Comments on: Sound mixing: 10 essential tips

By: dust4ngel

dust4ngel — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:16:51 +0000

note that these tips do not apply to all genres - namely, 1, 4, 7 and 8 are almost universally not applied in electronic music, which typically does not try to model sound as you would hear it in the real world. if it sounds good, it is good

By: Dee

Dee — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:18:24 +0000

#11. Always check your mix on headphones

By: Eric Dahl

Eric Dahl — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:39:08 +0000

I have to disagree with duot4ngel - this tips apply to mixing any genre of music

By: Chrl

Chrl — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:17:44 +0000

Ding a ling thing

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:51:34 +0000

After checking it on headphones as Dee pointed out, check it on a variety of speakers (if ya got ‘em) If it sounds good in a pair of $10 computer speakers, it’ll sound good on just about anything. Also don’t forget to check it in mono… that’s sometimes the only way to pick up phase issues and other problems before it gets mastered.

By: darkat

darkat — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:57:35 +0000

I like to go and listen to tracks on a nice car system to check them out, it is a nice common enclosure of sound.

By: SlayerRules

SlayerRules — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:15:47 +0000

Thanks for the tips. What do you mean by noise gate?

By: Cameron

Cameron — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:21:45 +0000

“A Noise Gate is an electronic device or software logic that is used to control the volume of an audio signal. They are commonly used in the recording studio and sound reinforcement. Small portable units are also used by rock musicians to control unwanted noise from their amplification systems. Band-limited noise gates are also used to eliminate background noise from audio recordings by eliminating frequency bands that contain only static.
In its most simple form, a noise gate allows a signal to pass through only when it is above a set threshold: the gate is open. If the signal falls below the threshold no signal is allowed to pass: the gate is closed. A noise gate is used when the level of the ’signal’ is above the level of the ‘noise’. The threshold is set above the level of the ‘noise’ and so when there is no ’signal’ the gate is closed. A noise gate does not remove noise from the signal. When the gate is open both the signal and the noise will pass through.”

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noise_gate

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:55:10 +0000

No.4 is rubbish. Do both where required.

By: Pivotalrole

Pivotalrole — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:47:22 +0000

Another tip…pick an existing commercially produced song on CD that has the general balance you have in mind for your mix and listen to it in your mixing environment. The idea is not to copy specifics but to hear how a familiar mix reacts acoustically in your mixing environment.

By: James Hayhurst

James Hayhurst — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:14:08 +0000

There’s a time and a place to break every one of these rules. But, for a lot of them, it’s rare. For instance, the only time when I don’t give my ears a break is when I’ve done all day mixing sessions (for live conventions). You can’t mix with headphones, but you need them to check your monitors. etc… etc…

But the CD tip is a good idea - for live sound it’s usually better to listen to the style somewhat extensively for a couple days before whatever - it’ll be easier to find the same sound.