In Your Experience
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Posted on Jul 17, 2008 07:53 am
mclir9
www.witchsmark.com
Member Since: Aug 13, 2006
When mixing and mastering a song is it best to tackle one song at a time until completed as opposed to doing a song for a few hours or days even and then jumping to another, and going back to the previous eventually??
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pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Jul 17, 2008 08:14 am I'd say whatever works best for you. Your creative flow will dictate what works best for you.
I track all the parts first, then head to mixing.
During mixing, I tend to mix to the pre-master stage, and usually do my pre-mastering right after. Sometimes though, I'll get to the pre-master, then go to a different song to mix, as it gives you downtime on a song.
I'm just a hobbyist though, so my time is limited for working on songs. If I were doing it 40 hrs / week, it may be different.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Jul 17, 2008 08:42 am As pjk stated, you've got to go with the flow . Keep things loose enough that a planned tracking session can turn into a mixing session if someone doesn't show, or whatever else happening that might shoot the intended task down . Plus, with that mindset, you'll find every little curve thrown at you a bit less frustrating, and you won't end up being disappoited when things don't go as planned .
el musicoFreeleance Producer/Engineer/GtrMember
Since: Aug 11, 2002
Jul 17, 2008 11:31 am I like to take a song as far as I can. I will at least, if time allows, get a static mix done by mixing the loudest part of the song first. I then will come back to a mix to automate the rest of the song for flow and drama and create a pre-master.
Then I will get the rest of the songs to that point, maybe revising a few of the first mixes if my process has improved the sound during the last few songs.
Then I master the collection of songs.
Hue has great advice though, be comfortable with change. I dont always get to do things the way I prefer, due to artist preference, budget, time constraints, etc...
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Jul 17, 2008 12:24 pm What works for me.
I track all songs from start to finish (maybe some quick tweaks to un-mud it for the vocalist when tracking). I then mix down one song until I get a good foundation, record my settings for said song and save FX presets for that channel strip using the band as a naming convention, if I was recording Van Halen it would be (VH-Kick, VH-Guitars etc..). I then apply these basic mixdown settings to all songs. Of course every song is different but it gives me a good foundation and keeps everything sounding similar.
I then proceed to tweak an fine tune each song until happy. I will jump around during the process as this is when I am listening to a song over and over which gets pretty old.
On mastering, whatever tool I use, I do it in the same fashion. Tweak until it sounds good, save the preset as a foundation for the others and then finalize each one a little bit more according to it's own flavor.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 19, 2008 03:50 pm For me it depends on whether it is a live session or I working tracks sent here.
Live tracking for me now is mixed as the tracks are recorded. I've grown used to doing it that way in order to give the next up the best sound they can have. A lot of times we will simply have the guitars and bass playing in the studio while the drums are recorded, then go back and track the guitars, bass and whatever separately as usual. I then mix it on the fly as stated above to keep it going.
From there I try not to get a burnout going on any of the tracks. So I may move from song to song, back and forth to keep from getting tired ears. That is how I will mix sent tracks as well, bouncing back and forth to keep fresh sound in my ears so as not to loose sight of what the end result should be.
When all are at the pre master stage then they are either sent out to be mastered or if it a low budget job I will master them here.
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Jul 19, 2008 04:29 pm [quote]A lot of times we will simply have the guitars and bass playing in the studio while the drums are recorded, then go back and track the guitars, bass and whatever separately as usual. I then mix it on the fly as stated above to keep it going.
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This is my approach, as well... now . Knowing what is needed to get the sound you're looking for is key... tweaking-away as the tracks get laid down... having the end-product in mind all the while . This wasn't really possible for me not too long ago . With computer limitations, lack of one instrument/musician or another, and the somewhat overwhelming learning curve of 'all this stuff' . Learning ones way around a DAW is kind'a like learning another instrument, in the way that one day you wake up and you're 'close enough' to it to feel like it is a part of you... start lucid-dreaming about how you can get that 'lil fizz that hangs just above the big fizz of a distorted guitar . : p
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Jul 20, 2008 12:05 am Ya, Hue is dead on there. Sometimes the learning curve can be the biggest part of getting it done right. I know Cakewalk usually makes some huge improvements when they do an update but even bigger ones to upgrades. So sometimes it is a huge learning experience all over again as I get to know the new tools they provide.
Hue, I can relate to the lil' fizz and big fizz part some times.
