Please Read "Welcome"--Thanks!

[Charles Dye]

Hi everyone!

A little bit about myself:

My name is Charles Dye and I'm an engineer, mixer + producer based out of Miami, Florida. I've been making records with Pro Tools as the sole multi-track for about eight years now, and in the last six most of my mixes have been done completely inside Pro Tools with no external console or outboard gear. DAW's have changed the way we all make records today and I'm a big believer in helping others to learn how to get the most out of this new and sometimes challenging technology.

Last year I completed a column Hard Disk Life that was featured in Digidesign's excellent educational e-zine DIGIZINE. It was essentially a twelve month course in mixing with Pro Tools. We mixed a song online, going through it a track at a time, discussing the plug-ins, FX's + automation. Most of the techniques we discussed are applicable to users of any platform. So whether you use PT or not, you may want to check it out. See the index below to access the columns.

My website charlesdye.com is another place where I like to share as much as I can about engineering, mixing, plug-ins and basically getting the most out of Pro Tools.


About guest modding here @ GEARSLUTZ:

It's great to be back as a guest mod again. Thank you very much to Jules for the invitation. The main goal of our forum this month is education. To share our techniques with one another and hopefully everybody will learn something new. I learned a lot last time + I'm sure I will this time. What I'd like to do is continue the discussions from where we left off previously. If you weren't here for our last forum you may read it at the Guest Moderator archive (see links below). And I'd also like to answer questions that weren't answered in Hard Disk Life. If you haven't read the column yet there are links to all of them below.

The five areas I'd love to discuss are:

• Mixing
• Pro Tools

But not necessarily just mixing in Pro Tools. And:

• Each Other's Mixes via Posted MP3's
• DAW Record Making Techniques
• Whatever You Want To

As far as mixing, I do mixes on SSL's, Neve's + PT. It's not so much the format I enjoy talking about, it's the process of mixing (regardless of platform) that really excites me. Sharing with others what I've learned about it, and learning from them is something I really enjoy. So, I'd love to discuss both tips + techniques that are specific to DAW's, but also techniques that apply to any platform.

As a way of continuing HDL I'd like to have people post their mixes so we can discuss them. You can tell us what you are trying to accomplish, and we can all make suggestions or ask you about techniques you used. And it doesn't have to be a finished mix either. It would be great fun to begin with a rough mix, discuss it, make suggestions, and listen to the mix in stages as you continue to work on it. Similar to HDL, but with your mix.

I'd also like to share techniques about working on Pro Tools that apply to the entire record making process from tracking to editing to vocal comping (+ "tweaking").

And any topic you want to discuss is fine by me, but let's try to keep the posts more towards the educational + less towards the same ole arguments we've all read before. Sharing ideas is great. Trying to convince someone they're wrong, that's probably not gonna be very productive. I don't think anybody here this month is about to finally see the light + realize that DAW's suck. That ship has sailed. We're here because we've made our mind up on that question and we'd like to learn from others who work with the same tools we do.

For my part, I'll do my best to answer any questions in the most helpful way I know how. I really enjoy sharing knowledge, and I'm always listening to learn something new. My skills improve nearly everyday I'm in the studio, and my knowledge grows nearly every time I'm on the web. So, share with us all your techniques for mixing, Pro Tools, and DAW record making, together with MP3's of your mixes. I'm here because I want to exchange ideas with other musicians, engineers, mixers + producers. So share anything you feel we can learn from. I for one am all ears.


Suggestions About Posting:

We have no rules for our forum this month, but I'd like to pass along two things I always try to keep in mind:

• It's not what you say, but how you say it that makes the difference.
• Courtesy + respect are the lubricants of life.

I would never want you to refrain from posting with great emotion, emphasis, or conviction. Some of the best posts come from the heart. I just ask that you please do so with respect towards those you are addressing.

Thanks a lot.

Let's have fun, share our ideas, + learn as much as we can.


If you are new to this group the links below are so you can catch up on our previous forum + read the Hard Disk Life mixing series.


