adding space to mixes

[themaestro]

quick question guys....i was listening to my tracks thru headphones in itunes and i started toying with the sound enhancer option. by just adding on the enhancer half way i heard a really sweet difference in the sound of my tracks. i know it probably boosts the bass and the treble a tiny bit, but it also made the mixes feel bigger, like my stereo spread was wider...so here's the question....I HAVE THE WAVES DIAMOND BUNDLE ON PT HD, WHAT PLUGIN CAN I THROW ON MY STEREO MASTER TO ADD THAT BODY AND WIDTH TO MY MIXES? WHAT SIMPLE SETTINGS CAN I USE TO CREATE A PRESET THAT WILL HAVE THE EFFECT THAT THE ITUNES SOUND ENHANCER HAS ON MY MUSIC???? Thanks in advance

[funkynuts]

Instead of applying a plug like this to your master buss i would advise a closer
look at the individual elements of your mix instead.

Using mono delays ,short revebs and wider panning to give a larger but still controlled stereo image.

Also use eq to give the impression of distance or closeness.

Roll off highs and lows on wide panned tracks that you want to sit back a little.
Boost highs and lows a little on tracks which you want to seem closer.

Use lots of cuts to increase seperation between elements.

Consider using something like waves s1 on a send and just add a lttle to a few key elements.
(edit;or insert s1 on a group and buss a few things to it if your host doesn,t do PDC well)

Use a little distortion as a form of harmonic enhancement on certain tracks or set up on a send.

Modulate your reverbs with other fx.

Have light chorus/phase/flange set up on a send and panned wide with a hpf to cut out the lows and perhaps a little boost on the "air" frequencies and send a few sounds through it.

Eq / compress your fx returns for increased seperation or more pronounced sfx.

Use mono fx where possible and pan them to an effective space in the mix.

DON,T put waves s1 or similar plugs across your whole mix for fear of infilcting the wrath of the Phase Police and the dreaded Centre Sealers.

[Gregg Sartiano]

Originally Posted by funkynuts

Consider using something like waves s1 on a send and just add a lttle to a few key elements.

Watch that timing, though -- turn on Delay Compensation, or this move will turn into a 'static flange' really quickly.

It's funny, I recently got a project to mix from my buddy who's a talented producer & has a good ear for sound but a less than complete understanding of audio fundamentals. There was a bus with nothing but 2 eq's on it (a filter and a high shelf boost, I think). Without delay compensation, it turned into a static flange which actually at the (very low) level he was using it was ill-advised but strangely cool. So he was basically using the (definitely unintended) static flange as an FX return! Dammit, now I had to gauge 'producer intent' and decide if I wanted to roughly duplicate the effect before turning on Delay Compensation -- I didn't want an argument like:

(total work of fiction)
'What did you do with that eq?'

'What eq? You wanted a mix, right?'

'No, THAT one.'
(and on and on until I have to explain plug-in latency and how it turns parallel returns into sources of phase interference).

[funkynuts]

Originally Posted by Gregg Sartiano

Watch that timing, though -- turn on Delay Compensation, or this move will turn into a 'static flange' really quickly.

Good catch!thumbsup

It would be better to insert s1 or similar on a group and buss one or two things to it to avoid this if your host doesn,t have automatic PDC.

[wallace]

You can try a stereo reverb with a pleasant room sound and buss things to that as needed, while keeping the tracks themselves panned wide. Adjust their volume and return to make them sound closer or further away.

Also try and use more subractive EQ.

[themaestro]

good responses guys...i employ the majority of these techniques in my mixes. i realize that it is better to pinpoint issues within a mix rather than putting an effect over the master bus in order to make it sound good. i've been using the stereo compressor over the master to further gel things together, and i guess i was looking for something in the waves bundle that would spread that tight mix out more....can anyone with itunes listen to the results of the sound enhancer and breakdown what its doing? it is obviously processing the two track mix so i want to emulate it on my master output.....good ideas so far...keep em comin!

[wallace]

There's a box called the Bedini that will make the image of a stereo mix bigger, or bring up the outside sounds, or the center of the mix. They're really expensive though.

[u b k]

have you listened to what that enhancer is doing thru decent monitors in a good room? specifically, pay CAREFUL attention to what it's doing to the low end, and the overall punch of the center stage.

i'd be surprised, and highly impressed, if the effect wasn't washing out the mix in both respects. the effect your hearing can be amusing and impressive when you're in the exact center of the field, but try listening to the mix from the side of the room, or the next room away, the way most people listen to music. are the tradeoffs worth it?


gregoire
del ubik

[darwin]

You might consider using itunes as an effect. Mix a little in.