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Originally Posted by JohnNy C Ok Dave,
first thing's first. Take the compressor off of your master fader. Only use compression if it adds a tonal quality you like. Let's remember that electronic music is sequenced and compression is used to raise and lower levels at a rapid pace. So think of it, why would you need a compressor on something that has good levels to begin with, IF you sequenced it that way? Next, USE YOUR FILTERS! I think of filters as the electronic musicians equivalent of an engineers EQ. Which they ARE EQs, to the extreme if you catch me. Anyway, use your filters to place that particular sound where you want it in the mix. Cut WHATEVER you don't need especially if you are making thicker music. Because whatever you cut out of one sound will most definitely be filled by another. Secondly, use your paning and levels wisely. Paning something can clear things up tramendously and it really gives the mix balance and definition. Next, use your reverb wisely. Of course us electronic musicians go ape shit for reverb. I don't like to go overboard with it though. Enough to make my mix sound full and set certain elements in the rear of the speakers. Finally, automation is key to what makes a good electronic music song come to life... give it character. When things are moving, filtering, panning, that's what mkaes the commmon listeners brain trigger and sub conciously say, hmm, I don't know how they did that, but things are changing, moving. I find using filter, panning, level, and even effect send automation to define you and your style. But use it tastefully, just like anyhting else.
It also all depends on how you like to work. Some people like to compose then mix like the standard way in a pro studio. I however mix while composing as I explained above. I find this way I spend the time up front and get my mix right from the get go. That was I find at mix-down, I don't need much effects, EQing or compression. I may add some things here and there to fill things out. Anyway, that is all subjective. I fount that as I became more and mroe experienced, making mixes sound good and pwerful became easier and easier. I knew how to get what I wanted with a certain sound and what to add where. I think that all comes with time and experience. Dave, if you would like I can take a listen to come mixes of yours and tell you where your going wrong or where to improve. |
great tips. !!
i might add side chain compresion tricks. u can hear it a lot in electro house and trance and well electronic music en general .
i sidechain almost everything to the kick!. the basses (of course more than one bass) and pads. i have in my template a kik track muted so i can easily assign it when i am working the basses pads etc.
it works wonders if you have a insert reverb or delay efx and then a compresion side chained to the kick and mess with the atack and realses settings.
another way is to send everything except the kik to a aux track and on that track add a L2 type limiter plug and over compress it until it distorts and then have the side chain compressor to the kik. bounce a few bars and normalize everything and comp the bounced file to taste.
this type of trick find fasinating and opens a lot to creativity. thats why i'm for the electronic music forum in GS. besides
GS can get some $$ for adds realted to electronic music like softsynths, synths etc. (wink wink jules)
i like to listen to paul van dyk, mauro picotto, deep dish and well i'm getting into electro house and trying to weed out crap and good so if you guys know some great electro house producers or DJ please tell