Help Me Clean Up My Mixes

[xabiton]

www.myspace.com/xmandalegend

I am trying to make my mixes sound bigger and wider and I am not sure what exactly I am doing wrong here. I am using Reason standalone and I do not want to rewire because it drasticly slows me down while I am working. What do you guys think would help me create cleaner mixes inside of Reason?

[thethrillfactor]

Originally Posted by xabiton

[ What do you guys think would help me create cleaner mixes inside of Reason?

This is a tough question.

I have no idea since i don't use reason but in listening to your mixes its a tough call.

When people ask the question how do i get something bigger and wider i always respond in comparison to what?


What is your definition of bigger and wider or who's mixes would you consider bigger and wider?


In listening to your stuff the biggest thing i miss is a sense of space. Everything is pretty much in your face which in certain instances can be cool but i think giving certain tracks a sense of space and place in the mix might give it a feel of being bigger and wider.

You won't hear me say go mix on a console or throw it on tape because i don't think its lack of depth based on the format. For some people this an easy answer because you can hear it and feel it right away.

I think if you get a better feel for how things fit in spaces but still can be punchy you'll do ok.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by thethrillfactor

This is a tough question.

I have no idea since i don't use reason but in listening to your mixes its a tough call.

When people ask the question how do i get something bigger and wider i always respond in comparison to what?


What is your definition of bigger and wider or who's mixes would you consider bigger and wider?


In listening to your stuff the biggest thing i miss is a sense of space. Everything is pretty much in your face which in certain instances can be cool but i think giving certain tracks a sense of space and place in the mix might give it a feel of being bigger and wider.

You won't hear me say go mix on a console or throw it on tape because i don't think its lack of depth based on the format. For some people this an easy answer because you can hear it and feel it right away.

I think if you get a better feel for how things fit in spaces but still can be punchy you'll do ok.

I agree with all of the above....

[PhonoquO]

i agree also, BUT you will never get the sound u imagine in your head in reason standalone, at least in it's present state. As good a production tool as it is, it has what i find to be less than desireable sound. When i started messing with production, i copped reason, and thought it was great until i started learning about eq and compression and sound placement. When i tried cubase for the first time with some vsti's, it was like i'd been let out of a vacuum. I've never gone back, only to maybe rewire some weird patch i've put together into cubase. So i would recommend maybe conceiving your ideas in reason (because u like it) and rewire into another program for mixing etc.

mark

[defjamm]

"Reason is one of the most important tools I use. It sounds as good as you skill level is."

eric persing(spectrasonics), Posted: 10-13-2002, 04:14 AM (www.northernsounds.com)

and i agree with him.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by defjamm

"Reason is one of the most important tools I use. It sounds as good as you skill level is."

eric persing(spectrasonics), Posted: 10-13-2002, 04:14 AM (www.northernsounds.com)

and i agree with him.

I don't agree that Reason sounds good... But, people can debate about that all day long.

[xabiton]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Maybe spacing could be helpful because I dont do much panning to my sounds because I am always afraid of over compensating. Are there any other techniques I can use for spacing sounds? I hear eq is ok for that and panning but I dont know what else to do

[fn86]

panning i get, but what about depth? i guess that will be done by using reverb? could some1 please explain about depth in the mix :)

[wavez]

use 2 mono compressors (one for left, other for right channel, improves stereo image) before the last machine. use another compressor, deep compression, start with thereshold about -30 and ratio 1-1.1, helps to glue things together and adds some depth....but yea, after u have mixed ur track, its still better to export it via rewire.

[psycho_monkey]

I appreciate the previous poster probably isn't a native english speaker, but that last comment makes no sense at all.

How can you determine threshold levels if you don't know the level of the signal going into it? and what exactly are you strapping 2 mono compressors over? if it's the mix, use one stereo compressor or 2 linked mono compressors, else the stereo image will be affected.

And what exactly is "deep" compression?

My contribution? I haven't listened to your tracks, but as far as space goes try thinning some elements out (ie rolling off bottom end from some parts, or turning a part down in the mix and using a mid boost at a particular frequency), definitely using panning (and maybe narrowing the pan of some things - if you've got a massive stereo patch, it may be taking up too much space and would be better not panned hard left and right).

Personal preference would be to finish the arrangement in reason, then export or bounce files out for mixing in another application that you can use 3rd party plugs in.

[J Twin]

Asking us to judge your mixes off Myspace is like asking Stevie Wonder how he likes your new shirt. Their player is garbage. To me, it sounds like there's some mid lows missing and some mids in general, but this is on my comp speakers so take that with a big grain of salt. The depth you're looking for, though, is a broader range of frequencies. So concentrate on that.

I don't think you'll get the sound you want directly out of Reason. The compressor, maximizer, and built in EQ just aren't going to get you there. If you don't want to use Rewire, you can export each track individually out as 24 bit stereo (or mono, if the sound is mono). The trick is to solo the instrument, find the maximum level before clipping, and "Export Song as Audio File." You have to do with for each and every track. For drums, you have to solo the Redrum, then solo the kick, the snare, the hat, etc. separately. Then you'll have a bunch of 24 bit audio files you can import into your DAW of choice where you can tweak the tracks and get them sounding right.

