How do I make a natural sounding digital fadeout?

disco2k3 · 1st November 2006

My big problem with digital fadeouts is that the cymbals and other high frequency information stick out in the fade at very low volumes, so instead of sounding like the entire mix is fading into the darkness it sounds like everything gets quiet but the hihat still sticks its head out until the very end. Anybody know what I'm talking about ? What do you do about it?

jeremy.c. · 1st November 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by disco2k3

My big problem with digital fadeouts is that the cymbals and other high frequency information stick out in the fade at very low volumes, so instead of sounding like the entire mix is fading into the darkness it sounds like everything gets quiet but the hihat still sticks its head out until the very end. Anybody know what I'm talking about ? What do you do about it?

I generally pick a few elements I want to fade out last and fade the other stuff out a little more quickly... maybe set up a few busses, fade the higher freq stuff like cymbals out with a downward sloping curve (like a good sleding hill, don't know the proper terminology) and maybe put like the vocal melody or guitar hook or synth hook on a fatter, late sloping curve (like a scary ski hill, more like a fast drop off)...

basically do two different fades and pick what you want to hear last going out, it can be subtle or extreme, mix to taste... rinse, lather, repeat... that stuff...

theblotted · 1st November 2006

while volume is fading out/down, also automate/ride the EQ to fade out/down (e.g., LPF, etc.)

UnderTow · 1st November 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by disco2k3

My big problem with digital fadeouts is that the cymbals and other high frequency information stick out in the fade at very low volumes, so instead of sounding like the entire mix is fading into the darkness it sounds like everything gets quiet but the hihat still sticks its head out until the very end. Anybody know what I'm talking about ? What do you do about it?

What DAW are you using? It could be an issue with undithered fades.

Alistair

dannyschmanny · 1st November 2006

whats been working for me recently oddly enough is automate the master fader...if using a mouse it won't be as smooth so ontop of that do a digital fade but set it over as long of a period of time as you have available to do so... (look and listen for judgement).

disco2k3 · 7th November 2006

Thanks for the responses. The bus system seems like a good idea, although I wonder how you would do that if your drums or high percussion are already grouped to a different bus, seems to require a good amount of foresite and/or sacrifice, but I could see how it would give you a perfect fade.

UnderTow, I'm using DP, but most of the time I do the fadeout in Peak. I'd be interested to hear more about how to dither a fade, but is there a tradeoff with overall mix quality?

I tried low pass automation with a recent mix and it helped, but its still not perfect. Maybe more experimentation with eq curves to imitate the sound of something getting further and further away. Next time I might just try automating in some reverb for the last few seconds to really get in that sense of distance when the mix melts away. Does anyone else get that cold feeling when a digital track just seems to get really quiet and end abruptly or is it just me listening too intently with headphones in the studio? Am I going overboard and crazy? Do the Colts really have the Pats number?

1st November 2006	#1
disco2k3 Gear Head Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 51 Thread Starter	How do I make a natural sounding digital fadeout? My big problem with digital fadeouts is that the cymbals and other high frequency information stick out in the fade at very low volumes, so instead of sounding like the entire mix is fading into the darkness it sounds like everything gets quiet but the hihat still sticks its head out until the very end. Anybody know what I'm talking about ? What do you do about it?

1st November 2006	#3
theblotted Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,304	while volume is fading out/down, also automate/ride the EQ to fade out/down (e.g., LPF, etc.) __________________ "You can imagine where it goes from here." "He fixes the cable?"

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1st November 2006	#5
dannyschmanny Gear nut Joined: Oct 2006 Location: bay area, CA Posts: 103	whats been working for me recently oddly enough is automate the master fader...if using a mouse it won't be as smooth so ontop of that do a digital fade but set it over as long of a period of time as you have available to do so... (look and listen for judgement).

7th November 2006	#6
disco2k3 Gear Head Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 51 Thread Starter	Thanks for the responses. The bus system seems like a good idea, although I wonder how you would do that if your drums or high percussion are already grouped to a different bus, seems to require a good amount of foresite and/or sacrifice, but I could see how it would give you a perfect fade. UnderTow, I'm using DP, but most of the time I do the fadeout in Peak. I'd be interested to hear more about how to dither a fade, but is there a tradeoff with overall mix quality? I tried low pass automation with a recent mix and it helped, but its still not perfect. Maybe more experimentation with eq curves to imitate the sound of something getting further and further away. Next time I might just try automating in some reverb for the last few seconds to really get in that sense of distance when the mix melts away. Does anyone else get that cold feeling when a digital track just seems to get really quiet and end abruptly or is it just me listening too intently with headphones in the studio? Am I going overboard and crazy? Do the Colts really have the Pats number?