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Do plugins suck? Or is it how we use them?

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I have opened a lot of different sessions from lots of different people to mix over the years, and there are tons and tons of plugins all over it. Having access to tons of plugins can be a good thing, and it can also be a bad thing. You’ve heard us talk many times about how sometimes you just mute all the plugin and a recording actually comes to life. This doesn’t happen all the time, but it does happen sometimes. We live in a world where we can now access many great plugins that can do anything we want, and sometimes that takes over our recording and it gets lost under all the plugins.
If you look around my studio, you will see tat I have acquired a lot of stuff over the years, including an SSL console, various speakers, mic pres, microphones, and more. What does all of this equipment do? It imparts a sound when I am recording.
So what is the use of plugins? Plugins can also impart a sound on your recordings, which is great when you are dealing with virtual instruments, or an inexpensive microphone without a nice mic pre or compressor. However, you must know your intention.
Intention is the most important element of any recording. If you are trying to get something that glues together and feels like a vintage recording, you need to apply that intention to it. Today, you have access to hundreds of plugins, compressors, EQs, delays, reverbs, and more - which can lead to a bad case of “optionitis”. But the reality is, that when those vintage recordings that inspired you were created, they did not have access to hundreds of plugins, they were very limited, and so it really is less about the options and the number of effects you apply, and more about the intention.
Before you even being recording, paint a mental picture of the sound you want to create, because this should be what is influencing you right from the beginning. For example, are you listening to a vocal acoustic sound? You could just generically record it, and then use all the fancy plugins to pull out any peaks and troughs and all that kind of stuff, or maybe you could pull the microphone back a bit on the guitarist and get a little bit of room tone in there, and create intention.
In the long run, this will make your recording sound that much better, and also make your mixing process easier. Many of us are mixing our recordings ourselves now, so if we begin our recording with intention and create the sound we are aiming for right from the beginning, that will mean we need to do less at the end, and won’t end up with too many plugins on our mix.
Whether you are recording classic rock, modern metal, country, EDM, or anything else, work with intention!
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Опубликовано:

25 окт 2020

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Комментарии : 630

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

How do you avoid using too many plugins on your recordings?

@caloss2 3 года назад

A plug-n is a tool, use it badly and things will not turn out the way you may have intended; also happy accidents can happen too. What's the old saying "A bad workman blames his tools" but truth be told the same workman can do a better job with the right tool and the knowledge of which tool is "right" for the job. Short version it's not just how.. it's where and when.

@Wil_Dsense 3 года назад

How not to get caught in an endless loop of using plugins on top of more plugins. When and where to use them is key, and for what specific things, as creative tools to achieve certain sounds. Great point about intention it’s probably the most important thing in production, as well as inspiration.

@schipbreukeling3 3 года назад

I bought analoge gear. just the basics tube amp,tube pre amp mixer,mics,re amp box and a di box.

@DarkSideofSynth 3 года назад

This morning someone tweeted about using 20 plugins on a single channel, and then this comes out... coincidence? I don't think so:)) Besides, is it really clickbait if you put it in the title? Or perhaps it's even MORE clickbait because you put it in the title. I don't know. Warren's playing Jedi mind tricks with us. Join the dark side, Warren... we have infinite plugins!:)))

@schipbreukeling3 3 года назад

and a tape machine and somebody is building me a driver pedal for my 8 ohms twin reverb tanks.

@davetbassbos 3 года назад

If you go to food store intent on steak and onions, it won't matter how many salad dressing options there are, you'll just walk right by them!

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Very nicely put!

@BRIGGS2710 3 года назад

nom nom nom

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

@@BRIGGS2710 yes, very tasty indeed!

@timcanon5167 3 года назад

Words of wisdom from a guy who knows what he is talking about!

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks ever so much Tim!

@Soulnutriabeats 3 года назад

@@Producelikeapro you Warren are already a legend here on youtube..and you're a Brit so I am so proud of you :)

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

@@Soulnutriabeats you’re very kind! I’m happy to be able to help!

@corymiller9742 3 года назад

I'm so glad I'm not crazy for doing this. I've been intentionally limiting myself for awhile now trying to recreate some old signal chains from the 60s with plugins. It really helps you get creative when recording because you know you can't magically fix it later in mixing. If you want a good bass tone, well you better record a good bass tone and figure out the best mic placement, tone settings, etc. The more I've done that the more I've discovered my "sweet spots" and go-to mic placements.... Just like they did in the 60s.

@readaloud555 3 года назад

I'm 74 and been messing about with my hobby 'studio' for years. Now I know why most of my projects go unfinished and only semi-satisfying ... if you don't start knowing where you're going it's hard to know when you get there and far too easy to get lost. Thank you!

@TeamUltraSlow 3 года назад

Loved this. I think people definitely miss that some of their old favorites are not “perfect” audio. And like you said, that’s exactly what makes them what they were. Especially liked the tip of using specific EQ, compression, etc and not using an infinitely adjustable EQ when the sound was shaped with something basic.

@petesawchuk 3 года назад

Thanks, Warren. I’ve heard and read variations on the following from so many notable producers and engineers: “You are ALWAYS mixing.“ This can’t take place without clear intention. With a specific aim in mind, you’re focused and making decisions all the way through the process instead of putting them off for later. It’s just easier!