Guest Moderator archives - Charles Dye (Nov 2002):

• Page 10
  
  Page 11
  
  Page 12
  
  Page 13
  
  Page 14

Index of Hard Disk Life mixing columns:

• Welcome to the Pro Tools Generation
  Mixing for the Masses?
  
  Getting Great Sounds
  It's Not All About Technical Skill
  
  Suggested PT Session Interchange Guidelines
  Making the PT World a Better Place
  
  Now That Sounds Like a Record
  And You Can Get That Sound
  
  Distortion of Reality
  It's Really Not Such a Bad Thing
  
  Every Mixer Tells a Story
  Drums Set the Stage
  
  Keeping Your Mix Fresh
  With Bass + Guitars
  
  Start Making Sense
  Mixing Keyboards
  
  The Power of Clarity
  Solo/Lead Instruments + Background Vocals
  
  The Star Treatment
  Lead + Harmony Vocals
  
  The Big Picture... Show
  Stereo Bus Processing
  
  Making Magic Happen
  Automation

[Jamz]

Hi Charles
Let's assume that all tracks are recorded very well.
Live instruments...Rock.
Can you offer tips,suggestions,plug-ins you utilize to help define the kick drum and bass.
I typically aim for a solid tight bottom. The balance between "no mud" and "Too thin" is always a challenge.

[Shan]

Great to see you back Charles. Your 'Hard Disk Life' in Digizine was great. Hope you can do another. Everyone at the DUC always asks or refers to it. I have used many of your techniques and mixed my first album all in the box. The clients are very happy with it.

I was wondering if you are using anything new in the plug-in world now that we have some great plugs out there such as Eventide clockworks, Impact, Waves IR-1 Convolution Reverb etc. I myself am really liking the new Focusrite Forte plug. Let us know. Thanks.

Shane

[Charles Dye]

Jamz,

I'll answer your question in the other thread you started.

[Charles Dye]

Shane,

Thanks. I'm glad to be back + appreciate your compliments re HDL. Congratulations on the album you just mixed. It's always extremely satisfying when the clients are happy.

I'd love to hear one of your mixes. Could you possibly post an MP3?

Re a new HDL: I hope to continue writing like that in the future, when I find the time. But mean while I continue to mix on PT + am always finding new ways to do things. I hope to share as many as I can this month.

Re new plugs: I've added some plugs, though not the ones you've mentioned yet. How is the Forte? I'm really looking forward to trying it.

Thanks.

[Jamz]

Hi Charles
A quick note on the Forte.
For me...It sounds like a Focusrite. Moreso Than the D2/D3.
The plug-in is not available in stereo. Only the individual components are.
The compressor's threshold starts at -10. Way too aggressive for me. Kevin Miller at Digi suggested that the input be set at -10 to compensate.

I really like Cranesong's Pheonix. You like DUY Tape and AC...I believe you'll really like Phoenix.

Now that URS updated their plugs, which now includes input/output metering and level increments of tenths of a db it is mush more "usable". Even if it's not excatly the way the original was setup.

[krid]

Originally posted by Charles Dye
But mean while I continue to mix on PT + am always finding new ways to do things.

Charles could you explain what you want to say on this subject ?

[Charles Dye]

Originally posted by krid
Charles could you explain what you want to say on this subject ?

krid,

Basically that's why I'm here this month: to talk about mixing + DAW's. Many of my posts will probably be about mixing techniques, how I use plug-ins, etc. And I'm very willing to answer questions you may have on any topic. So, please ask away.

As well, I'll answer all questions first, but if I see any topics that aren't being brought up I'll start a thread.

[krid]

OK thanks Charles. I think that we are all interested into the "new ways to do things" as we already learned a lot from your experiences.
Don't hesitate to start your own thread if there are specific things that you would like to share or speak.
I would be interested to speak about the recording process and techniques as the subject was not brought before.

[5down1up]

hi charles , nice that your back ...

have a good time !

