Do this for all tracks and your mixes will sound much better

I bolded the key phrase, and totally agree.

As bass players, I think we have an advantage with maybe having a sense of how to EQ our instrument to not be muddy in a mix--"because that sound that is so great in my practice room isn't cutting through."

Shane

 

[old spice]

Please check this site out when you have a chance:
Invalid Link Removed
RIP Tweakhead

 

[prd004]

Buy this book

The Musicians Guide To Home Recording

It will help you with every phase of the process and it's not too technical

 

[sratas]

It's almost 10 years from the beginning of my journey as a sound guy behind the desk.
I studied on text books, performed courses and did a lot of trial and error...tried daws, plugins, mics etc.
after all that, I'm at a point that i make my own mixes and from other bands too. In one occasion, my mixes has been produced and distributed under a little european label.
I'm proud of my passion for recording and the results and I would never let others do this kind of job on my music. I actually shape recordings according to my taste, a thing that's impossible to have if someone else edits and masters...
i must warn...it's like a rabbit hole. The journey is hard and there is an absolute need for blind passion to get pro level results.
just to speak...apart from some plugins, selected trough years of trials, my activity has been quite cheap. A low-medium quality condenser mic for voices, a 70 euros pre for mics and acoustic instruments, no external audio interface because I use the mac's onboard one that's very good indeed, a daw and that'all...

 

[Luke19Boarder]

The two best resources that I've used are this website:

The Recording Revolution

and this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Mixing-Secrets-Small-Studio-Senior/dp/0240815807

I highly recommend both for getting into the world of budget recording.

 

[Venom of God]

small black metal project.

All you need is a two channel interface (UR22 could be a good start), SM57 (or similar) and a cheap LDC (AKG P220 would be another good start, P120 if you want to save some cash). Use the 57 for guitars, bass (or DI) and vocals. Use the AKG above the kit with the 57 in the kick for drums. That is going to be a great start which could even possibly be overkill for BM, but you've got some versatile mics for recording other stuff too. UR22 comes with a version of Cubase to use as your DAW. Look into some sort of plugin for saturation.

I was in a black metal band ten years ago, and we recorded instruments on these cheap, crappy, internet SM58 rip-offs into an old four track tape recorder. Levels and panning were sorted on the unit then moved over into Audacity and vocals were tracked with the same mic into that, where reverb was added. It was total rubbish but demo tapes of that band sell on eBay for over $50 now. ***?

 

[Venom of God]

Just read your post properly and realised you were only really talking about mixing. For your needs, not hard to learn. BM is all about finding your own sound (while retaining that raw, DIY feel) so there isn't really any right or wrong. Just play around until you like it, we're not talking pop music here.

 

[Fondsdale]

Do you already have gear? If your room isn't treated you'd probably be better off buying some good headphones over studio monitors (assuming you can't afford both).

 

[cnltb]

Two things.

1. Egg carton material does nothing for acoustic treatment.

2. When you say drums and mics you're referring to tracking. I was talking about mixing, which is what you mentioned in your initial post. You can mix in a bad room, but I'm of the opinion that you can never really mix well in a bad room. There are plenty of DIY resources for building your own treatments, and ways to install them non-destructively.

i've had good results with egg cartons.
Depends on how it's done.
A blanket statement like yours doesn't help.

 

[Timi]

10000 hours, get started! Tutorials and your own experimentation will teach you how to use the gear but the thing that will take you the longest (and can't really be taught) is how to listen.

If you don't use a click to reference--forget it if you want it to sound tight.

Haha, tell that to James Brown's band. Or if you want a rock example, Evil Empire by Rage Against The Machine is pretty "tight".

i've had good results with egg cartons.
Depends on how it's done.
A blanket statement like yours doesn't help.

Egg cartons will only absorb high frequencies, this can help with some flutter echos/pinging but nothing else, and if you have those problems you almost certainly have problems in lower frequencies. Also they're a fire risk.

 

[cnltb]

10000 hours, get started! Tutorials and your own experimentation will teach you how to use the gear but the thing that will take you the longest (and can't really be taught) is how to listen.


Haha, tell that to James Brown's band. Or if you want a rock example, Evil Empire by Rage Against The Machine is pretty "tight".



Egg cartons will only absorb high frequencies, this can help with some flutter echos/pinging but nothing else, and if you have those problems you almost certainly have problems in lower frequencies. Also they're a fire risk.

I don't use them to absorb as much as to avoid standing waves.
No fire risk here.

 

[Timi]

I don't use them to absorb as much as to avoid standing waves.

That makes no sense, you avoid standing waves by absorbing frequencies rather than letting them reflect back into the room. Standing waves are also most noticeable in the lows and low mids, if you look at some absorption coefficient tests for egg cartons you will see they are doing practically nothing in these ranges.