@ryanshreevedrums 3 года назад

Intentions in sound during the production and recording stage is something my band is currently working on and the results are incredible! Our rough mixes sound very close to finished! This is huge

@wyshwood 3 года назад

Possibly the most inspiring commentary you have done, Mr H.

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Wow! Thanks ever so much!

@chriswalker4616 3 года назад

I was doing some session bass work with a drummer, and the engineer at the studio knew exactly what kind of sound to shoot for - certain parts of the kit going through 1073 preamps, other parts going through API, the bass going through a Coil Audio preamp... he knew exactly what was what, which mics to use, which preamps, compressors, and so on, and getting the sound right at source - very old school, and the end result is a sound that won’t need much processing afterwards. Ideal!

@mcsweet1966 3 года назад

The more I learn from great engineers like you, the more I realize that most of the time they don`t care about the technical side or witch plugins they use as long as it does the trick. I love when they just switch from one plugin to another looking for a sound, a vibe or just because they feel like it and that most of time they don`t know or care what was the specific setting it just sound and fell gooooooood . Thanks for another great Video

@JonnyLipshamStudios 3 года назад

There is one word to sum up this video, without "intending" to inflate your ego at all: BRILLIANT! A Cricket analogy - It's like one of Jofra Archer's slower balls. The intent is to deceive the batter. OR, a knuckle ball in Baseball.

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks ever so much Jonny!! You ROCK!

@jamesangusmusic 3 года назад

Another great point I think that comes from what you're saying is that while the records we love didn't do or use a plethora of gear, the QUALITY of what they had access to was amazing. It's better having one great preamp and eq than having 600 average plugs. Same with one great musician and one guitar is better than 300 amp sims and pedals. You made some great points in this.

@Beatledave7 3 года назад

That is wonderful advice Warren! Agree all the big records were recorded with intention & the sounds they wanted were done at the time of recording & mixing was tidying it up at the end.

@robertkerr8601 3 года назад

Warren, I did this with some music recently. I had my sound in mind, and I spent a bit of time getting my drum sound before mixing. By that I meant just to blends of various parts without eqing or any other processing. I use Addictive etc with samples over it to thicken it out and It's really nice and beefy (as far as samples etc go). And I purposefully made sure performance in singing was better than good. Worked on my voice, worked on getting precision double ups (I wasn't working on that much which caused so much editing headaches). Worked with mic placements etc and was blown away by how my song sounded "mixed" before mixed. Basically, by taking all the right steps, you can get a recording where you can visualize the road map for mixing when you RECORD with intention, you know right away where to go, and mixing becomes quick and creative and FUN. This is a lesson I learned after spending so long wondering why recordings were so muddy and provided no road map where to go. So yes, intention, arrangement, blending etc, and performance. Get it ALL together before mixing. Mixing will simply compliment an already great recording. If its bad, mixing is only going to highlight how bad you recorded. So record well and with intention!

@strobelightstrobelight 3 года назад

Warren, the quality of your channel is incalculable. THANK YOU.

@chriscorral6365 3 года назад

That being said: it helps to know what "forest green" looks like before you reach for the crayon.

@mikeseder9385 3 года назад

Great video. I tend to go into projects without a clear intention. When I do, the most effective solution is to fiddle around with plugins until something clicks, then scrap everything and start over -- recording and all -- with my new-found intention.

@roarproductionsstudio 3 года назад

This video is literally what i realise in my 5 years of my experience. I started producing long back when i didnt had any idea what is mixing and mastering is i just used to produce on the DAW and never compared with other professional tracks it just sound good to me. Then i met a " sound engineer" and he told me that he would make my music sound good and then he made it worse with all the cracked plugins he had. And he asked me to remove all the FX plugins which i had done it with some intention at that time. So the song was ruined by this SE.. I wish this video was posted long long back. Thanks dear warren sir for this marvelous video.

@AironExTv 3 года назад

I mix dialogue, music and effects for film, television and streaming. Intention is our time saver. Foley is ALWAYS recorded with intention as you put it Warren. In fact, the less money/time we have, the more focused on the intended result we have to be during recording. That goes for foley, effects all the way to foreign language dubs. One of my first gigs in post was working on a daily soap opera. The production sound mixer had already shaped the sound to be almost ready to go. That was easy to mix. That‘s one of the reasons I‘ve never recorded an uncompressed bass guitar. „Do we at least have a DBX166? 3:1, let‘s go.“ At what point would I not know what I want ? And what’s wrong with re-recording a take because you didn’t get what you needed ? Mic choice, position, preamp selection, perhaps comp, perhaps eq , ON the recording. Now I WILL sometimes record with nothing but mic, mic position and preamp selection, but only because I know what to reach for on my DAW by now to get my intended sound. It takes time to build your palette so get cracking! Try, fail, learn and apply until the day they nail the coffin shut. Yuck, what a cliche, but also a reason I still love it after over 20 years.

