Mixing Within FL

[OmegaP]

My advise would be to render down and mix in another program that's geared more towards mixing if you can. But if you have no other choice render down and reimport the wavs then mix in Fl it will save you computer resources.

[mrwonderful]

^ Don't listen to him.

There is nothing in this world wrong with mixing in FL. I do it on all of my tracks.

FL is "geared" towards mixing. What does it lack that other programs have? Seriously.. I'm sick of people talking down on FL like it's Garageband or something.

[Hobbs_Won]

Yea, I never understood what makes FL so handicapped in regards to mixing compared to other DAW's...

It has panning, EQ, sends, faders, fx slots which take any plugin you desire....you can export stems, reverse phase...you can freeze, albeit it's not as intuitive as some others....

really, what's the problem?? lol......

[OmegaP]

Originally Posted by mrwonderful

^ Don't listen to him.

There is nothing in this world wrong with mixing in FL. I do it on all of my tracks.

FL is "geared" towards mixing. What does it lack that other programs have? Seriously.. I'm sick of people talking down on FL like it's Garageband or something.

I was just stating my opinion,he can make his own decision on what's best for him. I don't like Fl for mixing because of the routing.I feel it's easier to mix in something else with better routing options is all.

[LeoLeoLeo]

I would not normalize anything

[abechap024]

Fl is super powerful at mixing. Its just different then a lot of programs and a lot of its best mixing features are hidden in plain sight.

I haven't listened to your tracks so its kind of lame for me to give advice....but I'm going to anyway.

Google "sidechaining audio in fl studio" that will let you decrease the volume of a channel everytime another channel increases in volume. Great for kick and bass.

Also rollling of extreme lows and highs can be awesome. Like highpassing the vocals at 80hz using the fl studio paramtric eq. Usually to get a nice big "open" mix you want to high pass most everything but kick and bass. Gives each instrument its own sonic space....hopefully these are a little helpful and use at your own risk, they are not rules.

[knobsmcgee]

proper EQ wont make your triton sound less round or full bodied.

[daez]

fl can get you a fine mix as good as any other daw, just a bit different workflow. One thing to look for is last I used fl it's default project when started had a limiter on the master bus. If you are not aware of this it's something to look into especially after commenting on overly compressed. Other than that maybe use more parallel compression while mixing.

[teamalkos]

I wouldn't use the stock effects, compressors, and eqs from Fl. I would export your stems to another DAW like protools, sonar, or cubase just my opionion. I listened to your music and couldn't get past the rapping. The productions is good tho. Get out of FL and don't let nobody tell you its fine. It is fine quality wise but mixing visually in a dedicated DAW will help the mixing by allowing track by track busses, faders, amd volume control. You can do it all on FL but I wouldnt

[projektk]

Originally Posted by teamalkos

I wouldn't use the stock effects, compressors, and eqs from Fl. I would export your stems to another DAW like protools, sonar, or cubase just my opionion. I listened to your music and couldn't get past the rapping. The productions is good tho. Get out of FL and don't let nobody tell you its fine. It is fine quality wise but mixing visually in a dedicated DAW will help the mixing by allowing track by track busses, faders, amd volume control. You can do it all on FL but I wouldnt

I disagree, first off read your own post back to yourself. I'm a pro tools user however the only real better thing about pro tools is editing audio files is pretty quick and easy.

For the OP I would Google mixing techniques and look into buying a few 3rd party plug ins. There are also some free VSTs that could probably help you a lot more than the stock effects, maybe some users could suggest some or you could Google to try and find them. good luck.

Sent from my LG-P925 using Tapatalk

[psycho_monkey]

Don't mix by numbers. Don't always set vocals to a certain gain level - just balance them.

Really, the only answer to your question is "keep practicing-reading-experimenting-listening".

You just need more practice and to work out what does it for you.

Your tools are fine.

[DAH]

However to be able to mix by ear some headroom should be available,
like -12 on the most loud elements like kick\snare so the stereobuss does not get overload in most intensive parts of the track.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by DAH

However to be able to mix by ear some headroom should be available,
like -12 on the most loud elements like kick\snare so the stereobuss does not get overload in most intensive parts of the track.

Yup.

But "adding 1.6dB of gain to vocal" as a standard procedure is not how to mix.

[DAH]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

Yup.

But "adding 1.6dB of gain to vocal" as a standard procedure is not how to mix.

That is true for sure.
I mean, I think the main reason people search for numeric\visual mixing methods instead of using the ears is bad mixes that do not translate when one is mixing by ears. And this IME occurs in most cases due to bad acoustics\inaccurate montoring chain.
So when people try to mix without referencing numbers\visual plug-ins and fail, they do not trust their ears anymore and start mixing using some "standard" techniques as to get not a good mix, but at least somehow translating "standard" mix.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by DAH

That is true for sure.
I mean, I think the main reason people search for numeric\visual mixing methods instead of using the ears is bad mixes that do not translate when one is mixing by ears. And this IME occurs in most cases due to bad acoustics\inaccurate montoring chain.
So when people try to mix without referencing numbers\visual plug-ins and fail, they do not trust their ears anymore and start mixing using some "standard" techniques as to get not a good mix, but at least somehow translating "standard" mix.