Or, if your comp is really slow, you can export each 2-bar/4-bar/whatever verse/chorus/bridge out individually as 24 bit and import those into a DAW and resequence the audio clips. It shoud be less memory intensive but will take a lot longer time-wise.

[Søren Bendixen]

I´ve been using reason for some years now - even teach reason. It´s a very very good tool for making something happening, but from day one and still I´ve haven´t managed to get a high end sound out of it. It sounds "right" but on the wrong level. (and I´ve done everything: Export stuff solo, going through rewire into protools, logic, cubase using their plugs etc etc). My humble opion on my own stuff is that I get closer everyday, but...
Of course it (also) has to do with my skills (working on it) but
what stuff did you choose when leaving reason?

Same ease of use but better sounding/high end quality?...

Soebx

[blayz2002]

Had a quick listen to the 4 tracks, and sounds to me like 2 main things that ain't helping you acheive space is that you seem to be panning most if not everything up the midle.

I ain't got the pnning thing down by law, but few tips

when you either got 2 sounds occupying simular frequencies (other than bass) then these can handle little left and right panning to give them their own space.

If you got a few sounds playing rythym then again same applies

If you got sounds that come in and out the arrangment to accent cesrtain parts of the track, again give a little left or right pan.

The other thing i would say could help you're sound is using some delay on some of the sounds and also pan that where the where you pan the sound. Try the same panning tip with any reverb, don't be scared to use more than 1 reverb, different verbs on different instruments can help with the space.

Your basic mixing is pretty good as far as balance and eq, so next level is to get familar with some of the above...just don't over do and end up too thing (with phase porblems) or too washy with delay and verbs.

A good source for how to balance panning is Dre..he get the right amount of width in his tracks but still sound good in mono.

[xabiton]

Originally Posted by soebx

I´ve been using reason for some years now - even teach reason. It´s a very very good tool for making something happening, but from day one and still I´ve haven´t managed to get a high end sound out of it. It sounds "right" but on the wrong level. (and I´ve done everything: Export stuff solo, going through rewire into protools, logic, cubase using their plugs etc etc). My humble opion on my own stuff is that I get closer everyday, but...
Of course it (also) has to do with my skills (working on it) but
what stuff did you choose when leaving reason?

Same ease of use but better sounding/high end quality?...

Soebx

Ive been using Reason since 2003 and when I left Reason I tried Fruity Loops, Cubase, Acid, Live, and Sonar Home Studio. I havent gotten that high quality I guess radio sound I am looking for in any of them however Sonar and Cubase gave me the cleanest sounding final product but slowed down my workflow tremendously. I love the workflow in Reason and I would much rather use it standalone than to use it with or even use any other program. I am starting to see what you guys are saying tho. My sounds may be clogging the same freqencies so its best I try some eq to give them more room to breathe. Ill try that thanks

[xabiton]

Originally Posted by blayz2002

Had a quick listen to the 4 tracks, and sounds to me like 2 main things that ain't helping you acheive space is that you seem to be panning most if not everything up the midle.

I ain't got the pnning thing down by law, but few tips

when you either got 2 sounds occupying simular frequencies (other than bass) then these can handle little left and right panning to give them their own space.

If you got a few sounds playing rythym then again same applies

If you got sounds that come in and out the arrangment to accent cesrtain parts of the track, again give a little left or right pan.

The other thing i would say could help you're sound is using some delay on some of the sounds and also pan that where the where you pan the sound. Try the same panning tip with any reverb, don't be scared to use more than 1 reverb, different verbs on different instruments can help with the space.

Your basic mixing is pretty good as far as balance and eq, so next level is to get familar with some of the above...just don't over do and end up too thing (with phase porblems) or too washy with delay and verbs.

A good source for how to balance panning is Dre..he get the right amount of width in his tracks but still sound good in mono.

thanks Ill try this as well

[frankie c]

Hey,

Funny that u posted this..

A buddy of mine just asked me to "fix" one of his Reason songs.
I imported it all into Cubase SX3 (which I reccomend as a next step)..

then I proceded to use all of my better plugs , UAD-1 , power etc , to get this to the "next level" (i.e. able to be mastered) . I will say that I had a bit of a hard time getting a "proper blend " etc..

I have no idea what it is. But there is something not happenin there.

I also enjoy mixing (mostly soulful House)..

I will take a listen to your track, if I think i can help you out , i would take a crack at it..

Frankie C

[khameln]

Reason rewired sounds just as good as anything else. It's an amazing program.

[xabiton]

Originally Posted by khameln

Reason rewired sounds just as good as anything else. It's an amazing program.

your right it does I just prefer the convience of working in reason standalone

[Docmattic]

im no pro or nothing with all this beat making stuff but i think your base is too strong. strait away it felt like, bam, it was right up on me. no other suggestions though.

[xabiton]

Originally Posted by Docmattic

im no pro or nothing with all this beat making stuff but i think your base is too strong. strait away it felt like, bam, it was right up on me. no other suggestions though.

appriciate the feedback all suggetions are welcome