What's your feeling on mixing while tracking ITB?

[juicylime]

Ever since I've fully embraced working ITB I've found that the line between when I'm tracking and when I'm mixing has pretty much disappeared. Maybe this is more of an issue for us smaller guys working alone but I'd be intertesed to hear how others are working with the line between the two.

[AuraCore]

Oh good, I thought I'm the only one who just can't resist reaching for comps, EQ, pan, FX etc. while recording. I guess this is a among the pro's?

[AlexLakis]

The line is really the same no matter what platform you're on. When I know I'm going to be mixing the project I'm tracking, I basically always try to be mixing as I'm recording. Instrument choice, the room, mic choice and placement are all just as much a part of mixing as they are tracking, really. Also, the choice of processing running in is a given as far as "mix decisions" go, and outboard processing during the tracking phase is more commonplace for me if I know I'm going to be the one mixing it. If someone else wil be mixing, it's nice to leave things more un-processed, so you don't limit options for the mixing engineer.

[Stoneroses6300]

This is exactly what I have been talking about in a previous post. As a songwriter first and foremost (producing, recording myself 2nd) I don't understand how any can just "track" their songs and be happy to send off to be mixed. I don't understand how someone layers a song when the song sounds like a bunch of dry recorded parts. While mixing after tracking you gain inspiration for a part based on the sound of the past part...I don't know...Juicylime, for me like yourself, the line between tracking and mixing has defintely dissapeared...
The only reason I would want to go to another mixer (someone else to mix my songs) is for outboard gear to reaplce plugs, maybe send the songs to tape, and to do the levels with real faders instead of using a mouse which is such a pain in the ass...Oh yeah, and to apply whatever outboard EQ they want to apply to sharpen up some of the tracks...

[No4PCs]

Hey friend, in my case im looking for tracking out the computer, i mean, using some digital standalone recorder.
Then transfer the data to computer to mix ITB system.
Personally speaking i feel more like an musician when operating the digital recorder and when im mixing ITB im feel like an engineer.For me that 2 things need ha separation of jobs. Sorry my english.
Bests

[chrisj]

I know Kenny Gioia always mixes while tracking- actually through compression/2-buss processing from the word go, even- and I've worked with his stuff as a mastering guy and found it VERY consistent and professional.

Obviously some people can do it... I'm also told it's really fast that way, too.

[AlexLakis]

Originally Posted by Stoneroses6300

This is exactly what I have been talking about in a previous post. As a songwriter first and foremost (producing, recording myself 2nd) I don't understand how any can just "track" their songs and be happy to send off to be mixed. I don't understand how someone layers a song when the song sounds like a bunch of dry recorded parts. While mixing after tracking you gain inspiration for a part based on the sound of the past part...I don't know...Juicylime, for me like yourself, the line between tracking and mixing has defintely dissapeared...
The only reason I would want to go to another mixer (someone else to mix my songs) is for outboard gear to reaplce plugs, maybe send the songs to tape, and to do the levels with real faders instead of using a mouse which is such a pain in the ass...Oh yeah, and to apply whatever outboard EQ they want to apply to sharpen up some of the tracks...

You're forgetting the actual skill and expertise of the mixing engineer. Anybody can rent a bunch of great outboard gear, but do you know how to use it?

I know it can be hard for an artist/engineer to understand how someone else can have a "better" understanding of how their song should sound in the end, but it happens! Find someone whose work you like, get together with them, and let it go! You might be pleasantly surprised in the end! Just make sure you can enter the situation with an open mind.

Lots of artists have been tracking themselves and sending it out to be mixed by a mixing engineer. That's what the majority of my gigs have been in the past year or so, actually!

[Stoneroses6300]

Originally Posted by chrisj

I know Kenny Gioia always mixes while tracking- actually through compression/2-buss processing from the word go, even- and I've worked with his stuff as a mastering guy and found it VERY consistent and professional.

Obviously some people can do it... I'm also told it's really fast that way, too.

I always put something on the 2 buss form start also..Nothing drastic...But a tape emulator plug I love which will go unnamed! I totally understand the idea that tracking goes so fast with stuff on the 2 bus. If you put on a compressor that brings out the punchiness and fullnes of the bass, mixes sound done quickly...

[luctellier]

Originally Posted by juicylime

Ever since I've fully embraced working ITB I've found that the line between when I'm tracking and when I'm mixing has pretty much disappeared. Maybe this is more of an issue for us smaller guys working alone but I'd be intertesed to hear how others are working with the line between the two.

When I'm tracking I try not to mix at the same time to focus on the recording itself. I want to focus on the good takes, the music...not the technical stuff.

I know it's hard not to put an EQ, compressor, some delays, reverb. I often do that to see how it might sound and get some ideas but when later I start mixing, I start over from scratch and remove everything on the tracks. I also take a couple of days off without listening to the song to clear my mind before I start the official mixing.

