How to fix a track that hasn’t been mixed properly when you don’t have the session file

I chose to write about this topic today because it seems more and more artist only have the 2-track of their music and not the individual files. If you only have a 2 track of your music but want the overall quality enhanced there are a few things you can do. What you can not do is mix it again. The reason is all the individual tracks have already been bounced to 2 tracks (right and left) making a stereo track. What you can do is bring up an EQ in your plug-ins and change it to enhance and hide some imperfections in the mix…

First: Listen to the track and try your best to see where each instrument is placed in the mix, such as drums, keys, bass, etc. Maybe the hi-hats are panned to the left slightly, the kick drum is in the middle, and the synths are in the middle. Once you have an idea where each instrument is placed be  sure you write it down. The goal is to keep tabs so you know where things are.

Second: The key is to try and get a balanced mix so you would try to EQ the track for balance.  A tip would be to duplicate the track, pan the original track left 60 and the copy right 60. Turn down both of the tracks an even amount until it sounds like just one track.  Duplicating the tracks creates a stereo version of your track and allows space in the middle to place your vocals.

3rd: put a low pass filter or bring down your 20hz dial to about -3 to -6 on both tracks. This will make sure your overall track doesnt peak. Dont worry, you can add low-end in the master EQ. Now add some highs around 5khz-8khz, about 3-6dbs. Play with your mid frequencies in both tracks until it sounds right.

This tip is primarily for those tracks sent to you in which the track hasn’t been mixed and most of the instruments are left placed mainly in the middle.

2010
02/05
CATEGORY
Mixing Tips
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The DAW ( Digital audio workstation) music software Debate

It never fails… everyday I get asked the question, “Yo RiZ, which is better Pro Tools or… Cubase… or …. you get the point. Each day I try my best not to answer impatiently because I get asked everyday. Anyways, I always answer the same now… with an analogy or dumbed down explanation because in the end, anyone asking that question just doesn’t know. If you are one of the people that don’t know which is better or worse I will answer it like this… If you were flying the presidents plane… not flying in, but FLYING the presidents plane would you get to the Grammys faster, slower, or not at all because you don’t have a pilots license. If it was me, we would crash on the runway, lol. Bottom line is, the driver will always determine if you get to the destination. If you put Kanye West in front of a casio keyboard I bet he comes out with a hit. If you put Dre in front of a basic sampler I bet he has a hit. You get the point… Pro Tools, Cubase, Sonar, Logic, Acid, Reason Record, Digital Performer, and all the other ones have their differences, some more than others. However, it will always come down to the driver behind the steering wheel. Ask Producer ninth wonder and he will probably say Pro tools as he has in interviews because its industry standard. However, ask him what he used when he first started to make his hits and he will say Cool Edit Pro. Very basic program but got him work with Jay-Z and other superstars. If your thinking, well why does everybody say Pro Tools is industry standard? Well, because it is. Just because something is industry standard doesn’t make it better. Its synonymous to currency. The dollar was once “industry standard” now the Euro is “industry standard”. It is the software more professional studios invest in for one reason or the other, but it doesn’t make the final product better in the end. T-Pain and Akon use Logic exclusively based on recent interviews. I use Cubase as of this posting along with Nuendo and other software. Hopefully, now you get the bigger picture of which software is “better”. lol

2010
02/04
CATEGORY
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The importance of getting your files converted to Wave files

Today I had the pleasure of turning down cash because a client didn’t have the correct wave files from the previous engineer. The artist was using pro tools which most people use these days but didn’t have the files mixed down individually to waves. I always suggest if you ever plan on taking your files to another studio make sure when the mixing engineer is burning your master files they export them as wave files also. In all DAW’s (software programs) you are able to select the option to mix down to wave files. The reason this is so important is because the file extension can’t be read by other DAW’s. If the new DAW can not read the file extension the new engineer can not load the tracks. It’s very important to have access the individual tracks to properly mix the song.

Bottom line, make sure when you leave with the DVD of your session you also leave with the wave files of each track!

2010
02/03
CATEGORY
Mixing Tips
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Recording background vocals

Recording Background Vocals

I remember recording background vocals the same way I recorded lead vocals. They always came out the same, but I wanted them to sound different. The more I kept doing the same thing over the more I began to wonder if I was doing something wrong. The answer is I was doing something completely wrong. When recording your background vocals it would be a good idea to experiment a little. Maybe try adjusting where the artist is standing or adjusting the mic position as an experiment. The purpose is to change the dynamic a little with the recorded piece. Once finished with mic placement you should make sure you’re getting good levels. Good levels simply mean your levels are not peaking above 0 but they are really close! Next, try to make sure you record about six takes of the chorus. When the artist is recording the chorus be sure to suggest they sing the first 2-4 the way they want it to sound. The last 2 you should suggest they experiment with going an octave higher or an octave lower but with the same actual performance.  Lastly, make sure you put three hard left (panned all the way left) and the other three hard right. Be sure to make the takes the artist wants it to sound mostly like dominating in volume to the left and to the right. The two experimental takes you have lower. This will give the chorus something special!

Try it out and let me know about your results…

2010
02/02
CATEGORY
Mixing Tips
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