do you have any order to set levels?

i sometimes start with drums but then for some reason i go back and change things and its all from the start again.

do you have any particular order you go through to set the levels

thanks

 

This is the single most important rule pros use to mixing tracks: alphabetically

 

I always work from left to right.
First the drums then the bass so that the rhythm is already set. Then I build the other on top of that.

Track 1 = Drums
Track 2 = Bass
Track 3 = Lead / Guitar / Key
Track 4 = Vocal

 

i see....

i started noticing that drums are so dynamic that maybe i need to change for each section volume wise....i was trying to keep it same volume all over the track but i don't think it will work

its like a real drummer i guess sometimes u go a bit louder

 

I usually start out with a fairly honest plan of setting my kick first at a certain level, balancing the remainder of the drums to that, then the bass (similarly to @BEAT16), then the rest.

I'll also say that I find it easiest to think in buses or groups... kind of a modular way of thinking. So I'll create a group/bus for all similar sounding instruments or types of instruments. I'll get those separate groups balanced, EQ'd / compressed sitting in their own group, then I think it's a little easier to work a group into the whole mix after.

 

That's why it's important to always consider if your going to name your kicks like "kick drum" or "bass drum". :p

 

I call it “ass drum”

 

One more thing, I've said it before, don't overthink too much or you'll run into analysis paralysis and never get anything done. It's good to have some general ideas, but don't get too caught up in having to do things a certain way.

 

_aaaaaaaaaa123kickdrum here

 

That's the exciting part of making music the mixing. Every instrument should come to the fore.

 

Short answer: no

Mildly elaborated answer: it depends, it's often personal although I found that people tend to focus on either drums or voice first. The important thing is to find a workflow that works for you. But it's also ok to be flexible! Specially if you compose, arrange and THEN start mixing, the whole gain stage process can get all over the place, but as long as you have the fundamentals rooted in your perception you're fine.

 

Last edited: Aug 23, 2022

I'd tell u exactly what to do, but then I'd have to kill u, because I can't have no fuckshit messing up the true artistry.....

 

Usually: drums, then the whole music mix, then add vocals. Then walk away. Then after a break listen to the whole thing and adjust in context (and usually at that point vox are too loud.)

 

Yep, there's no fundamental law that says drum levels are inviolate in a song and should never change. Whatever makes the mix work.

 

Although shockingly we used to get by without it. Sometimes you'd have 8 hands on the desk though. And it wasn't usually the same level of complexity...

 

I'd be angry with the one who dares to put my faders on 0 and says where would you start?
my mixes are like a soup, you don't take any ingredients out after you have been sturring for a half hour on the stove

What are we mixing here? A classical orchestra? not that I don't agree,
On a pop/hip-hop song, I occasionally am automating the levels of a vocal or a guitar where I want some interesting dimension but that's it

 

Last edited: Aug 23, 2022

after mixing in alphabetical order just play your song in front of someone, preferably someone who hasn't heard your music before or maybe someone you have a crush on, ideally both. any flaws will REALLY jump out at you, great way to analyze your music.

also like others I tend to mix things as busses then mix the busses together and yeah I go back all the time to tweak things. it's a process, and I'm not saying it turns out well but at least I enjoy the journey!

 

Bottom to top in terms of frequencies.
Like building a house, foundation (base, bottom) first.