I love the internet and this generation. The information is just out there and you can really become anything you want if you're looking. Great points as always.
Ⓡomans Ⓜess Exactly what I wanted to comment here! I always said I should have been born like before 1970 or so that I would have lived the 80´s with full power but the possibilities of today with all this knowledge being just a few click away is just so amazing! But it wouldn´t be there without these amazing guys like Dave :)
"Don't set levels based on a text book... set levels by your feelings, by your emotions." So true. Excellent piece of advice for any engineer in today's world.
Thank you Dave. I can't come close to expressing how much appreciation for how much knowledge you convey in these videos, and how much I've grown from them.
I have always sworn by the rule of listening with your ears and not your eyes. Also good to hear that technique of leaving the room and getting diffrent persrpectives. Really helps with balance big time.
As soon as the second mix played, I immediately thought, "Wow!" Subtle changes can make a night and day difference in a mix. (I've used the low volume and walking out of the room techniques for years, now. I lifted it from "The Mixing Engineer's Handbook", but I don't think I have the ear or the experience you do to really help me prevent the muddy mess my mixes always become.) Thank you for this informative video! These tips will definitely be joining the post it notes that line my equipment.
God I just love how much brighter his mix sounds. Its a change from heaven to earth. At least thats my personal taste. And the delay on the guitar I also loved!
I actually have to say that I enjoy the kick in the first draft more. I know it's muddier and less clear, but in a way it complements the relatively weak low end of that particular part of the song and the brightness of the guitars. Plus, it gives a slightly lo fi vibe to it that I enjoy. Either way, I understand the decision and, your mix concept is still awesome!
Energy and EMOTION. A sensitivity to the musical content/"narrative". It's lost, it's detached, it's reflective. Its rather 80s IMO; can almost smell the dry ice! The kick gives it a back bone, keeps it rooted. Its not a 'typical' mix and as such it stands out. Sure its like marmite - you'll either love it or hate - but you'll certainly notice it. I'm not sure about the vocal, but the kick and guitar I could listen to for hours! Most important part of this video. The 'Balance' section. A balanced mix is my No.1 struggle at the moment.
You helped out so much, I love my mixes now and people love them too now from all the stuff i learned watching you. Thanks so much for your vids keep up the great work!
sometimes we just listen to many producers and many other people´s thoughts, but you feel and know when someone has been doing it right for quite a long time, thanks man right from COLOMBIA LATAM
Superb considered advice as always, Dave. I count my generation extremely fortunate that we can benefit from top-notch experience and insight like yours in this way.
My first thought even before listening is about Dave. Dave sharing his passion and expertise with anyone that cares to listen. All good things to you Dave.
We all came here to listen to his fine knowledge and understanding not to compare his former and latter workpieces. His BALANCE technique may just be what i need, thanks for that good sir. youre agood teacher
I really envy most of you mixing guys that can do a good job. I lost about 60% of my hearing in my right ear and about 20% in my left ear due to explosions. I depend on my Izotope plugins and meters a lot for the audio book editing I do for my wife. The one little point you mentioned about going out in the hall and listening to your mix can make all the difference in the world. If I can hear it out there I'm pretty dam sure you can hear it in the same room with your speakers. If you have any more subtle suggestions like that one I would love to hear them. Thanks and best regards.
Talking about balance, I once learned a trick to now and again listen to the balance on a real low level. When there's something missing, it is probably to soft on a louder level, due to the non-linearity of your hearing. This might be a bit extreme, but I heard some mixes, and caught myself doing a mix, where if you played it really softly, certain stuff would almost disappear. So yeah, listen at different levels, and different environments.
I'm still learning, but I find the part about going into the next room useful. I'll do that, walk around the room I'm mixing in, or sit at the far end of the room with my back to the speakers and cup my ears.
Great job! I personally liked the energy of the kick and the vocal presence in the first mix although the second sounded a touch cleaner, to me it sounded like the second mix lost it's energy and presence but if the sculpture is happy with it then I can dig it, thanks again for vids and info!
yes too true. i produce, and ive only recently realized that the EQ is the most powerful tool i have, so many of the trippiest, most enjoyable sounds i've made were pretty much just the result of intelligent EQing. It's also allowed me to stuff my productions with more synths than i thought possible (or reasonable) without them muddying anything up or taking away from each other.
dave, you are awesome for posting all these videos. What a wealth of information you have provided. I keep adding more of your videos to my watch later list, but there's too many! I gotta pick and choose for the sake of time, but thank you.
NOV of 12 - Top 10 Mix Mistakes (Part 1) Nice conversational info that transcends equipment and applies to projects from starting concept to finished product.
Great advice sir! I've been making beats (HipHop) for a few years now just as a hobby. a few artist liked my style and so I've taken a more professional outlook on the process. I recently learned how to "Balance" my sounds and pan them. I Love how you broke down a "Target(s)" for mixing. things to pay attention to the most. That's great advice!! And mostly I Love how you said Mix from the Heart, feelings>> THUMBS UP! Keep these videos coming man!
Again great advice, but honestly I hate the sound of that kick. I suppose it's a personal taste thing, but I do really appreciate your videos, as they are filled with valuable tips and approaches for recording and I will continue to watch them. Many thanks!
I pretty much do all of these things before I even come up with the first chord. I tend to have a visual of the song (video, movie scene, situation, etc), then i build from there. As soon as I can think of a "plot" to the song I pretty much know how I wana mix it. Whether it be dark with some warmth, or sparkly with lots of intensity, I pretty much mix the beat in my head before I've even started making it. I think thats how I choose what sounds I want to work with as well. I have to know that I can fit it in the mix perfect before I can use it
All this opinionated negativity out there for nothing... I prefer your remix and I prefer the kick you're using... Dave, you can mix for me any day and twice on Sunday!!
Funky enough, initially I agreed that adding the room to the kick took out too much energy. Then I realized his point; no one's going to hear that low frequency thump on laptop speakers, and by adding room, he maintained an energetic feel that transcends speaker capabilities (or lack thereof.)
Mixing, my nemesis!! I spent $11,000 on my debut cd "Anything for you" and never got to the 100% satisfied level. Sooner or later, you have to let it go.....it was a hard thing to do! This is a great video. We hear the song differently than an engineer will. Fact.
he did a good mixing job in my opinion! i loved the deph of the vocals but hated the room on the kickdrum. it took the low end punch of the kick away. but the kick is very essential in this track, it drives along with that fat guitar riff.
I think people's perception of the second mix is interesting. I see a lot of comments about how the vocals are too far behind the music/quite. I think that's because the demo version had the vocals way too high. Then when the A/B comparison was made, the vocals in the second mix sounded much more quiet. If you were to listen to the second version without immediately comparing, it would sound much different. :)
True, it is not as intimate with the "bigger" kick, and vocals less in your face. But when I think about it, Dave is mixing with a modern sound in mind, a time when there is much less intimacy and more "bling" - like it or not.
True ! Too much reverb on the voice...it sounds way far in the back and the guitar is too muddy... it doesn't have that top freq's to give it a clear sound. I have lot of respect for old engineers but guys... we are in 2016 !!! Keep up with the times !
Thanks, I allways check this sort of videos to get different oppinions or common ways to do stuff. A list of the 10 Mistakes (text) would've been nice, just to save some time for some people.
Thanks Dave, I believe you're right in saying that it's not some stock formula or textbook process, but rather how the mix and the levels on each instrument impact the feeling of the song. Hey, where can I get one of those cool spectrum analyzers like the one in your video?
