Simple tips to create space in music?

[ksandvik]

Remove 30% of the tracks.

[t_d]

1. do what ksandvik said
2. use eno's "oblique strategies"
3. copious amounts of subtractive EQ to carve each sound their own home.

3.5 maybe move this topic to a different board as this is more mixing territory than mastering.

[Heimel]

Take out all the parts that suck. In some cases this may exceed 90% of recorded material.

[Unclenny]

There are many ways that you can use subtle delays to create space......

...automate a long delay to get an instrument to step off into the distance as it transitions to a quieter passage. The listener will feel that space. Or put a short offset stereo delay on a stereo track to push it back a little.

Automate your panning to move instruments across the soundstage and automate your reverb returns to send instruments to different spaces at crucial times.

Space...the final frontier.

[CleanPWR]

Thank you for the serious reply. That sounds very useful, even if I have to translate it to them.

[billkahler]

Space is often in the writing and arranging of the music. For example just because someone has a six piece band doesn't mean all six have to all the time. The Heartbreakers are a great example of restraint and arranging.

[Old Goat]

Originally Posted by billkahler

Space is often in the writing and arranging of the music. For example just because someone has a six piece band doesn't mean all six have to all the time. The Heartbreakers are a great example of restraint and arranging.

Automate your faders to duck what isn't front and center at the moment.

Originally Posted by Unclenny

There are many ways that you can use subtle delays to create space......

...automate a long delay to get an instrument to step off into the distance as it transitions to a quieter passage. The listener will feel that space. Or put a short offset stereo delay on a stereo track to push it back a little.

Automate your panning to move instruments across the soundstage and automate your reverb returns to send instruments to different spaces at crucial times.

Space...the final frontier.

Or automate a short reverb to move a track back a bit.

And use panning to move parts around to make room.

I assed up the multiquote--first try, gimme a break--but t_d is right on with using eq to create space for each voice. It really works. Crank some knobs.

As for convincing the band, yer on yer own, Bucko!

[CleanPWR]

Originally Posted by billkahler

Space is often in the writing and arranging of the music. For example just because someone has a six piece band doesn't mean all six have to all the time. The Heartbreakers are a great example of restraint and arranging.

Story of my life... I mean the local music scene making me barf.