@KellyDavidMusic 3 года назад

Back in the day when I started in the music industry (1970’s), we had very limited equipment options. The creation of a good recorded song or album came out of imagination. Every sound we created was very deliberate as we searched to achieve what we imagined or what we heard from another band. Everything we did was intentional and often analytical. When there are limited equipment choices, you become very specific about how you use the equipment. Now here we are in 2020, with everything we ever dreamed of at our fingertips, and still, great music can only be created with intention, because we still have to know what we want to achieve. The 435 plugins in your folder are not going to create a song that resonates with the listener. That only comes from intention. Thanks Warren!

@SynThamizh 3 года назад

Dear Warren... Our band loves your stuff... We learnt the art of mixing from good souls like yourself, Graham Cochrane(Recording Revolution), Michael White ( Mixing with Mike).. We got our minds clear about the technical stuff... But we were really lacking something... Intention... What an eye opener?... Hope you're marvelously well.. Love from India... FreeTracks..

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Wow! Thanks ever so much for your kind words! I’m glad to be able to help!

@hazzardsound1505 3 года назад

Great video Warren thank you! I've been doing this recording thing for a while too and it still surprises me how many times I hear, "Don't worry too much about my sound while I'm tracking, I'd like to do all that in the mix".....??? Intension is missed and very often misunderstood during communication too! Thanks again Warren.....it desperately needed to be said, love your work! Ajay.

@scottakam 3 года назад

Your advice applies to many things in life beyond recording and mixing. Before can can decide which direction to go you need to know where you are and where you want end up.

@uweschmidt8772 3 года назад

I really appreciate the message of this video, for I am working as a live-sound-engineer (well, not quite at the moment, because of that special situation we‘re in), and it is all so much about gear and not so much about intension in my scene. It started all about analogue vs digital and now we have a what I called „brand-war“. So, at last, the intension is the weapon of choice, because gear will led you nowhere without intension. I never claimed to be a technical genius as mor loving music itself as the driving force. I don‘t know too much about all the machines and physics involved, but I always try to fulfill my vision of a sound as FoH-mixer. Sure, you learn a lot about all the other stuff working in the scene nearly 25 years. But the center of all my effort is knowing where to go with it. So , I am thankful of hearing this from a respected and experienced person like Warren about this and having the feeling to be in the right place with this channel.

@int3533 3 года назад

Intention really is everything when it comes to production and mixing yet this might actually be the only video on it. Very important video for sure. If you can really wrap your head around this notion you will save years of your life. Once again Warren, thank you 🙏

@warrenthomas1021 3 года назад

Great post mate. You explain mixing so easily to understand. Directly after your "intention" then "Commit to the sound", which I think is your best word of advice. Rock on brother!

@edkrausmixengineer 3 года назад

What an enlightening perspective. Thanks Warren! What is has become clear to me over time is that better results will come from making decisions as early in the process and sound source as possible, starting with instrument selection, what model of bass. Then microphone and preamp selection. Mic positioning, etc. When mixing, don't fix things on the busses, but on the source tracks. What you are saying seems to dovetail with this nicely.

@crown00music 3 года назад

Huge clickbait, but one of the most important suggestions ever!

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Haha Exactly! Thanks ever so much!

@tisbonus 3 года назад

Haha great question. Whenever I'm recording (usually other people/artists) once I get what we need, I move on. Probably been doing it wrong, as they say but time is and was always a factor. That includes the desire to finish the project/recording too. Glad you've been staying safe down there in Socal!😁

@BD-me4nk 3 года назад

Your intention was to deliver a message which when done successfully equates to great content and once again you knocked it out of the park. Great video.

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Wow! Thanks ever so much my friend!!

@kalisblack2022 3 года назад

Great advice Warren. In regards to your comment about EDM producers mixing with more intention... I mix what some may call EDM... more specifically, Tropical House, and yes... I do mix as I go for this reason, although many videos online have led me to believe I'm doing it wrong by doing this. But as you say, things need to fit in a mix correctly, and ever since I started using reference tracks things really do become much easier. I've definitely found that mixing before going on to the next thing does help me make huge strides forward for making tracks. I think you're the only person to actually make this comment on youtube about making things sound the way you want it before moving on.

@tepteemedia 3 года назад

Spot on Warren! I actually removed a lot of plug-ins a couple of months ago from my default list of plug-ins because of this reason. Used to spend too much time thinking of what plug-in to use. Now I have about three or four compressors, four or five EQs (one is sweepable) and a couple of reverbs and delays. All the rest is there but I have to actually search. to find them and I am to "lazy" to do it. Really helped to speed things up.

@therealdjap 3 года назад

I have this talk with people often. In recent years I realized I loved recording, mixing and producing more when I had LESS. No joke, the most amazing records I created and released were with a simple Mackie mixer (as my pre) a DBX compressor and wayyy early Cubase. Then I would route all the outs back through the board and then straight to the DAT. Who knew as a teen I was mixing and summing better than I did as an adult, lol. Digital rules and I love what I learned and aquired over the years but that 4 track cassette tape mix was special to me, lol. The intention rule is true!

@thebigpicture2455 3 года назад

I think it is SO important...to feel the limits of your gear. I on purpose limit myself to 2 compressors...etc. My plugin menu is quite small...easier workflow as well.

