Song arrangments vs. Mixing
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Posted on Jun 01, 2004 02:40 am
Mauz
grrrrrrr
Member Since: Mar 29, 2004
I have been reading about mixing and arranging. It seems like these two things really go hand in hand. A poor arrangment means you will have a lot more problems mixing. All the big producers in the book I am reading prefer to get their hands on the music before going into the studio. They can best visualise the end product if the arrangments do not compete with eachother in certain ranges.
So in theory there should not be intsruments that play in the same range. Or at least this should be limited to a minimum. But with stereo panning, notching etc. I think you can get seperation regardless of the range. What are your guys thoughts on this topic?
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MinkusMazBane of All ExistenceMember
Since: Mar 27, 2003
Jun 01, 2004 02:44 am i try to go record a band's practice beforehand with a single room mic to get an idea of their song structure, and to let ideas about making it sound better form along with a familiarity of the material, which makes the tracking process go very well. i guess that's how to get your hands on the music when you're not recording arrangements with written music, anyway. this is pretty time-consuming though...i only do it because i like to put some love into recordings that i do for people.
MauzgrrrrrrrMember
Since: Mar 29, 2004
Jun 01, 2004 02:56 am What about when there are no parts yet and you have to make all the arrangments?
cooloFrisco's Most UnderratedMember
Since: Jan 28, 2003
Jun 01, 2004 03:15 am When I'm arranging a song, I just go with what I think will sound best. I don't even think about the mix until I'm in the recording process, at which point I start worrying about which tracks I will need to double up (or more). I just figure that I will be able to fit everything into the mix suitably (even though sometimes I know it will take longer). I figure if people can mix 46 instrument orchestras, I can do 7 to 8 instruments (if that many) and some vocals.
MauzgrrrrrrrMember
Since: Mar 29, 2004
Jun 01, 2004 08:42 am So what would you guys do if you have a track with rythm guitar for intro, first voice and first chorus with a lead guitar then coming in on second chorus? Would one double up the rythm in the beginning and then drop it in favour of an electric? Or maybe record rythm in stereo for the first bit then drop to mono and pan when other guitar comes in? What do the pros usually do?
WaltChief Cook and Bottle WasherMember
Since: May 10, 2002
Jun 01, 2004 01:16 pm Whatever it takes to get the desired sound accurately reproduced. A well arranged piece that uses multiple instruments in the same range does so to create a blended sound that no one instrument can achieve. Now if you are talking about fixing poorly arranged pieces as in the rockey rooley garage band where everybody kinda just bangs on their favorite riff and don't really hear anyone else beyond themself, then you are talking a real people nightmare. I personaly believe MinkusMatz has the best approach. Record a demo for the band and let them have it for a few weeks to listen to. When they come back complaining about the sound then make suggestions as to how they could change their arrangement to achieve the sound they desire.
I'm sure that producers now work by arrangement first as the labels basicly call the shots as to what material a band will produce. The band is mearly an image conducted by the producer who knows how to make money.
