Hi,
I have a session recorded in REAPER in which the Guitar Parts and Bass were recorded D.I. and drums was programmed through EzDrummer2.

I exported the session as separate wave files into Pro tools for mixing. As I am new to mixing, so I'm kinda lost what plugins to use to mix them! I know it depends on the genre and the song but still suggest me some plugin chain for the below mentioned instruments so that I may have a starting point to atleast tweak them in the right way.

1. Drums- EzDrummer (default kit)
2. Bass - Recorded through D.I. straight into Audio interface. (using a preset from Amplitube)
3. 7 Guitar tracks - (Using Guitar Rig for all the seven tracks, the guitar sounds are mostly VOX AC30 sounding)
4. Synth and Pads - Omnisphere (some ambient pads and arpeggio sythns)
5. Vocals - Recorded dry through the interface.

Also suggest me a good metering plugin for gain staging in Pro tools!

I just want to know the plugin chain (order wise) for each of the above instrument and vocal tracks... with any extra send and returns!

 

Eurgh,
there is no guide to that and if any one says other wise they're kidding themselves.

you do what's appropriate.

is the bass playing inconsistent in level? COMPRESS

is it too high does it need more low end EQ.

oh these vocals are too dry ADD REVERB ADD DELAY

there is no set chain for any thing, you use what is required on what you think is important.

the important part to mixing is knowing when to say right this is good.

close your eyes. play the track several times

that's your starting point.

 

most of the time my chain for guitar/synth/pads/most of the drums is: EQ -COMPRESSOR - REVERB - (if u want) LIMITER. that's the most basic i think

Sometime is better to compress before eq but depends of witch kinda instruments is playing, and the sound you wanna reach.
I suggest iZopote Ozone 5 for mixing and iZotope Nectar for mixing vocal.

 

there are hundreds of tutorials on this on YouTube and avery one dose it different But the pest place to find quick knowledge ( pensado's place ) http://www.pensadosplace.tv/ Dave Pensado a Grammy winning audio mixing engineer Great Channel

 

After checking out a few of the suggested video tutorials and you have a half assed idea of where to begin, just start playing around with the plugins and effects that your version of Pro Tools has to offer. Once you've become proficient enough with those then you can venture forth into the vastly, overwhelming world of 3rd party plugins. It doesn't make the least bit of difference which cool looking, three thousand dollar, new plugin chain you've got if you don't have any idea how to use any of it. Just start simple. If you have passion, and I'll bet you do, and you stick with it, the good sounds will come. Good luck man.

 

This is how i have my chain
HP filter very important as it cut out frequences and energy that you don´t hear and make room for low freq instruments like Bassdrum and Bass and synth with low freq - Comp - EQ if you put EQ BEFORE comp you will compress the EQ setting and most likely need to EQ again
And after that if needed (it depends on whats on the track) i can create an insert with effects like modulation dist or whatever and last i have an LP filter to cut out high freq so the other instruments vocals etc got some room
Also if needed i have set up 4 send effects in my DAW of choise to delay and reverb one short and one long delays and one room and one plate reverb
Thats my startup very basic mixing chain i almost never need to add anything more.

BUT THERE IS NO RULE THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO TRUST IS YOUR EAR

 

Plenty of good advice above, but it is just a matter of identifying what you what to change and finding the right tool for the job, good starting place is the basic's of compression\limiting, equalisers and re-verbs(the different types and controls different models have and the difference in the sound they have on different instruments) you'll learn best if you research while using your tools, by asking yourself questions as to why this type of tool does this or that and have this effect. But you need to bare in mind if you what it to sound like you think your making it, monitoring is your first number one priority, without getting your monitoring as good as possible and hearing the results with as flat a frequency response as you can get, the result can be disappointing when played back on different systems. This way what you consider a good sound while working at the mixer probably is and you can even misuse your tools. Do not expect a setting that someone made for a different sound to always sound good, your ears should be the guide and only excellent monitoring will deliver you the right feedback for your ears to make those decisions.

 

my mixer is set -6 db on every track , master too.

hp/lp filter on everything

i bring up the levels with the waves cla2a and compress if needed