@LukaszFrankowski 3 года назад

Thank you Warren. So true. Lack of commitment is truly at fault here and mostly because we have no intention. That's probably the most valuable video you've released.

@eljuanchosf 3 года назад

This is one of your best videos so far. Wisdom like this is priceless and so appreciated. Thank you so, so much!!!

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks ever so much!

@CyriltheWolfmusic 3 года назад

I don't watch a lot of interviews from older mixers, but the talk of intention made me realize I typically committed to sounds and dynamics at the recording stage before and often stuck with a polished off tracking mix. I think somewhere in there I got stuck in that mentality of "save mixing for the end" and my overall mixes and such suffered because of it.

@AndreiSora 3 года назад

There's this Joe Chiccarelli MWTM video where he records a band and I was shocked how well everything sounded during the recording stage. Barely did anything for the mix.

@timlovegrove1097 3 года назад

I found some early Queen multi tracks online. You load the into your DAW, bring up the faders and... it’s the song, pretty much exactly as it was released. No mixing required (maybe a hint of eq here and there), they just sound exactly how they intended it to, exactly as Warren describes.

@squoblat 3 года назад

My solution to this was a bit backwards, I swapped the box for a hardware mixer, some outboard gear and only permitting VST plugins on a send (via the audio interface) and seeing what I could do with a minimal amount of tools. Carried that philosophy back into the box and suddenly 90% of the mud was gone from my mix and I was vastly more creative with fewer plugins. I think working on hardware is a very, very valuable experience for the theory/creativity side of mixing and producing. Not a cheap thing to do, but it's saved me from buying any more plugins unless I can really think of a use case for them.

@RC32Smiths01 3 года назад

I believe that the equipment is only as good as the person who uses it, which can apply to a multitude of ideas. Awesome work!

@BlueHouseSoundStudio 3 года назад

Yes, but when I need to hammer something... I like to use a hammer.

@joshdrewpic 3 года назад

right! I feel like having less actually makes people work more creatively

@DorianTwist 3 года назад

When I need to hammer something I usually use a rubber.

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks RC32! And yes, agreed!

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

@@DorianTwist haha that might be the problem...although I know the joke you are trying to make!

@joristimmermans5058 3 года назад

Completely unrelated, or maybe not, I love the children's artwork on your desk... I have that too, and it re-grounds me in *my* intention to enjoy what I do, and to keep me honest about what's truly important in life.

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks ever so much Joris! I really appreciate it! Yes, our kids give us so much motivation!

@matthewjones8510 3 года назад

I like how you wrapped that back around to EDM and the sense of ‘intention’ that’s there. Not my cup of tea, but that was a mind opening notion.

@tombarnaby4842 3 года назад

Well I'm confused. I googled for the "Intention" plugin and found nothing.

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Haha nicely done!

@adamsmith7058 3 года назад

Right now, it's just available on VCV rack. If you like, I can add you to the beta testing team for the vst though.

@a1guitarmaker 3 года назад

I didn't intend to leave a comment, but I believe in putting stuff between the source and the computer. I've been using a ART Pro Channel for tube preamp and opto compressor for years. Now I have 2 Lindell 6x-500 preamps and 7x-500 compressors along with 2 Lewitt 441-Flex mics (mics at a great discount thanks to Produce Like A Pro Academy and Vintage King). The point is, when I got the Lewitt mics and the Lindell stuff I made test recording just playing mandolin and singing, maximizing the gain, eq, and compression on the way in. It was only 2 tracks but I printed the master without any plugins on either channel or the master bus, and it sounded great! Loud and good.

@jeanfredericmartin8954 3 года назад

Thank you for the great perspective. I remember back when "I didn't know what I was doing but I knew what I wanted" recording was so much easier... recently I've been spending too much time "tweeking things" ... I need to stop with "optionizing" and get my intentions right !

@heartshinemusic 3 года назад

I think one key element is the change of mindset from first demoing your songs to construct the final version of the song right from the start. Skip the demo part. Abandon that whole idea of a demo and develope the song from the blank DAW session. Or better, create the song in your head first and only start recording if the melody, lyrics and song structure are 75% ready in your mind. (The moments between day and dream, with cell phones turned off, are best to meditate on the end result.) If you have the vision ready, the rest is so much easier to finish. Hope any of this makes sense, it's hard to translate creative process into words. That's why I hope to see more video's on songwriting and pre-production. Thought of a cool new phrase: the intention span! Besides intention, the other powerful word is urgency. A nice pair, if you ask me.

@CHRISMCCOMBS5150 3 года назад

I am firmly planted in analog style recording. I use a Midas M32 console, I love the pre's and I am using both console processing and plug in's to shape the sounds I am going after. I was using just plug in's until You, Warren reminded me of getting back to how to go for shaping the tone going into the date. You are the best at explaining things in a way us old school guys can apply and use with the new technology, THANK YOU for all you do in these videos.

@CHRISMCCOMBS5150 3 года назад

That would be DAW not date.

