Does anyone have the formula for a good mix....

[ryan9999]

I am only 18 years old, but i have been mixing and producing for almost 4 years now. I have a pro-tools mixplus24 core system. I mix my material, yet it still doesnt sound as professional as the material on professional CD's do. I listen to my mix then a/b it to pro mixes, and i can hear the difference immedidatly.


I moreless am looking for Formula's to create a great mix
Compression
Equalization
Effects
...On Sounds vocals, etc...

[David Klausner]

Hello Ryan,

Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for great mixes (I guess if there were, folks like Bob Clearmountain would be out of a job!). You can find some ideas on how to proceed under the "Mixing Tips" thread on this forum, but my advice would be to try to zero in on specifics - what aspects of the sound do your mixes lack that the "pro" ones seem to have? By breaking things down to their components, you may have an easier time making improvements than you would by looking for more general tips, and it will be easier for other folks to be able to give you some helpful advice. Please feel free to ask any more specific questions (such as "My vocals sound thin - how do I get that rich sound I hear on so-and-so's CD?") on these forums - there are a lot of accumulated years of mixing wisdom out there.

[largon203]

David Kllausner is 100% correct in there is no formula for a great mix but you can build your skills by reading Paul white's Sound on sound Creative recording series. Starting with Basic recording techniques, then move to Creative recording Vol. 1, vol.2, and all his other books. and believe you me, he's one of many good & exelent engineers. :-)

Dave K.

[JMAC]

I have the formula but it will cost a ton of money!!!

Just kidding....

Everyone is looking for that magic box / recorder / amp / microphone / effects unit / lantern that genie's in! Unfortunately it doesn't exist.... yet (but Sweetwater is looking for it so they can start selling it!!).

I do not have the magic formula, but might be able to give you some tips for starters that may help. First of all I've been recording for about 10-12 years (man, am I that old?) so I've been where you're at (actually I'm there everytime I sit down to mix). So take this for what it's worth:

K.I.S.S. (not the band) Keep it simple stupid! Has always been my moto when approaching the mix. Flatten the EQ and start from scratch.

Less is MORE!!! It's amazing how backing out a snare drum in the mix during a guitar solo seems to give the guitar room to sing!! This goes for the effects as well!! A little goes a long way.

Do several mixes!!! I usually try to mix a 3-5 minute song in 20-30 minutes. I locate all my mute points and fade parameters and memorize the pattern (or tell the computer where to memorize). Then do not touch the song until the next day and mix it again. Then mix again the next day. I usually listen to the mixes a couple of times and make notes on what is lacking or too prominent. Then try to correct those things with the following mix attempts.

These are some simple tips that have helped me in my search for audio excellence. Hope they help!

[alphajerk]

the magic formula is time+determination+patience.

making something thats passable is easy, making something sound great can take a lifetime.

"guys, it takes a lifetime to just get just a BIT closer..."
George Massenburg

[Ernest828]

The Perfect Mix does not exist. My advice is to consistently listen to albums over and over again. And not just any albums, but albums that have made history. There`s a reason for that. Also, get U2`s new album, Shawn Colvin`s last two, (whatever music you`re into) and listen to whats going on. I listen to the same albums over and over again, I try to get the melodies, feel and instrumentation the first time. Then I listen for rhythms, chords, harmonies, whatever. After a while you can hear the compression, slight reverbs, breathes, etc...

Bob Clearmountain`s mixes are not perfect, because there`s no such thing but he does get the feeling of the song across to the listener. Of course it helps when you`re mixing Bruce Springsteen. Seriously, what I found about my early mixes was that I was doing too much. Let the instruments you recorded speak for themselves. Alot of my better mixes are good because I captured the sound before pressing record. That`s a big help. Then when you mix, the instruments sound is already there.

Another piece of advice I can give is to read alot. MIX books makes some great books on the subject. In these books you`ll get pro`s talking about their techniques, their mentality in approaching a mix.
Some of the best mixes are rough ones so... On the other hand some of the best mixes take days.


Honestly though, if the songs suck, nobody cares about the mix. (Thats why it helps when you`re mixing Springsteen)

[alphajerk]

man, i just re-read this post... a freaking 18yo with a mix+ system!!! jeezus, i owned a cassette 4 track when i was that old. i recorded hundreds upon hundreds of bands on that thing by the time i was 18, used it until i was @ 23 maybe...

[Ernest828]

Dude,

Along the lines of what alphajerk said, if you`ve got a 24 mix plus at the age of 18, you can surely afford the following alternatives.

1.) Buy/read and practice from the following books:
a. The Art of Mixing
b. The Audio pro Home Recording Course, books 1-3
c. The Mixing Engineers Handbook
(all titles available from MIX Books)

2.) Go to an Audio Recording School.

3.) Buy a cheap 4 track cassette recorder, a really cheap mic and forget Pro Tools. Start from scratch and learn the hard way. The metaphor here is you can have a Steinway piano and not know how to play and then have a Casio keyboard and have Billy Joel playing. You may have the tools but not the know how, (at least not yet).

4.) Forget all this nonsense and hire Bob Clearmountain to do your mixes. :)

Peace,
Ernest