Unfortunately, mixing with numbers doesn't lead to a "standard" mix either - not unless you always set your mic gain the same, perform at the same volume , at the same distance etc etc.

[DAH]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

Unfortunately, mixing with numbers doesn't lead to a "standard" mix either - not unless you always set your mic gain the same, perform at the same volume , at the same distance etc etc.

That is true as well.
I just cannot stress enough importance of accurate monitoring.

[dirtyskillz]

Originally Posted by LeoLeoLeo

I would not normalize anything

Why wouldn't you normalize anything?

[Hobbs_Won]

Originally Posted by dirtyskillz

Why wouldn't you normalize anything?

I'm guessing because when you normalize the whole noise floor gets brought along with it.

[teamalkos]

Originally Posted by projektk

I disagree, first off read your own post back to yourself. I'm a pro tools user however the only real better thing about pro tools is editing audio files is pretty quick and easy.

For the OP I would Google mixing techniques and look into buying a few 3rd party plug ins. There are also some free VSTs that could probably help you a lot more than the stock effects, maybe some users could suggest some or you could Google to try and find them. good luck.

Sent from my LG-P925 using Tapatalk

I stand by what I said I was using fruityloops when it first came out I was in 9th grade. I'm 31 now. So, imagine the years I had with that program. I even produced albums that hit the billboard charts producing in FL. They didn't have plugins or vsts then. You got general midi 127 sounds and I don't think you could even export midi then. I know all about FL still have and use it now. I have tried mixing in FL but my mixing was way better in a dedicated DAW. Especially the stock effects versus the aftermarket plugins. FL is fine quality wise to use as a sequencer just mixing in there was not good. But this is all relative to my experience and opinion.

[mrwonderful]

Originally Posted by dirtyskillz

Why wouldn't you normalize anything?

When I mix in fl. Get a good mix nothing on the master. Peaking at -22 - -18 on the master. Export it. Load up the WAV in a new session in a audio clip. Go to properties hit normalize.
Is that a bad practice ?

Input would be appreciated.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by dirtyskillz

Why wouldn't you normalize anything?

Because you shouldn't ever need to. If everything is close to maximum, then there's no headroom, your plugins will overload and you'll just have to turn the faders down to avoid clipping the mix buss.

Originally Posted by mrwonderful

When I mix in fl. Get a good mix nothing on the master. Peaking at -22 - -18 on the master. Export it. Load up the WAV in a new session in a audio clip. Go to properties hit normalize.
Is that a bad practice ?

Input would be appreciated.

Why are you normalising? To get it louder?

For listening purposes - you're not really doing anything wrong. Most people would set a limiter to take off 1 or 2 dB peaks, and the headroom to -.1dB - which effectively normalises to -.1dB, and makes it a couple of dB louder still.

You're just skipping the limiting stage. There's no reason to mix with that much headroom though - it's not doing any harm, but if you're ending up with faders really low to get it, it's probably easier just to leave -3 to -10dB headroom - that's enough for anything.

If you're sending to mastering engineer/doing mastering yourself - you don't want to normalise at all. Your mastering engineer will just end up turning it down again.

[mrwonderful]

I'm doing it to get it louder. Yes.

I turn my speakers up all the way and mix with all faders down.

I dunno why I get such a low db lol

So after I'm all mixed throw a limiter on? Before I export or after?

What would be a good way to master it? Plugin wise? A limiter?


What situations do you normalize?

[dirtyskillz]

That's the problem.

We are just trying to get the music louder.

I would normally compare the loudness with a recent rap album, I normally use Dre 2001 as the refrence and the problem is they have loud vocals which don't screech. But when I compare it the head room is reached and distorts.

Then if you take all the vsts off the vocals, it's too low and doesn't cut through the beat. Then your forced to remove bass here and there and re arrange the bass so it doesn't muffle too much with your vocals.

I just want the vocals to slice through the beat without distortion.

Any ideas without adding normalize?

[d1rdyd]

Originally Posted by mrwonderful

^ Don't listen to him.

There is nothing in this world wrong with mixing in FL. I do it on all of my tracks.

FL is "geared" towards mixing. What does it lack that other programs have? Seriously.. I'm sick of people talking down on FL like it's Garageband or something.

A wise man once said don't blame the equipment blame the user.

Your one of those dudes who buys a 100,000$ car and gets smoked by a 30,000$ car with a few mods.