@shooten1st 3 года назад

Great discussion and definitely got me thinking. The thing I hear from great mixers is that they know how they want something to sound. As a novice mixer but long time musician, this is the hardest part for me. Intention. What do I want it to sound like and how can make all of these marvelous tools to sculpt it? Such a wonderful problem to have. Thank you Warren!

@mantis834 3 года назад

Been watching your videos for while now (and all are great!), but this one hits home like no other. How often do we hear cliché analogies comparing mixing too cooking or painting, well they must stem from some form of truth. For example; something that greatly helped improve my cooking was watching Gordon Ramsay's Master Chef shows some years ago, and how he often commented about the 'hero" of the dish getting lost, buried in a gamut of ingredients that don't even blend well. The dish lost its identity, its hero, as there were too many things going on, I truly believe same goes with mixing. The "intention" behind the sound and tone you're after is the sonic hero. ie: If someone wants that Massive Attack-style fat, dark, brooding synth bass tone, then focus on that from the very beginning. Start with the right synth, the right patch, preset/programming, and tweak away until your intention to get that sound is there (or very close to it). That bass tone and pattern is your hero, at the forefront, and everything else in the mix are merely its allies. Find your sun - whether it's a bass, a vocal, a synth hook, etc, then start adding your planets, your moons, your stars and comets to orbit around it. Shape them, color them, whatever you do, but let the sun be the hero, the one that engages the listener right away. Your Pretenders bass sound example is spot on, as well as the AC/DC drum tones. Get that tone first, anchor down on the intention, and everything else can be mixed around it with more ease and efficiency. Really starting to love these videos with no audio nor screenshots of a DAW, only explaining the philosophies behind what we do. Brilliant, love this one, Warren.

@richardsimpson1436 3 года назад

Every mixing engineer should listen to Warrens words.... Intention .. I am from the old school of recording , mixing and cutting records..

@OIP5150 3 года назад

I agree with this topic 110%. Just few days ago,i ranted on FB about the lack of feeling / intent in a mix. I really hate it when i let the music invade my space, only to find that the mix has hardly any intent. It makes the whole song feel aimless and totally lost. What is the character of your or my mix? Is your/my mix like a brat who can kick your ass, is the mix happy, sad, passive aggressive, manic, lazy ,about-to-burst happy, aloof, loving, etc,etc. You know what i mean? Personally,i feel that if a song does not give me any vision at all, if i don't "see" anything when i hear the song, i might need a break from the mixing. Even if you don't like the song you're working on, you will " see" something when you hear it the first time. Follow what you " see". Like Warren said here, have intent in what you do. Personally, i'd rather hear a cluttered mix with an idea,than a clear mix that has no idea where to go and what to be. Take your idea and push it thru, be proud of your vision for the mix, and take no shit for it. Stop second guessing your mix to death. Ok,rant over.

@adamsmith7058 3 года назад

If my software was realised as a hardware studio it would be the size of Versailles. Lol. Just took a listen to this after tearing my hair out looking for a synth to provide a mid range layer for another synth bass part I'd written . You know what? It sounds good as it is. Not every bass part needs to be arranged or processed in that way. Just fell into a habit with that one. A behavioural impulse that often acts contra to intention, especially with of all stuff we have available to us right now. You can really forget what you're trying to achieve. Nice talk man.

@emiel333 3 года назад

Limit yourself when producing music. Limitations sparks creativity.

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks ever so much!

@emiel333 3 года назад

@@Producelikeapro No problem. Thanks 🙏 for the reply!

@scottydogg278 3 года назад

Great video - I recently decided to stop picking up new 'great' plugins mostly to start saving money until I start making return on the 'investments.' An intended but great benefit you've helped me understand is that I'll also avoid optionitis and work on developing more of the intention (and improving on the work I do too!)

@polksalad77 3 года назад

Very well put Warren. Optionitis is a real killer, for me anyway. Having worked in the early 90's in local studios you only had a handful of options and sometimes the equipment was not up to scratch too so you really had to work on your intentions.

@svvvvaaa 3 года назад

your videos bring me comfort. I was just the other day at my friends. and damn...... he had the freaking most awesome pluggins and made everything sound very dope. well i have learned from your videos that, learn your own tools, master them and one does not need to have everything to achieve great stuff :) Even if is not crystal clear and everything is not placed excatly where they're supposed to be -- the track may translate better

@nunomagalhaes6362 3 года назад

This is one of the most precious videos I've seen about music production!

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Wow! Thanks ever so much Nuno!

@jokerswearblack 3 года назад

Fascinating points which really made me think. I have found that the 'production' role in a process where I fulfil all roles, is the most difficult. It is, as you say, because I haven't really defined the intention. Each song leads its own process and approach and whilst the musicianship is bound by ability and the mixing by ability and kit, the production is the challenge I have realised as the most difficult, the one that fails me. Even selecting reference tracks is currently eluding me. I don't know who I want to sound like. Anyway, thanks for the video. I like the philosophical ones.

@skltnbeats8240 3 года назад

We are so lucky to hear you share your advice . That was very helpful .

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks ever so much!!

@arkistriph1 3 года назад

Would love to hear a typical interaction between you and a client, just to get a look into that side of the process of making a record. Thank you once again Sir.

