basic mixdown gear (currently reading moneyshot)

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chopsui
Posts: 30
Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2012 3:06 pm

basic mixdown gear (currently reading moneyshot)

Post by chopsui » Wed Jul 04, 2012 8:50 am

BIG EDIT: Been reading through the moneyshot posts; macc's posts on gain structure, leaving enough headroom by putting the drums at aruond -12 to -10db, etc makes a lot of sense. You don't want frequencies clashing and cancelling eachother out. I'm emberassed to say that I've been leaving my mixer track channels at the default in FL for everything I've been making. I've just been working on making my tracks sound the way I want, I'm just now getting to the translating to other systems, mixing and gain structure, decibels and whatnot. Moneyshot thread is helping a fuckton. I'm gonna try relying less on GEAR and more at frequency spectrum analyzers, decibel meters(iphone app any good? LOL), and trying to get sounds that compliment eachother without moshing together.

Still: What do you guys mostly make/listen to tracks on when you're in your studio/room/whatever. I will be referencing as many different systems as I can, sucks I don't have access to any PA's though as I want to be producing bangers.


Anyway, since we're not talking about genelecs and fancy hardware, what do most of you guys use when you're doing a rough mixdown of a track?

I assume decent monitors are still a must, but I've been getting mixed answers everywhere. Some people say at least Yamaha HS50's for the mids and highs and a decent pair of cans (at least ath-m50s) to get at least some accuracy on the lower frequencies. It's hard to leave room at certain frequencies cause I'm making beats on a 5 speaker logitech system I got for x-mas and some Sony MDR-V6's that are super bass heavy and make eveyrthing sound good.... to me, sounds like shit to people. I've literally heard my trance chords disappear because the difference in the speakers were SO hugely different than my super bass heavy setup.

Other people say you can't use cans at all for mixing/mastering... but I'm all about getting the job done for the least money.

My speakers have a lot of shit you can adjust and they are not at all accurate, I'm thinking I'll get my ideas out and make the track on my logitech speakers first since it's easy on the ears and I can reference roughly vs the music I usually listen to. Noisia, cenob1t3, excision, 2am cant think of many others. then use the HS50's to bring down the peaks of the mids and highs after the track is completely done.

Can I get away with just using a decent flat pair of cans and my car stereo (corolla haha.)

I hear the HS50's are fucking accurate for the price range though, so you can hear all the shit parts and fix em up. Even car stereos run compressors, etc that would effect how much compression I use in my mixer tracks, which doesnt accurately represent the sound.... FUCK

Don't want to spend if I don't have to but since my tracks translate like shit I need something better than my Sony MDR-V6 cans and Logitech system, they are both bass heavy and I feel like I have no reference whatsoever.

chopsui
Posts: 30
Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2012 3:06 pm

Re: basic mixdown gear (currently reading moneyshot)

Post by chopsui » Wed Jul 04, 2012 10:22 am

money shot says these $200 cans have the most accurate bass frequency response so... A/B these with some HS50m's seems like the cheapest accurate setup... still $500.. VRM box is $99 LOL, anyway like I said I'm not going for a pro mix here whats the shit u guys use most and what can I get away with... honestly if I want any accuracy it seems like what I just wrote is the minimum...

Or.. Just spectral analyze the shit out of everything and throw my ears away. That sounds good too...


Well Fuck. Been reading all night and I think it's time I return my 2i2. I have firewire. I am an idiot. MY FTP was better if it didnt have horrible driver problems. Gonna return it for a Saffire 14 or possibly a 24 (VRM would help me a lot I'm starting to think, but costs wayy too much to justify. Only difference between the 2i2 and Saffire 14 is Firewire, midi, and the extra outs for $100 more. I think it's worth it but then again I don't really know.

Can I get by with my 2i2 I honestly think all that I/O is way overkill, though I would like the midi in/out (friend said i can attach midi to my 2i2 for $20??) and obviously the firewire reducing latency to practically nothing....

Sorry for the uber noob post I stayed up til 4am reading to try and reduce the chance of this garbage appearing from me here again..

My best guess is the 2i2 for $125 and my lack of need for I/O its hard to beat..


Anyone have some input on my choices? Something... anything..
Last edited by chopsui on Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:29 am, edited 1 time in total.

chopsui
Posts: 30
Joined: Sun Jun 24, 2012 3:06 pm

Re: basic mixdown gear (currently reading moneyshot)

Post by chopsui » Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:20 am

BTW tomorrow is my last day to get 15% off my interface so a reply before the 5th would be greatly appreciated.

123kidd
Posts: 166
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 5:58 am
Location: Tdot

Re: basic mixdown gear (currently reading moneyshot)

Post by 123kidd » Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:04 pm

Holy wall of text batman! I can vouch for the scarlett 2i2. Just got mine about a week ago and its a great basic interface. one thing to consider is if you dj and want to cue tracks using headphones, this is not possible.
What kind of midi device are you going to run? Most controllers now use usb.
Firewire vs usb is not so significant as usb 2.0 is plenty fast for audio.
Are you recording multiple hardware/ instruments at a given time? If not then extra ins are a waste.
As with monitoring gear, you have to take the time to really learn them.
save the money from the vrm to put into either some quality cans or monitors

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