[The Aristocrat]

Originally Posted by psycho_monkey

Because you shouldn't ever need to. If everything is close to maximum, then there's no headroom, your plugins will overload and you'll just have to turn the faders down to avoid clipping the mix buss.



Why are you normalising? To get it louder?

For listening purposes - you're not really doing anything wrong. Most people would set a limiter to take off 1 or 2 dB peaks, and the headroom to -.1dB - which effectively normalises to -.1dB, and makes it a couple of dB louder still.

You're just skipping the limiting stage. There's no reason to mix with that much headroom though - it's not doing any harm, but if you're ending up with faders really low to get it, it's probably easier just to leave -3 to -10dB headroom - that's enough for anything.

If you're sending to mastering engineer/doing mastering yourself - you don't want to normalise at all. Your mastering engineer will just end up turning it down again.

I agree with this, peaking at - 22dB is pretty low but that's to be expected if you turn your monitors all the way up. -22dB is more than enough headroom, heck even - 15dB is more than enough headroom.

[The Aristocrat]

Originally Posted by mrwonderful

I'm doing it to get it louder. Yes.

I turn my speakers up all the way and mix with all faders down.

I dunno why I get such a low db lol

So after I'm all mixed throw a limiter on? Before I export or after?

What would be a good way to master it? Plugin wise? A limiter?


What situations do you normalize?

You could master with a limiter and just bring the levels up with that, especially since limiters shouldn't color anyway. You would probably want to opt for something like Isotope ozone though which comes with a limiter among other things that would help with your master.

[Sound Thief]

Originally Posted by teamalkos

I stand by what I said I was using fruityloops when it first came out I was in 9th grade. I'm 31 now. So, imagine the years I had with that program. I even produced albums that hit the billboard charts producing in FL. They didn't have plugins or vsts then. You got general midi 127 sounds and I don't think you could even export midi then. I know all about FL still have and use it now. I have tried mixing in FL but my mixing was way better in a dedicated DAW. Especially the stock effects versus the aftermarket plugins. FL is fine quality wise to use as a sequencer just mixing in there was not good. But this is all relative to my experience and opinion.

you're still telling this guy that he shouldnt use FL just because you dont like it

[Chris Lago]

Originally Posted by d1rdyd

A wise man once said don't blame the equipment blame the user.

Your one of those dudes who buys a 100,000$ car and gets smoked by a 30,000$ car with a few mods.

I mix in FL all the time, nothing wrong with it. That being said, I'd rather mix in Cubase. And yes, blame the user not the tools.

[psycho_monkey]

Originally Posted by mrwonderful

I'm doing it to get it louder. Yes.

I turn my speakers up all the way and mix with all faders down.

I dunno why I get such a low db lol

So after I'm all mixed throw a limiter on? Before I export or after?

What would be a good way to master it? Plugin wise? A limiter?


What situations do you normalize?

Normalise - never.

I only really use a limiter for "temporary masters" - everything else I send away to get mastered. But it's the very last step - I'll print the mix, then put a limiter on and export a listening copy that way. This brings my final mix up close to 0dB, peak limits a tiny bit, and that's it. This essentially does the normalisation for me. The "master" doesn't have this processing, and that's what goes to the mastering guy.

Occasionally I'll listen through a limiter just to see if there's anything noticeable happening.

If you're getting a really low level, you can just afford to have your levels a bit higher the whole way through. If your gainstaging is good, you should be able to have a lot of your faders around 0 (obviously not for things really quiet in the mix), your audio at steady levels around -20 to -12, and keep some (6dB?) headroom on your peaks in the mix. It's just gainstaging and good practice.

Originally Posted by dirtyskillz

That's the problem.

We are just trying to get the music louder.

I would normally compare the loudness with a recent rap album, I normally use Dre 2001 as the refrence and the problem is they have loud vocals which don't screech. But when I compare it the head room is reached and distorts.

Then if you take all the vsts off the vocals, it's too low and doesn't cut through the beat. Then your forced to remove bass here and there and re arrange the bass so it doesn't muffle too much with your vocals.

I just want the vocals to slice through the beat without distortion.

Any ideas without adding normalize?

Normalising won't help this - that's just making everything louder. You're really just asking "how do I mix well?" and the only answer is "lots of practice"!

You're unlikely to get anything as "loud" as a commercial hip hop album without having a pro mastering guy work on it. But you should get close. First step is to have a limiter over your master, and see how loud you can get the master whilst taking off only a few dB of the peaks. Then - it's a question of learning to mix your vocals so they're not painful.

And take the limiter off for the final mastering - you should really just be using that as a comparison.

Another method - turn DOWN the Dre track until the level is comparable to yours. Mix so your mix sounds as good (ideal situation!). THEN put a limiter on your track, and try to come close to the levels of the Dre track.

When I'm mixing, I do this all the time, so I'm not misled by loudness.