@thierry.lavallee 3 года назад

One thing I will definitely try is recording with a creative compressor on. I indeed feel that having something to work with and commit might bring in signature to build upon.

@zer0tzer0 3 года назад

I'm old school. I tried to keep a tape deck up and running as along as I could. Usually the transport would fail. But I still try to record like I'm using a tape deck, using as few tracks as possible, and I mix the same way. I even do retakes rather than just keeping every take . I don't want to stitch together a comp if I don't have to. That's just the way I work. And I recommend it. If you can't record on a 2" 24 Track, just pretend you are, unless you absolutely have to cut corners.

@richardhall361 3 года назад

Brilliant video again! This is how I view everything I record. I’m a mix as I go chap. Great video Warren!

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks ever so much Richard!

@ravingsofa...6 3 года назад

Taking this topic in slightly different direction; I researched how different types and models of compressors work and common applications for them. It’s amazing now that I now can choose a compressor with intention. Whereas before I’d cycle through different compressors hoping it would work. My compression has gone from good to great! Next up, learning different reverbs.

@DerekPower 3 года назад

I already wrote one answer underneath your pinned comment and I wrote it before I watched the whole thing. Turned out you and I were in agreement the whole time =] But you are absolutely right. I may not use the word intention, but I definitely believe that you need to have a vision of what you are doing whilst tracking and mixing. Hell, that alone can already determine what you will use. So you want to sound like a 1970s punk rock group? Easy: find the things that will help you get there and a lot of times, it’s about keeping it simple (unless you are Martin Hannett and then you can go a bit more wild 😉). But a lot of times, it starts with the source: the instruments, the voice, whatever you can do right then and there. Everything else goes on from there. And if you chose your elements well, the mixing is the easiest thing and all you are really doing is either making sure they work together better or if you want to add that extra bit of spice that you couldn’t really do whilst tracking. And yeah, having rules beforehand helps as well. For instance, limiting your choices to use only “stock plugins” (and depending on your DAW, you can easily get away with it) or only of a certain series. So yes. Intention. Vision. That’s more important than any tools you are using =] Cheers

@neovxr 3 года назад

Intention has also a connection with marketing and branding. It uses knowledge. To sell an intellectual idea, like a melody and lyrics, you still need to form a palpatable package and wrap. You need to encode the emotion also in the physical sound that has to result in the set of mixtracks.

@Sasketchejuana_man 3 года назад

It’s definitely how they’re used. When you have a mouse in your hand you tend to tweak and turn things too much and feel the need to dial it in. Hardware use especially “back in the day” was used VERY subtlety. Your best mix will always come from the mics and the room long before you ever twist any knobs.

@zacharyhill8405 3 года назад

This is the type of Mr. Miyagi wisdom that I really appreciate! Thank you for always keeping it real, much respect.

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks ever so much Zachary! That's very kind of you!

@RJ1J 3 года назад

With intention as the focus, be prepared to fail, over and over. But don't give up. Learn from the failures and get excited to apply what you learned from the failures to the next track. Or re-recording/remixing the song.

@johngallaghermusic9777 3 года назад

Thanks, Warren, This is really great. I work on an old Tascam 24 hard disc recorder and I don't have any plugins. I find using intention to be the best tool and always get the sounds I want even before recording but always have a sound of what I want it to sound like as a whole for the end product is the best thing to keep in mind. Thanks again.Invaluable

@mkenny17 3 года назад

Thank you for the video! I am still learning my self and most of the time i found my self to not know what MOST plugins do. I mix pretty fast and was left wondering why some people took it like its a nightmare or something. your video explains exactly what was going on. most of the time before recording i already have a sound in my mind and have an idea where to navigate and expect. I agree with the part of having an Intention or a sound in your head before doing recording / mixing. it makes the mix easy and saves time.

@bradzillarocks 3 года назад

I'm mixing an album right now and have caught myself putting compression or EQ in just by rote, so I'm working on this very concept and determining what's needed before doing anything rather than just start adding things I think I should probably use.

@akshaydabhadkarmusic7026 3 года назад

This is probably the best clickbait ever! Thanks Warren for existing! Intention it is then! What happens for me is this --- suppose I'm trying to mix a strummed acoustic guitar I often try to compare it with other songs with strummed acoustic guitars and make a judgement on my session. I recently learnt that this is the opposite of what I should be doing. The gritty but gorgeous sound of ac guitars from Trains by Porcupine Tree might not work In my mix's context. Maybe it needs that imprecise room tone with some low-mid emphasis! Generalising how certain elements of my mix should sound like is taking away the character the mix would otherwise have.

@OdinOfficialEmcee 3 года назад

I totally agree with Warren - use intention! Also, limitations is why I use nearly exclusively analog and analog emulation gear. Minimal controls, minimal things to mess up. It just makes things move quicker, smoother, and easier when you do less but you do big things and know what direction you are heading! For example, my favourite de-esser is on the BSS DPR 402 (and the other similar DPR units). It is 2 controls: frequency and attenuation. No matter what I run through it, it always gives me perfect high end. Every other de-esser I have used either has too many parameters, or just doesn't sound as good. Same thing with an LA2A on vocals or bass. There is just so little you can do you'd have to be *trying* to make it sound bad.

