What instrument typically gets started first during the mix?

[dhiltonlittle]

for me it really depends on the style and most of all the particular track i'm working with.

in most cases, with a hip hop/rnb track i like to start with the drums, then vocals, then bass. everything else falls in place a a lot easier once those elements are in place for me.

[Methlab]

For a song, I like to start with vocals and drums.

For a beat, I get the kick and snare right first.

[djblah]

same here... drums, bass, vox

[rickrock305]

generally drums. kick and snare, then bass, then any other drums i put in roughly, then vocals, then go back and polish up drums and bass, then all the other stuff.

[jedilaw]

Drums, bass, melodic hook (lead synth), tonal rhythmic elements (arpegiators or trancegated synths), pads.

[smoke]

I start with no idea what I want, load up a synth or rompler and try and create a patch until the inspiration comes. Sometimes a certain patch will call for a certain key or tone, and you go with it. Get a melody going, and make a beat to it. Or sometimes you have to adjust the drums so they drive the rhythm 1st, but that depends on the type of beat. For me making drums first limits musical possibility.

[coyotekells]

Originally Posted by smoke

I start with no idea what I want, load up a synth or rompler and try and create a patch until the inspiration comes. Sometimes a certain patch will call for a certain key or tone, and you go with it. Get a melody going, and make a beat to it. Or sometimes you have to adjust the drums so they drive the rhythm 1st, but that depends on the type of beat. For me making drums first limits musical possibility.

When mixing, he said

I usually start with everything at once.. I bounce around a lot and build things up in tandom.. but vocals are very important

[smoke]

Originally Posted by coyotekells

When mixing, he said

LOL this is true.

[staudio]

First, I always make a rough mix of all the tracks together in mono (no panning, no stereo spread, etc.) with no EQ, compression, or effects. I spend a good amount of time getting this balance right. Then while still listening to all the tracks, I start asking myself what is wrong and I fix the problems as I hear them. Sometimes I will focus more on one area (like the drums) and then move to another as things change. Mixing is about getting the interaction of all the sounds right together, not just the sections in isolation. I never use solo except to isolate and find problems.

[jikky]

Originally Posted by Methlab

For a song, I like to start with vocals and drums.

For a beat, I get the kick and snare right first.

same here

[phillysoulman]

Lead vocal and kick drum

[jaglesis]

The mixing engineer's handbook
by Bobby Owsinski

great tips on starting and the foundations of a mix

also great interviews

a book thats handy to have around

[superiorsound]

Kick,Snare,beat, vox and then blend the toooo.

[beat you down]

kicks +bass

[nDmusic]

I spend 10 - 20 minutes getting a scratch mix with no efx but just panning and levels so I can hear how the song holds together. Then I mute everything and work on the lead vocal followed by the kick and bass, snare, hats, pad, backing vocals, the rest.

[nDmusic]

Originally Posted by jaglesis

The mixing engineer's handbook
by Bobby Owsinski

great tips on starting and the foundations of a mix

also great interviews

a book thats handy to have around

+1 for Bob Owenski. The bread and butter. I also like Tim's Recording Tips book. Plus of course gearslutz.

[voicegenius]

Whatever I watch the engineer start with, cuz I'm no engineer...

[Magic Theatre]

Me too, Drums 1st, then Vocals, once they sound good, the rest is easy.

[E-Irizarry]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

Lead vocal and kick drum

Curious...why?


I usually start with the drum track (snare kick and hi-hat/fill-ins) since that is outline of the track.

[bgrotto]

Originally Posted by staudio

First, I always make a rough mix of all the tracks together in mono (no panning, no stereo spread, etc.) with no EQ, compression, or effects. I spend a good amount of time getting this balance right. Then while still listening to all the tracks, I start asking myself what is wrong and I fix the problems as I hear them. Sometimes I will focus more on one area (like the drums) and then move to another as things change. Mixing is about getting the interaction of all the sounds right together, not just the sections in isolation. I never use solo except to isolate and find problems.

Boo yah.

Once I get a rough balance going, though, I tend to kill everything but the drums, bass (if there is one), and vocals. If that core is down and bangin', the other elements are easy to drop into place.