So, I'm totally new to mixing and mastering, I'm a rapper and until now I've worked with a few producers and audio engineer for the mixing of my music, but honestly, I didn't like the results most of the time and i don't have always the money to do so, I want to be able to work with my voice and get the most of it, I want to know everything there is to know.
Where should I start? What are the best YouTube channels or guides? I know the plugins are useless if you don't know how to use them, so I want to learn that too, what are the best and the most essential plugins?

 

There are a lot of How To Mix Rap Vocals Tutorials on Sister Site Also there are Mixing Chain presets

Some Good Youtube Stuff:

 

That's a can of worms you're stirring up with your question.

The best advice I can give is to study audio and some acoustics fundamentals first.
Not because you'll be a professional after this, but you'll be able to differ between useless and actual senseful information which is worth a lot in the long run.

Ethan winer for example is a good person to start with. https://www.amazon.com/-/en/Ethan-Winer/dp/0415788846/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_es_US=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&crid=JQRJYKXIRPRX&keywords=ethan+winer&qid=1669320122&sprefix=ethan+wine,aps,190&sr=8-1

 

Last edited: Nov 24, 2022

These 3 Guides are a good starting point.

https://theproaudiofiles.com/mixing-rap-vocals/

https://theproaudiofiles.com/mixing-rap-vocals-part-2-eq/

https://theproaudiofiles.com/mixing-rap-vocals-part-3-compression/

Also i can recommend this Course by Matthew Weiss

https://promixacademy.com/course/mixing-hip-hop-with-matthew-weiss/

 

This is what you really need to do, in my opinion:
It's too complex for a beginner. Too many variables and you don't really need all that.

First, you need to have an actual project that has a set of mixing and mastering needs. (I imagine you have a song you want to release or something).
Addressing those needs and only those means you can ignore/reduce all the complexity to just those needs. (Don't worry, you'll end up learning everything).

Now just try to mix even if its badly, and then the important element: ask for feedback, correct, repeat.
Obviously asking for feedback has to follow a lot of common sense rules: don't waste other peoples time, don't do questions you can just google, I belive you probably know about that.

Having said that, 90% of the process of mix and master is just doing the right eq, compression, setting the right fader levels and avoid sound masking(not all of it), if you do that right, that's it

Even more resumed: 90% of the process its having the right frequency content and the right volume content overtime

 

are you a rapper only or are you making music too?

 

Only a rapper, I was thinking of trying to make something on the production side too, but for now I have to learn the basics of mixing

 

hmm, but then if you dont make music i dont get what you are trying to achieve. you are going to mix you said and even master but mix what? your voice? but that cant be mix in isolation, and if you are not making music then what are you going to be mixing...I just ask because I think you may be either not explaining well what you want to do or maybe simply going the wrong path to something

Cheers

 

@EddieXx, he is probably just listening to the stems. And say for instance a rapper has an audio interface with onboard DSP; as many vocalists do who use UAD Solos, etc. they can print the effect onto the audio input source as it's recorded. It actually makes a lot of sense to do it that way, to them. You might disagree, and I have no opinion. I'm not using any vocals. Good on him for learning, too.