how to stop overmixing?

Discussion in 'Mixing and Mastering' started by Metalwell, Sep 17, 2020.

  1. Metalwell

    Metalwell Noisemaker

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    I am struggling to stop myself muffling my mixes. They sound good at the beginning but I always think they need something more. Maybe it is because of lack of experience, I don't know. Is there any books, videos that you recommend me watch to learn more about mixing, especially synthwave, darkwave stuff. Thank you!
     
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  3. Lemmy

    Lemmy Audiosexual

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  4. EddieXx

    EddieXx Audiosexual

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    we seem to go from making crappy unpredictable unbalanced mixes, to overreaching/overdoing and killing the mix.

    when i had this problem it had a lot to do with me failing to realize that a mix session wasn't a mastering session. but back then i really couldn't draw the line with certainty.

    so sure its a "simple" matter of lack of experience, a shorter phase that should go away with more practice. kind of tricky to formulate a "solution" to such a subjective process though, haven't seen such a specific tut yet but maybe someone here has seen something useful
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2020
  5. Wuji

    Wuji Ultrasonic

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    I'm definitely not the best mixing engineer but my mixes got a lot better when I stopped doing extensive mixing sessions after the production phase and do most of my mixing during the production phase and only do minor changes after that.
     
  6. 5teezo

    5teezo Audiosexual

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    By caring about the actual musical idea and how to bring the best out of it and not about which plugins you use!
     
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  7. bmdmix

    bmdmix Noisemaker

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    stick to a mixing way, only add effect if needed once it sound nice. stop. listen to it on ur mobile phone n speakers for errors. if none found, forward to client the next day

    let em b d one to tell u if it has a problem or its ok
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2020
  8. Always Grateful

    Always Grateful Kapellmeister

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    How to stop overmixing

    1. Set all mid-range instruments synth piano , vocals position and create space using reverb or plates

    --------Drum-----
    --------synth
    --------Vocal

    2. Use Buss Groups for Vocals, Drums. Keys, Guitar. apply eq, compression and limiter. 2nd Busss for FX on Group One to Four.
    Group 1 Drum
    Group 2 Vocal Buss
    Group 3 Keys
    Group four Piano

    3. Master bus has Stereo EQ plug or AI to balance mix No Limiter or Compressor, EDM use limiter in third place.

    Time for mastering.
     
  9. Gyro Gearloose

    Gyro Gearloose Audiosexual

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    get in mix dude mode and leave artist mode for that piece...watch it from above as a stranger..:mad:
    and what steezo said
     
  10. Coronazi

    Coronazi Kapellmeister

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    How Do You Avoid OVERMIXING? When Is Mix Finished? Rapid-Fire Q&A #15
     
  11. Metalwell

    Metalwell Noisemaker

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    Actually, all the responses have been very helpful. Thanks everyone. I will put up a deadline for myself. That is what I have been missing I guess.
     
  12. DJK

    DJK Rock Star

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    mix with your ears and not your eyes, take breaks from mixing to give ur ears time to rest, and dont overthink things, eq is a must even tho it might not seem that way,
     
  13. Bitmonkey

    Bitmonkey Producer

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    This point here is the key - mixing with tired ears late at night will absolutely guarantee you'll overdo the top end elements in the mix because thats the first part which starts to dull as your ears get tired. Check the mix again the next day and you find you've whacked up all the hihats and stuff because you couldn't hear them.

    Short breaks are key especially if you mix in headphones because they tire your ears out much more quickly than monitors. Also dont mix too loudly either as that also tires your ears.
     
  14. Xupito

    Xupito Audiosexual

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    I'd trust what this guy says with my life
    ... if I ever go to the gym :rofl:
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2020
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  15. ThorntonQ

    ThorntonQ Producer

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    ADPTR Metric AB I found stopped this over mixing. Put it on the masterbus, loadup a similar track wave file pro track from favourite album and AB back and forth to see how close or not you are from where you want the sound to be. Learned so much AB'ing pro tracks from my favourite albums. I always mixed drums & guitars too loudly but this little plugin has proved invaluable. Finally you learn so much about what to listen and aim for you won't need it anymore or just now and then to see if your mix is in the ball park. Hope that helps.
     
  16. Futurewine

    Futurewine Audiosexual

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  17. Baxter

    Baxter Audiosexual

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    1) Deadline/time limitation
    2) Experience
    Bake them together and you got a pretty good formula (IMO).
     
  18. Zenarcist

    Zenarcist Audiosexual

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  19. mild pump milk

    mild pump milk Russian Milk Drunkard

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    Start to make overmastering instead.
    With oversampling, of course.
     
  20. KungPaoFist

    KungPaoFist Audiosexual

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    For me overmixing was a mandatory step and reflective of a necessary obsession. I'm finally getting to a point where I feel like I'm kind of getting the intended mix in a quicker timeframe. It's the overmixing that refined the process for me, time consuming but worth it imo.
     
  21. Illadelph

    Illadelph Producer

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    TONS of videos about mixing on youtube
     
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