Some tips you do to ensure a great rock mix everytime

[lucasmusic]

Even with great musicianship some songs still just flop mix wise, usually not adding the right "___" causes this. In your best way, what are some things you "go to" for ensuring things to sound right off in the mix, production wise?

[godotzilla]

Monitoring on multiple sources. The old car stereo check.

[lucasmusic]

Originally Posted by godotzilla

Monitoring on multiple sources. The old car stereo check.

Thats great! I recently bought a Behritone speaker for checking things in the mix, its definitely helped! But I was thinking more along the lines of like arrangement and production specifically.

[horizon]

Check for similar albums/songs of your favourite artist.Listen to the mix and do it the same way.Constantly compare.

[mtstudios@charter]

Record good tones and tight performances, you will be 70% there or close to it.

http://www.mtstudios.biz

[Apollo Soul]

Biggest one is the multiple systems.

EVERY time I have tried to rely only on studio monitors, it's been a translation nightmare.

I'll do at least a dozen trips to the car as well as 2 sets of cans, computer speakers, etc.


Also, depends on the style, but for any sort of modern music that is intended for pop consumption, I'd say it's a must to do very quiet listening too... and I go further in checking with ambient noise like fans on.... really helps to get levels set correctly and dial in the exact point at which things are balanced... when every element is just barely discernable.

And... I check it CRANKED too... helps you be aware of any notes that can bite you. I'll always end up editing a few vocal syllables as a result of that check.

[fastlanestoner]

great source
great recording techniques
proper room and monitoring
it'll mix itself

[007]

This...

Originally Posted by fastlanestoner

great source
great recording techniques
proper room and monitoring
it'll mix itself

with a good song + great arrangement = done.

[jonathan jetter]

i end up mixing a lot of stuff that's not recorded wonderfully. obv. if the song/band/room/tracking are all great, then mixing isn't hard. but that's not the real world unless you're really lucky, or unless you never mix other peoples tracking.

for me, the essential parts of the process:

-some sort of VCA, SSL-ish bus compressor. taking off 3db or more.
-drum samples as needed
-lots of EQ notching to attenuate any pain in the high mids
-willingness re-invent a part with drastic distortion, delay, or using creative editing as a mixing tool
-well over 10db of compression on the lead vocal
-slight peak limiting on individual tracks/buses as needed
-boosting less low end than i want to boost
-lots of automation. both corrective + creative.
-the mute button.

sometimes i deviate from those guidelines, in an attempt to make something "different" or "more organic." and, when i do, i never like it as much. it never holds up to mastering as well or gets as loud. and it doesn't rock as much.

[FreshSkweez]

Originally Posted by jonathan jetter

i end up mixing a lot of stuff that's not recorded wonderfully. obv. if the song/band/room/tracking are all great, then mixing isn't hard. but that's not the real world unless you're really lucky, or unless you never mix other peoples tracking.

for me, the essential parts of the process:

-some sort of VCA, SSL-ish bus compressor. taking off 3db or more.
-drum samples as needed
-lots of EQ notching to attenuate any pain in the high mids
-willingness re-invent a part with drastic distortion, delay, or using creative editing as a mixing tool
-well over 10db of compression on the lead vocal
-slight peak limiting on individual tracks/buses as needed
-boosting less low end than i want to boost
-lots of automation. both corrective + creative.
-the mute button.

sometimes i deviate from those guidelines, in an attempt to make something "different" or "more organic." and, when i do, i never like it as much. it never holds up to mastering as well or gets as loud. and it doesn't rock as much.

+1 on all of the above

[FreshSkweez]

Originally Posted by jonathan jetter

sometimes i deviate from those guidelines, in an attempt to make something "different" or "more organic." and, when i do, i never like it as much. it never holds up to mastering as well or gets as loud. and it doesn't rock as much.

+1
I have no idea what it is that makes us doubt what we've already proven to be true time and time again, but we still do, don't we? Sometimes I just feel like I should get a lobotomy, so that I could stop thinking for once and do my ****ing job already... ;-)

[Slikjmuzik]

I watched every video I could find and read every interview for guys like Shipley, CLA, TLA, Staub, Fortman, etc...and tried incorporating every technique I saw that seemed to fit my aesthetic.

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by lucasmusic

Even with great musicianship some songs still just flop mix wise

Then it wasn't recorded right... the song should sound like a record LONG before it gets to the "mix" stage... if it doesn't - figure out why and correct it ASAP instead of hoping that some "brilliant mix engineer" will be able to turn chicken shit into chicken salad.

I've heard many a song where the "after tracking rough mixes" buried the version that was actually released - unilaterally - those songs were recorded exceptionally well and sounded like records before the "famous mix dude" put his stamp on them... the "famous mix dude" did give the songs the very safe, and highly "radio ready" [whatever that means these days] sheen... tucked things in and made the presentation a nice tidy little bundle... but it was "THERE" long before the mixing took place.

Peace

[FreshSkweez]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Then it wasn't recorded right... the song should sound like a record LONG before it gets to the "mix" stage... if it doesn't - figure out why and correct it ASAP instead of hoping that some "brilliant mix engineer" will be able to turn chicken shit into chicken salad.
Peace

If I may. I totally agree with you on a broader scale. I've been noticing a different trend lately though - a great young band (and I mean kids that can really write and play) save up some money and go to a decent commercial studio to make a record. They start recording on day one, so the engineer gets them a safe and clean drum sound, then the bass etc. and only when they get to the vocals does he realize what it is that could be done differently, or 'more creatively' so to speak. So when I get the song to mix, the individual sounds may be good to great but very rarely are they perfect for the song. The production part gets totally ignored due to lack of funds and understanding of the recording process.

I still hate to disappoint them, 'cause they worked really hard to get their music heard. So what do I do? I twist knobs... :-)

[nomoreflakes]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

I've heard many a song where the "after tracking rough mixes" buried the version that was actually released...before the "famous mix dude" put his stamp on them... the "famous mix dude" did give the songs the very safe, and highly "radio ready" [whatever that means these days] sheen... tucked things in and made the presentation a nice tidy little bundle... but it was "THERE" long before the mixing took place.

Peace

Hole in one