Who ever told you it is neccessary to use such a chain in masterchannel for this is wrong!

By way of exception because you seem to be very unexperienced in this:

In every halfway modern DAW you can drive your audio tracks and mix busses/subgroups up to more than +16dB FS without any distortion => unneccessary

=> single tracks/instruments because it's unlikely that bd and bass need the same compression (with the exception of parallel compression)

=> single tracks and/or subgroups (different lowcuts for differnt sounds)

=> absolutely single tracks only! Focus on some highs and lower them on the rest.

all your tracks need the same compression??? Very unlikely. => single tracks and/or subgroups.

tape saturation and compression? => single tracks and/or subgroups.

=> single tracks and/or subgroups.

=> Yeaah, this belongs to the mastering chain

Don't know, still not working with it.

So, finished with my longest post, hopefully for all times.

 

Last edited: Nov 16, 2017

Well if I am doing it wrong I am not sure why my mixes sound great on Radio, TV and in the Cinema.
Also they sound really good on my B&W's
Imagine how good they could sound No Avenger if I followed your teaching.
Spencer

Mix in progress currently. Maybe you can help me fix it.
http://spencerlee.audio/hold/Colorful-Life-Music-Only.wav
150 tracks of vocals still to be added.

 

I hardly dare to


Edit:

Im so sorry, I thought it was a post from prog_trance_enthusiast. Definitely my fault (time to go to bed).
You seem quite well to know what you're doing. I like it.
According to analyzer and ear: close to overcompressed (could use 1db more life) and there's a small lack of 100-200Hz

 

Last edited: Nov 16, 2017

I find 100hz a rather nasty frequency. So many systems have a boom at 100hz and it takes up so much room. I like to leave the 200hz so I can put a bit of warmth into vocals.
I am hoping our comments are helping other people understand mixing more.
The more discussions there are the better it is for everybody that is learning.
Spencer

 

Gentlemen

There is more than one way to skin a a potato, and most deliciously many ways to cook them as well.

There is no need for willy measuring contests, and I do dare to speak out of turn when I say that you two probably have very different goals when setting out to compose or mix something and that some people are more anonymous and prefer it that way while others are proud of what they do and want to share everything with everyone.

From what I hear @No Avenger has classical tastes and like a bit of dynamics, would rather do it right at the start and keep doing it over and over until it is right from the ground up. @spencer26 also makes great music but is more contemporary gives the people what they want and does quite well while doing so.

There is no right or wrong way as long as it works for you, but as my old violin teacher told me more than 40 years ago, "some us have to study, practice and do the steps in order, there is a right way and but no wrong way. In the end if you can get the notes out and give people what they want then you can do it your own way." Then he blew into that crusty old pitch pipe of his and said, "since there doesn't appear to be any geniuses here, shoulder loose, back straight and lets do it one more time from the start." I miss Mr. Rice, he was one of the few people that I still remember fondly as being someone who was just a good person and if he wasn't I really hope that I never find out.

 

Hey mozee once again I totally agree with you.
I've been doing this for 50 years and still learning something everyday.
And I still get to the point occasionally of thinking I don't know anything and everything I do sounds like shit.
Spencer

 

Hi there @spencer26 Glad to see you active here and blessing us with your decades of wisdom. I still mention your tips and refer people to your site and the thread where you tutored me constantly. Again thank you for opening my eyes and ears (and mind) to mixing proper. I am forever grateful

 

Last edited: Nov 16, 2017

ThankYou subGENRE
By now you would have developed your own mixing style and I am sure its very professional.
Spencer

 

Yes sir. I definitely have my own flavor now and I see by your plugs (like charly, i use it too) that my ears are growing in the right direction
If you dont mind I will plug your website as it is a wealth of information and you did all the legwork already of sorting the golden nuggets from the fodder
http://spencerlee.audio/
I dont mix for mono or phones as well and tell a lot of people the same advice, lol
Im still blown away that you produced the Dudley Moore trio all that time ago. RIP Arthur
Plus listening to that mix was an eye opener. Put stuff where you want in the mix screw what everyone else is doing. You want hats in the middle then do it!

 

Last edited: Nov 16, 2017

I see this is going to be another one of those golden threads where I learn the mixing gospel from all the contributors. I do love this community

 

now this is what i call a lovely & quality conversation between nice members (last 6 posts above )

 

Me, as hobby producer measuring willy with a pro with half a century of experience in this stuff?? Am I nuts??? No way, I would lose before I could drop my pants! I'm sure Master of Faders aka spencer26 could use the most weird mastering chain one can imagine and would get a better result than I in 10 or 20 years. So don't be worried I know my limits (ok, I cried a little bit in my pillow, felt asleep after dawn, hunted by nightmares - but I'm fine now ).

So, my "=>" are to be seen as: "for beginners this is recommended and pros leave me alone and move on the next post!"

 

Wisdom out of experience. I love it!

 

Hey Guyz
Just woken up and I have a song to mix for a Hollywood movie and the closing titles to a TV Series to mix, so I wont be around for the next 12 hours. But keep the conversation up so we can all learn something.
Spencer

 

I just have to report that Dopamine just saved my arse. It was the only way I could get the vocals to shine through.
Of all the Dolby Impersonation plugins this is the one that really works.
It makes me sound so clever.
Spencer

 

@spencer26 Really? Never messed with it. I was using the Acustica Audio one D361A. I may have to reconsider now... I just love those AA algos (charly ect) though. I take you word (ear) for it though, more developed than my n00bish ones. But having options is always a good thing as well too

 

Last edited: Nov 17, 2017

Hi @prog_trance_enthusiast I hope you are learning a lot as I was when I was being tutored in a thread. This place is the BEST. I am eagerly waiting for a new mix from you so I can learn with you. With the people you have got in here, its like apprenticing in a pro studio but you dont have to get the lead engineer coffee and pastries. lol
For making your guitar wide? I was messing around with the Waves Manny Marroquin reverb and found a (guitar?) preset that was great for acoustic gtrs. I cant remember which one but give it a spin. When you hear it you will know. Just remember to keep some of the original (mono) signal in there for phones ect

 

Last edited: Nov 17, 2017

Totally agree!

@subGENRE and @prog_trance_enthusiast (and all the others here at great AS):

Though there are bigger forums somewhere out in the louring darkness I like this one the most. To be honest I somehow feel at home in here (don't know how I am seen by the others, but still). And as I already told this guy named SAiNT it's .pro, you know?

 

GS and KVR are full of condescending jerkys who think they're better than every one else. Forgot where they came from and what its like to be a n00b. This place is my home

 

Last edited: Nov 19, 2017

Hey thanks EVERYONE for input. I was busy doing some 3D interior project (money income and what I like to do ). Working on new mix. Hope to upload tonight! Learning, learning! Its tighter now, but I need to spread the electric guitar a bit. Maybe duplicating it and panning symmetrically, but with high frequencies numbed down, or with some reverb plugin someone mentioned. Will see.