[Charles Dye]

5down1up,

Good to be back, and nice to see you again as well. I'm really looking forward to this month.

Thanks.

[TheHexagon]

Are the MP3's from Hard Disk Life still available somewhere? The link at the end of each article says they're no longer available after 4/1/03.

[Shan]

Originally posted by TheHexagon
Are the MP3's from Hard Disk Life still available somewhere? The link at the end of each article says they're no longer available after 4/1/03.

A bunch of us DUC members got all the HDL sessions together and put them up on a server because the are very very popular.

Shane

[TheHexagon]

Two questions: (a) what's DUC and (b) can I download them?

Thanks,

Hex

[Jamz]

Digidesign Users Conference.

[TheHexagon]

Thanks, went to DUC and now I understand.

They're PT sessions! I'm a Sonar guy but still am trying to learn all about "in-the-box" mixing. So I'll just read the articles.

[Carl Jensen]

Originally posted by TheHexagon
Thanks, went to DUC and now I understand.

They're PT sessions! I'm a Sonar guy but still am trying to learn all about "in-the-box" mixing. So I'll just read the articles.

Hex,

The MP3's are still posted on the Digi site, it's the PT sessions that aren't available. I'm a Sonar guy myself and I still go back to the HDL articles every time I mix. I also downloaded all the MP3's and articles just in case Digi decides to take them down.

Carl Jensen

[Alchemy]

Hard Disk Life - SUPER!

[Charles Dye]

Originally posted by Carl Jensen
I'm a Sonar guy myself and I still go back to the HDL articles every time I mix.

Carl,

That's really nice of you to say. I'm glad that as a Sonar user the column was helpful to you as well. I worked hard to make it not just PT applicable.

[Charles Dye]

Originally posted by Alchemy
Hard Disk Life - SUPER!

Alchemy,

Thank you very much. Are you really from Russia, or are you joking? My grandfather immigrated from Russia.

[TheHexagon]

Charles, I too (another Sonar-kinda-guy) am finding HDL quite valuable. Thanks for sharing your expertise. I've been mixing "in-the-box" with a Yamaha DSP Factory since 1999 and am always looking for wisdom. (p.s. I was finally able to download the MP3s!)

[Charles Dye]

TheHexagon,

Thank you very much. I'm glad you could download the MP3s.

[Carl Jensen]

Originally posted by Charles Dye
Thank you very much. I'm glad you could download the MP3s.

Charles,

Speaking of MP3's...we traded e-mails last year in regard to you possibly posting MP3's for the September 2002 HDL column 'Drums Set The Stage'. As the series evolved you started posting more pre/post MP3's and detailed plugin settings.

I can appreciate how busy you are and that it may not be doable at this point, but I thought I'd throw it out there. BTW, any idea when the Crease CD is going to be released? Is the 'Live To Be In Love' mix completely redone for the CD?

Thanks,

Carl Jensen

[Alchemy]

Originally posted by Charles Dye
Alchemy,

Thank you very much. Are you really from Russia, or are you joking?

Yes, I’m really from Russia! My name’s Ilya Prokhorov. I’ve just written an e-mail to you…

[Charles Dye]

Originally posted by Alchemy
Yes, I’m really from Russia! My name’s Ilya Prokhorov. I’ve just written an e-mail to you…

Man, I love the internet! Got your email + wrote you back. Thanks.

[WFTurner]

Just wanted to say I spent all last night and this morning reading your Hard Disk Life series and what a wonderful series it is. I don't
use PT rather Sonar but it's all relative. Thanks for all the info.

WFTurner

[Charles Dye]

William,

Thank you and your very welcome. It's really great hearing from people who have just found the column. I never really imagined I would still be getting feedback.

Thanks.

[mcsnare]

Charles,
I wanted to tell you how much I've enjoyed the set of articles on mixing. Your clarity of thought and analysis on such a complex subject as mixing is invaluble. I really love the way you have picked apart and reduced mixing to the essence. Keep up the great work.
Dave McNair