[DeathMonkey]

I mix as I track as well - but I tend to record really quickly. But I'll start panning, getting submix levels, duping and adding effects as I go, or after each instrument. I find that it helps me think of parts or additional stuff I want, rather than waiting until the mix stage to realize I have a huge sonic hole in my mix. It also lets me hear what problems are coming up - too much low end, freq buildup in the mids, too much damn reverb...

[Kenny Gioia]

Originally Posted by chrisj

I know Kenny Gioia always mixes while tracking- actually through compression/2-buss processing from the word go, even- and I've worked with his stuff as a mastering guy and found it VERY consistent and professional.

Obviously some people can do it... I'm also told it's really fast that way, too.

Whoa!!!

So people are posting for me now.

Now that's progress.

Thanks Chris.

Yeah, I'm always mixing. It's not just about being able to mix quicker, it's mostly about making production decisions.

I need to hear how a part will sound in the mix to decide whether it's usable or I need to re-cut it with a different sound or find a whole new part.

I used to do it this way on a real console too, although it took me 15 minutes to get each song ready for tracking. I kind of like starting each day where I left off.

[3rd world order]

Originally Posted by juicylime

Ever since I've fully embraced working ITB I've found that the line between when I'm tracking and when I'm mixing has pretty much disappeared. Maybe this is more of an issue for us smaller guys working alone but I'd be intertesed to hear how others are working with the line between the two.

if you're mixing ITB you gotta get 95% of the sound before it hits the A/D.. plug-ins dont do "tone"

the battle, for me when tracking, is figuring out what the track wants to sound like... and the sooner this can be figured out the better... i don't believe in piling on 48 tracks of bullshit just for the hell of it.. i print FX.. i use extra inputs and rack gear for sounds to vibe to when tracking... i move mics around.. i pull out the pedals... i (generally) track in mono... and i don't believe in "fix it in the mix". not because it can't be fixed but because the idea of "fix it in the mix" leads to doing things "later" and running out of time... experiment while the experimenting is good... get a sound which enhances the performance ASAP... if you wanna play safe use those extra tracks for a dry safety net.

[adrianex]

Same here, plus when I do that, we (the band, producer, myself) sometimes get more ideas, or hear "hole" on the arregement that the band didn't hear before, etc.

[Led]

Even the ancient guys who taught be to engineer did it on consoles and 2 inch. Like Kenny says, you can only really make the decision about a part when you hear it in context, plus it makes mixing a lot easier. The only thing it sometimes makes trick is getting a fresh perspective when it comes to mix time, which is when you call a friend in to mix it and give them some alone time with the track.
There is nothing worse than having to sift through 100 takes and notes when it comes to mix time.

[PapillonIrl]

Originally Posted by juicylime

Ever since I've fully embraced working ITB I've found that the line between when I'm tracking and when I'm mixing has pretty much disappeared. Maybe this is more of oan issue for us smaller guys working alone but I'd be intertesed to hear how others are working with the line between the two.

That's part of what I miss about working that way alright, although I have found that my mixes have improved since my hybrid setup.

I suspect alot of it has to do with just concentrating on tracking while tracking, and going into absolute patchbay-already-setup-candlelight-and-computer-screen-off mode while mixing.

And no producers or band members in the room until final tweaks.

I'm not much of a multitasker though, and a good mate of mine had a session recently with a guy (from Kells maybe, not sure?) working on Radar ...tracking/editing/mixing all the time as the session went on, with really nice results.

When tracking for a 4 track EP was finished, (inc. lots overdubs) it took him 2hrs to finish mixing the lot.

Kudos.

Nathan

[TheSoundFella]

At the studio I run, but don't own, which has an HD3 setup, I begin mixing as I track. The system doesn't get bogged down by the special techniques / fx I like to use.

At home on my LE rig with low budget acts, I try not to do much plugin's @ all until the red button is done being pushed - can't seem to keep my rig running smooth when up around 30 tracks, all 16 busses attempted to be routed & maybe about 20 other plugins being utilized.

[juniorhifikit]

just make sure you don't start piling on the plugins to compensate for a crappy sound. Move the mic, change the instrument... don't get lazy. Everything you can change in front of the mic has a greater musical impact anyway (note: bedroom techno folks - ignore that comment!)

[NathanEldred]

For me, the mixing process requires a different perspective, and I enjoy (or require) that mixing isn't started the minute tracking is done. A week or so away from the tracking to come back fresh to start the mix does great things for the energy of the project for the whole production team IME. I even went so far with this concept that I actually have a seperate tracking studio located at a completely different place than the mixing/mastering studio. The different location even goes to further shake things up a bit and clears/focuses the mind and ears. Not to mention that I mix on an analog console with outboard gear to tape, so because each group of dedicated gear is in each respective room (i.e. preamps and some comps in the rack at the tracking room, EQ's and comps only at the mix room) there is no way to properly mix at the tracking room.