Finished songs, no real mixing skills, now what?

oregon1 · Post by **oregon1** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:13 pm

last post was sent before I read what you guys said, thanks

FSTZ · Post by **FSTZ** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:16 pm

Oregon1 wrote:Also, once I mix it myself, what file format do i bring to a studio?

I understand these may be stupid questions, so please ignore my ignorance.

24bit / 48khz is where I mixdown tunes going to plate

oregon1 · Post by **oregon1** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:19 pm

I know what your saying, but an acoustic guitarist doesn't need to be a sound engineer as well to get respect.

breakbait · Post by **breakbait** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:19 pm

Oregon1 wrote:A proper mixdown is going to be subject to my skills, programs, and the quality of my monitors, which is what I'm trying to get around.

So again, is it just do my best then seek out a studio if I want. Or can I do a mixdown to the best of my ability, then pass it off where someone else can do a 'proper mixdown' and master?

Also, once I mix it myself, what file format do i bring to a studio?

I understand these may be stupid questions, so please ignore my ignorance.

Normally wav or an equivalent quality format.

slothrop · Post by **slothrop** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:19 pm

Oregon1 wrote:A proper mixdown is going to be subject to my skills, programs, and the quality of my monitors, which is what I'm trying to get around.

Basically, your mixing skills will improve if you practice. You don't have to be Bob Katz to mix a dubstep tune well enough to get released or played out, particularly if you've got good ideas.

Programs - hmmm, you can get most of what you need in freeware or for cheap. It maybe won't sound as amazing as if you had £££££ worth of hardware but from what I've heard done by people who know what they're doing, the difference is really good vs really really good not totally shit vs good.

Monitors, yeah, there's no real way around it although again you don't need to spend thousands or anything.

But if can't afford a couple of hundred quid for monitors then getting your stuff professionally mixed isn't going to be an option either so you might as well start making do with what you've got...

slothrop · Post by **slothrop** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:21 pm

Oregon1 wrote:I know what your saying, but an acoustic guitarist doesn't need to be a sound engineer as well to get respect.

Yeah, but playing guitar well and mixing / recording well require completely different skill sets and completely different equipment. Whereas writing dubstep tunes well and mixing dubstep tunes well are almost the same process.

oregon1 · Post by **oregon1** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:24 pm

I do agree getting a decent mixdown should be a priority, but the mix sounds good through my speakers, then good through my ipod, then shit through my car stereo, shit through my brothers speakers...so on. so am I forced to buy expensive monitors?

FSTZ · Post by **FSTZ** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:29 pm

sounds like you could use a pair

pangaea · Post by **pangaea** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:31 pm

Oregon1 wrote:I have crappy speakers to mix with, and basic mixing knowledge, but that should not mean that my songs sound quality should suffer.

buy some cheap monitors, second hand if need be. you'll get a better ear for things as you go along, you don't need to be trying really hard to learn to make outstanding mixdowns if you don't want to

get a dubplate cut maybe, it's an affordable way to hear your tunes through high-end equipment to see where you're going wrong. the engineer may also offer you some advice whilst you're there

oregon1 · Post by **oregon1** » Tue May 13, 2008 6:31 pm

Yes, using a sequencer is a different animal. I guess I was hoping it could be seperated as two different specialties, where I worry about the creative production, then I pass it to someone who can worry about the proper mixing and mastering.

I do appreciate the info.

nospin · Post by **nospin** » Tue May 13, 2008 9:01 pm

Oregon1 wrote: I guess I was hoping it could be seperated as two different specialties, where I worry about the creative production, then I pass it to someone who can worry about the proper mixing and mastering.

the thing is... in most electronic music, especially this side, mixing IS part of the creative process, you can totally change the feel of something even without changing the rhythmic or harmonic content, with different mix techniques. mixing is definitely not just a technical thing.

if you really want advice on what you should do, heres what i offer:

---invest in some proper monitors, even budget monitors if it has to be that way.

---read lots, you will probably realize the creativity that is involved in mixing and may get excited.

---"finish" your tracks yourself. that is, go ahead and mix them down with the knowledge you've already acquired. simply trying to finish this part, you will learn more each and every time you do it.

---don't expect most of your music to sound killer on a loud system, really compare to any of your favorite tracks, or force your friends to play it out for quite a while.... this is not easy.

---- and if you really feel that you have some massively creative instincts in some parts of production and just don't find mixing worthy of your time (this is what i fundamentally have a hard time believing).. find yourself a person that sees what you are talking about and work together.

press · Post by **press** » Tue May 13, 2008 9:49 pm

if you dont want to learn the art of mixing then youd better be willing to spend the cash to have a pro do it. wich is fine by me. i value the work/art of mixing and mastering engineers so i think its fine to take your productions to them to make it sound right. theres not really any inbetween though either learn or shell out for it or quit now, imo.

press · Post by **press** » Tue May 13, 2008 9:52 pm

£10 Bag wrote: you could pay someone else to mix your tunes but this would be expensive and you wouldn't learn anything.

unless your able to sit in on the session...then your gonna learn ALOT. it will be expensive thats for sure.

daft cunt · Post by **daft cunt** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:32 pm

Don't know about you guys but if I'd knew years ago what making electronic music is really about (1/3 creativity, 2/3 technical stuff sound right?) I'd never have began.
I'm glad I didn't know tho.

breakbait · Post by **breakbait** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:36 pm

Daft tnuc wrote:Don't know about you guys but if I'd knew years ago what making electronic music is really about (1/3 creativity, 2/3 technical stuff sound right?) I'd never have began.
I'm glad I didn't know tho.

Yer I always thought electronic music would be pretty easy

I just thought you get all these cool sounds put them together and they'd all slot into place nicely.

daft cunt · Post by **daft cunt** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:42 pm

BreakBait wrote:
Daft tnuc wrote:Don't know about you guys but if I'd knew years ago what making electronic music is really about (1/3 creativity, 2/3 technical stuff sound right?) I'd never have began.
I'm glad I didn't know tho.
Yer I always thought electronic music would be pretty easy
I just thought you get all these cool sounds put them together and they'd all slot into place nicely.

Indeed but now I start enjoying the complexity of it. Having to spend hours to get that little sound that makes the difference.
Probably it'd be a miserable art if it didn't take any effort.

FSTZ · Post by **FSTZ** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:45 pm

but you gotta have soul to make good tunes

technology cant help you there

daft cunt · Post by **daft cunt** » Tue May 13, 2008 11:52 pm

Obviously but having soul without any knowledge will get you nowhere either. That was just my point.

FSTZ · Post by **FSTZ** » Wed May 14, 2008 1:34 am

Daft tnuc wrote:Obviously but having soul without any knowledge will get you nowhere either. That was just my point.

gotcha

slothrop · Post by **slothrop** » Wed May 14, 2008 3:59 am

Daft tnuc wrote:Obviously but having soul without any knowledge will get you nowhere either. That was just my point.

If you think it's a pain in the arse having to go throught the 2/3 technical stuff, think of the poor bastards who learn 'real' instruments and spend ten years playing scales and shit before they can make a decent bash at a Bach Partita or whatever...

Finished songs, no real mixing skills, now what?

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