@PJBonoVox 3 года назад

I don't have the space or budget for that but I did deliberately strip down my VSTs to the bare essentials only and I actually finished a track for the first time in years :)

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks ever so much Odin!! You Rock!!

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

@@PJBonoVox great stuff!! Thanks ever so much for sharing!

@PJBonoVox 3 года назад

@@Producelikeapro Thanks dude. It really helped me to focus on what I was trying to create and not get too worried about tones and suchlike. The end result might not be very polished, but it's a complete track which is a step up for me. Keep these great videos coming man, you're a fantastic teacher.

@DigitalChemistryBand 3 года назад

The "intention" is to use LESS to achieve MORE.... great topic and chat.... Been working fully ITB since the beginning... And have "collected" vst plugins for as long... But... after those many years... I still rely on about 10 vst that handle almost all my needs... Re: a nice LA76 clone compressor, the cuckoos eq, 2 reverbs (an old school spring rvb, and an SPX clone), a dedicated delay, leveler, aural exciter, stereo field widener, and ... an API emulation on the master out, and finally... a master metering suite. For sure, I use some individual instances of other vst for special processes, but "more" is never "better"... My mix template is set up to provide comp and eq on every audio channel, up to 32 channels... with dedicated reverb and delay channels as efx busses... As a musician first, and engineer... second, I mix "on the fly"... recording a part, then "mixing" it into the project as I'm writing/ recording it. Afterwards, I go into "final mix" mode... Where the elements of the mix are finalized, levels established, final eq and comp/ limiting done. The problem with 999 levels of undo, is ... 999 levels of undo...as with "intention"... the amount of "choice", means you never have to finish a mix.... Get great tone the first time, and use "less" plugins to achieve your results....

@danialdevostmusic 3 года назад

tracking with plugins is so underrated!!! Even if ur computer cant handle it in real time, take that vocal u just recorded, put a nice preamp emulation, analog compressor emulation, and maybe some tape emulation if u like it and render that file! This is something I do when sent really flat plain recordings to mix. As I build the mix file, I listen to the tracks and just think about what I would have done if I was there tracking it. Then render those files and that is what I mix from, makes the actual mix a lot easier!

@markgueren9633 3 года назад

Exactly!!! This is perfect... I really try to get the best performance and try not to”fix” it in the mix... just ends up sounding like you said!!!! Thanks for encouraging this mindset!!!

@jacobwhite936 3 года назад

Warren, great quote!!! I'm constantly telling my daughter (same age as your son) that the trick to being productive is acting only with intention.

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks ever so much Jacob! You Rock! Yes, we are here to help them grow, indeed, with intention!

@Dan-kb2oz 3 года назад

Thanks Warren, perfect timing, I was just thinking earlier I have so many compositional options and that it leads me to not doing anything for fear of whatever I do not being good. It’s such a stupid mindset and an excuse for not having “intention” 😜 and going with it!

@frankcoffey 3 года назад

The common solution would be stems or tracks that have the “intention” applied. You can always include the dry ones just don’t expect the project to be portable. If someone else is going to work on it send them tracks that are done..as intended.

@drea7772 3 года назад

Very interesting Warren! My dad tells me that Frank Sinatra was famous or "infamous" for demanding a one take recording. Mr. Sinatra argued that if he and the orchestra had to do multiple takes, then both him and the orchestra should be fired and replaced with professionals! Perhaps, the simplicity of the old recordings had much more impact than 150 tracks of Pro Tools stacked on a digital basin!

@KyriCB 3 года назад

So true Warren, recorded a Martin D35 into a TLM103 equed through a AMS 1073SPX and the intention should be slapping you in the face. The instruments do the talking and the talent should compliment, engage and enthrall. This can only be done with intention! Keep it simple, sweet and with mood and intention! You're absolutely spot on!

@patkelly3966 3 года назад

I find the ' intention ' aspect of the process some of the most fun. I'm always trying to tell a story with my music and part of that is deciding what sonic flavour I wish to bring to it. Do I want to go bright and sparkly? Ok, call up that SSL emu on my guitars and piano. Am I trying to invoke a feeling of nostalgia for those who, like me, were kids in the 1980s? Right, lets put a gated Lexicon plate on my drums, etc etc. Surely without the intention we are just stumbling round in the dark?..another great vid. Cheers Warren.

@TokyoSpeirs 3 года назад

I love the honesty about its clickbait, and love the content even MORE haha!

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks ever so much!!

@shanedavid9923 3 года назад

This video has been somewhat of a revelation for me, this morning. I’m an electronic music producer and label owner. I’ve had some recent success so I decided to work extremely hard on my mixing skills and knowledge, during lockdown, in an attempt to push on from my success. As I’m preparing my upcoming EP for release, sure it sounds objectively “better”, the mix is more modern, but watching this video has given me a lightbulb moment, in the back of my mind, although it sounds “better”, I don’t like it, it doesn’t sound like me. Oh well, let’s pull up those three projects, again 🤷‍♂️😬

@trevornokesmusicltd5357 3 года назад

Fantastic 'Focus' Video Warren.

