MIXDOWN ADVICE

cracktactics · Post by **cracktactics** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:11 pm

I've been working on a tune for a while, and my mixdowns sound good to me, but i have a really untrained ear. So i was hoping that people could have a listen and let me know what im doing right/wrong. Also this is my first club - friendly tune, so its all a bit new.

you can check it out here, (and download the 320 if you want...let me know if you do)

braun_320.mp3 - 13.18MB

any advice appreciated... Cheers

cracktactics · Post by **cracktactics** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:28 pm

Anyone?

COME ON

martello · Post by **martello** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:05 pm

Congratulations! This was your 100th post

OK, seriously...

My ear is not also trained but as to the mix, i did not find any major mix errors. Maybe this midi sounded synth which come in 02:18 was too loud and a little bit scaring. After 05:00 I here some strange noise in background, note is not cut off or is it intentional? Overall it sounded pretty good to me. I don't like this hardcore bass there but it is already a question of taste

Best,
Alvin

kato! · Post by **kato!** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:31 pm

I liked the intro, you could develop that more, as for the rest of the track, it's ok, but the synths sound like presets in my opinion, if that's worth anything!
As I say nice intro.

cracktactics · Post by **cracktactics** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 10:42 pm

any mixing tips from other producers?

kato! · Post by **kato!** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 11:23 pm

Play it alongside a commercially released track of the same genre, if sits alongside it then good, if not try and work out what your track is missing. It's all well and good someone telling you what to do, but it's better if you find out yourself, and yes it takes time, but music is art form and you should spend time on it.

cracktactics · Post by **cracktactics** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:24 pm

If you listen to the tune, when the bass drops in there isnt much punch. How do i get the dynamics (which are there in FL studio while im working on the song) to come out in the mix. And im sure its compression, but what do i need to do in terms of compression to get the dynamics back?

Sharmaji · Post by **Sharmaji** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:19 pm

sounds like you've got way too much sub-100hz stuff in things that aren't your sub, and not enough in sub. clearing that up will make the sub sit bigger for sure.

also, it's not compression that you need-- it's just simple level balancing. bring your your heavy distorted kicks, 'verb out your melodies a bit. the drums are good and smacking.

Littlefoot · Post by **Littlefoot** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:28 pm

defo don't reach for compression first

last post nailed it first

always remember : if there is a problem always re level first! don't add/effect, try taking away!

tes la rok · Post by **tes la rok** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:17 am

ok... first of all, there's not much happening between 40-100hz. u want more punch on the bass? in that case u need to add more lower frequences...alot!! either EQing on that bassline, which prolly wont work cause u distorted that bassline. so u have to double that bassline with another sound that plays frequneces round 40 to 100.

then u can drive both (distorted), lfo and doubled bass to group channel and add really light compression.

this same with both distorted and lfo bass.

i also think hihats could be like +1 db louder.

direct feed · Post by **direct feed** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:06 pm

Seems flat, like the bass doesnt have much top or bottom. Try some panning and stereo widening on the top layers. Bring the bottom end out to play as there is just nothing in the sub range. Maybe notch the top ends around 90-120hz so there is more breathing room for the drums and the new low end to flex.

2cents - but deff worth working on more.

cracktactics · Post by **cracktactics** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 3:55 pm

Thanks for all the advice guys, i followed it - at least the parts i understood, and it sounds better.

But still as soon as i export the track it sounds shit and flat. What can i do to make the exported version sound exactly like it does when its still in the sequencer? (I'm using FL studio)

martello · Post by **martello** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:30 pm

cracktactics wrote:Thanks for all the advice guys, i followed it - at least the parts i understood, and it sounds better.

But still as soon as i export the track it sounds shit and flat. What can i do to make the exported version sound exactly like it does when its still in the sequencer? (I'm using FL studio)

It has to sound EXACTLY the same as in FL. When you are playing back an imported wav or mp3, then just check you winamps or whatever EQ. When you set it to flat....it sounds exactly as in FL!

cracktactics · Post by **cracktactics** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:50 pm

cheers man, but i dont get it, what do i have to set to flat? And im sure its a retarded question, but what is winamp?

r · Post by r » Sat Mar 29, 2008 8:05 pm

-When you're eqing always try to cut instead of boost. its not illegal to boost but if you can cut other frequenties away then try to do that so you make space for other samples/synths

-When you're using compression.... try to understand compression and how they use it in a creative way. 1 thing should be clear.. Compression decreases the dynamics of your samples

i'm sorry to say but its also practice lots. Just make tunes with fun and try to mixdown them. Try to do your best but dont expect pro quality from the beginning. It'll come... it just needs some time

martello · Post by **martello** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:03 pm

cracktactics wrote:cheers man, but i dont get it, what do i have to set to flat? And im sure its a retarded question, but what is winamp?

What is Winamp? You are MAC user? Does not matter. Be sure, that the program you use to play your mixdown, that this program's internal equalizer is set to flat. Then it has to sound exactly the same as in FL.

legend4ry · Post by **legend4ry** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:16 pm

alvin18 wrote:
cracktactics wrote:cheers man, but i dont get it, what do i have to set to flat? And im sure its a retarded question, but what is winamp?
What is Winamp? You are MAC user? Does not matter. Be sure, that the program you use to play your mixdown, that this program's internal equalizer is set to flat. Then it has to sound exactly the same as in FL.

I was just going to ask this question haha..

Thanks

simian · Post by **simian** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:23 am

Not sure about other programs, but I know for sure in renoise that I'll get a different sound out of the renderer if i'm rendering the track in, say, 44.1k - but i'm working at 96k.

I finally realised that when you work in a sample rate that is an integer multiple of the rendering rate, then everything comes out nicely.

MIXDOWN ADVICE

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