Gearslutz.com - View Single Post - Modern Mixing for Volume aka How do I get that modern ass sound?

glitch · 4th July 2006, 09:16 AM

So, I was listening to My Chemical Romance. Good material, but appalling production.

How does one go about creating a completely lifeless, mechanical, dull sound?

The question is serious.

I need a step by step. We can then use that as a what not to do when you're mixing list.

Now, I've not been able to hear any of these recordings in a mixed but unmastered state, so the effects are compounded by mastering, I'm sure.

Some Observations:

Kick drum level is high, but the kick is not punchy, nor does it produce much low end. It's simply loud and dull and "middy".

Kick and Snare sound as though they were performed by a drum machine that didn't have multisamples or any velocity sensitivity.

Guitars do not have much above 3kHz and don't seem to have that 90's 3k bump for bite.

Overheads are similarly dull and HP'd and LP'd like the kick. No punch.

Vocal is the brightest part of the mix, but still not particularly bright. Vocal has an amazing amount of compression and very little reverb.

Whispers are louder than screaming.

The end result is very dull sounding, void of ANY volume change whatsoever by ANY instrument, and not punchy. However, it's loud.

Questions:

Maybe it's dull because the ME's rolling off the highs so they don't oversaturate and clip so much?

Why have there been better sounding records that were louder?

How does one go about mixing and mastering to create one of these ass-sounding albums? Seriously.

Can we break it appart?

How can I get that kick tone?

How can I tell that I'm not getting anything resembling "bright"?

Are albums like this mastered in stems?

How do I get that vocal sound?

How much highs and lows do I roll off of each instrument and where?

4th July 2006, 09:16 AM	#1
glitch Lives for gear Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,270	Modern Mixing for Volume aka How do I get that modern ass sound? So, I was listening to My Chemical Romance. Good material, but appalling production. How does one go about creating a completely lifeless, mechanical, dull sound? The question is serious. I need a step by step. We can then use that as a what not to do when you're mixing list. Now, I've not been able to hear any of these recordings in a mixed but unmastered state, so the effects are compounded by mastering, I'm sure. Some Observations: Kick drum level is high, but the kick is not punchy, nor does it produce much low end. It's simply loud and dull and "middy". Kick and Snare sound as though they were performed by a drum machine that didn't have multisamples or any velocity sensitivity. Guitars do not have much above 3kHz and don't seem to have that 90's 3k bump for bite. Overheads are similarly dull and HP'd and LP'd like the kick. No punch. Vocal is the brightest part of the mix, but still not particularly bright. Vocal has an amazing amount of compression and very little reverb. Whispers are louder than screaming. The end result is very dull sounding, void of ANY volume change whatsoever by ANY instrument, and not punchy. However, it's loud. Questions: Maybe it's dull because the ME's rolling off the highs so they don't oversaturate and clip so much? Why have there been better sounding records that were louder? How does one go about mixing and mastering to create one of these ass-sounding albums? Seriously. Can we break it appart? How can I get that kick tone? How can I tell that I'm not getting anything resembling "bright"? Are albums like this mastered in stems? How do I get that vocal sound? How much highs and lows do I roll off of each instrument and where?