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks ever so much Trevor!

@OrangutanTradeSalesmen 3 года назад

I had a mix of ours I'd been working on and sent it off to Yukon our mastering guy. He noticed a lot of extra noise, it was too much buildup of the analog switches or the 50 or 60 hz buttons on CLA 76, waves pultec etc. also removed a couple of extra API plugins I didn't need in the mix. That was all it took. Definitely was good to have a second set of ears, I was so deep in the mix I didn't notice.

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks ever so much for sharing your experience and insight!

@TomislavRupic 3 года назад

using Waves plugins always makes the sound worse for me, so much I stoped using them at all... there are better plugins out there

@DoItYourselfMusician 3 года назад

I always record with the finished product in mind and do a lot of mixing as I go. I think it makes a better recording as you're less inclined to rush through stuff.

@clubbedtobreathe 3 года назад

Intention then options, since we have plenty of options and informations, restriction of choice is a good way to focus on what's really intended desired. It's like getting the most out of an instrument, a single instrument tends to give limitless possibilities. I always think about old ages of music including classical music and how to drive what's desired with what's really needed.

@JoeAtClaricast 3 года назад

Fantastic advice. EQing using 'Neve-like' settings is smart.

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Thanks ever so much Joe!

@JoeAtClaricast 3 года назад

@@Producelikeapro Always :)

@darrenross9168 3 года назад

Hi Warren, i use an ancient PC, it records and does what i want it to do but when it comes to adding a millions plugins, i wish. I have bought lots of plugins and i still find myself using stock stuff but i must admit some of the 3rd party gear actually helped me understand the stock plugins better, i guess trying to get the sound i am looking for to begin with is the key and when i want delay or reverb i usually have them on separate channels, a bit of latency isn't an issue when it comes to delay and reverb in my opinion but when too much reverb or delay is recorded on the main track it can be a pain, have a great day, thanks for a cool vid, all the best.

@BillyWrightLive 3 года назад

This was great Warren. Thank you so much! Hope you’re having a marvelous day ☺️

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks ever so much

@ethanviglione 3 года назад

Really helpful stuff Warren! I particularly like the illustration about the AC/DC sound...I’d love to see a vid from you about how you might, in theory, achieve other classic sounds. I think in modern music there is a general lack of a sonic ‘fingerprint’... and I suspect it’s party due to the fact that there are a lot of people (myself included) who are producing and mixing music but have never had any experience using real analog gear (consoles, character pre amps, tape machines ect.). So when it comes to using references to achieve a sound it ends up being a lot of guess work... which in some cases can be a good thing! But I’d love to just be able to reference a classic song and instantly know what analog emulation to pull up.. or at least have a framework for finding the right plug in! Love your stuff warren..! Learning heaps Ethan

@demodeiowa 3 года назад

you sir said a WHOLE lot revolving our problems in this relatively short video. Amazing advice!

@timbomba9478 3 года назад

This is great!! We grew up on API EQ 560 graphics, and some Pultecs. Limited selection. Excellent approach 'Intention'.

@rome8180 3 года назад

I've never understood why people talk about recording and mixing as separate processes. At least for me, they happen at the same time. I'm not saying I achieve a final mix as I'm recording, but I at least pick out sounds that fit together and try to have the levels right. How can I tell if a guitar and bass part sound good together if I've got the wrong sounds and levels? Even a lot of the songwriting happens while I'm recording. Not the chords and melody, but much of the accompaniment.

@Producelikeapro 3 года назад

Absolutely! So well said! It's all one process!!

@IsaacJDean 3 года назад

I agree but it's still worth practicing good gain staging for decent quality recordings. What I mean is that, even if you know a part is going to be very quiet, it might not be a great idea to record it very quietly as you good end up with noisy recordings, especially if it's dynamic and gets very quiet.

@tssitcom 3 года назад

I was fortunate, having started recording in the 70s, to be forced to have intention right from the start because I had so few tracks to work with. My first recorder was a Teac A3440 4 channel. So every sound was processed as it was recorded and, as you said, everything else was fit around it. Today, we are so spoiled with the options we have. And yet, with all the plugins I own, I find myself turning to the same 5 or 6 because that's all I need. The 70s were good for my discipline.

@hammerpocket 3 года назад

Intention bumps into optionitis when you don't know what kind of plugin will fulfill your intention. For example, "Neve-style EQ, boost 60 Hz, cut 220 Hz" to get a bass drum sound requires experience (or at least a trained ear) along with intention.

@fakshen1973 3 года назад

Recording live through the gear can be stimulating. Ever notice how your guitar playing changes based on how you set that delay? Or you start feeling out that sweet amount of crush while you're playing/singing into a compressor? You can always record your dry signal as well; just in case you're not happy with your first go. 8 input audio interfaces are so common and affordable these days. Hard drive space is dirt cheap. You can record 100 tracks for a song but only use 10. So get creative. Record the dry signal AND with some processing. Print the effects track(s) separately in case it's just the perfect sauce. Just because you record it doesn't mean that you HAVE to use it. If it's not costing you anything... record it (unlike the costs of analog tape, fixed track counts and lengths). SOOooooo easy today.