Mixing a live band recording (Dalai Lama)
Mixing in general
I started off by listening to the drums first and then I flexed the time on the tracks that are needed to be in time. After that I started placing the tracks into summing stacks because I can place plugins to tighten the sound on the stack itself in the later stage. I then add a gain plugin on all of the tracks with mono on. Gain settings on the instruments are -4.8 on the drums and strings, -8.2 on the guitars and -2.7 on the second lead vocals. After that, I added noise gate on some of the tracks (Except the bass, strings and midi) to get rid of some of the bleeds. The threshold are around -42 to -60 and the hold at around 0 - 30ms.
Instrument plugins
(Bus 1)Drums - Gain , noise gates, eq , compressor
(Bus 1 )Bass - Gain , Bass amp, channel EQ, compressor
(Bus 5) Guitar - Gain, noise gate, eq, compressor , enveloper
(Bus 6) Strings- Gain, eq, compressor, pitch correction
(Bus 4) vocals - Gain , eq, compressor, deesser, pitch correction
*Added eq to clear up the mids
* All tracks stereo outputs are changed to the each instruments summing stack bus
*Always check on the overall sound when soloing the tracks and use a loudness meter when placing an EQ and compressor on the strip.
* All tracks stereo outputs are changed to the each instruments summing stack bus
*Always check on the overall sound when soloing the tracks and use a loudness meter when placing an EQ and compressor on the strip.
Tracks
Drums
First I added gain on all of the drum tracks (-4.8) with mono turned on.
Then I added a noise gate to minimise the bleed as much as possible.
I then added EQ on all of the drum tracks to free up the mid-range as much as possible. I also took out some of the ringing sound in certain frequencies on every track.
KICK
HI-HAT
SNARE TOP
SNARE BOTTOM
TOM 1
TOM 2 (FLOOR)
R OVERHEAD
L OVERHEAD
BASS
For the bass I added gain similar to the drums and added a Bass Amp Designer to give it some colour and emulation of a real amp because it is recorded with a DI. I turned off the compressor but kept the EQ on the Bass Amp Designer because I wanted to use another compressor.
Then I add a compressor using the vintage FET
GUITARS
For the guitars I placed similar gain and noise gate like the rest of the tracks. I then place EQ to tighten the sound and to make it brighter. Later I add a compressor (Vintage and studio VCA) and also the enveloper to add more attack to E guitar 1.
STRINGS
For the strings I added similar gain. Then I double the violins to make it louder wider. After that, I add similar EQ to all four of the violins. Compressor (Vintage Opto) and pitch correction was added in later. I also created four midi tracks in the bridge of the song because it is missing some lines.
VOCALS
For the vocals I added gain (mono on) with the lead vocals 1's threshold on 0 and -2.7 on the other lead vocals and then I added a compressor Vintage Opto). I also added pitch correction after I flex pitch on the vocals. I double the vocals on the adlibs and added the vox delay later to widen the vocals even more.
I set the pitch correction in D Major
Reverb and Delay
(Bus 7)Drums verb - Space Designer (on all of the drum tracks)
(Bus 8) vox verb - Space Designer on vocals
(Bus 9) Ensemble - on strings, guitar and vocals
(Bus 10) vox delay - Stereo delay on vocals
(Bus 11) String verb - Space Designer
(Bus 8) vox verb - Space Designer on vocals
(Bus 9) Ensemble - on strings, guitar and vocals
(Bus 10) vox delay - Stereo delay on vocals
(Bus 11) String verb - Space Designer
Sub-Mixes & Automation
For the doubling tracks I bus the kicks to bus 2 and snare on bus 3 and added a croma verb and a glue compressor then changed the stereo output back to Bus 1 (Drum summing stack).
Summing Stack
Bus 1(Drums and Bass) - Multiprocessor , Glue compressor
Bus 5(Guitar) - Exciter, linear EQ , Glue compressor
Bus 6(Strings) - Linear EQ , Glue compressor
Bus 4(Vocals) - Glue compressor
Automation
I did volume automation mostly on the vocals and the guitars. I also did a fade out and fade in on all of the tracks and also on the lead vocals I turn down the delay because I didn't want the delay at that particular place.
Bus 5(Guitar) - Exciter, linear EQ , Glue compressor
Bus 6(Strings) - Linear EQ , Glue compressor
Bus 4(Vocals) - Glue compressor
Automation
I did volume automation mostly on the vocals and the guitars. I also did a fade out and fade in on all of the tracks and also on the lead vocals I turn down the delay because I didn't want the delay at that particular place.
Panning
Center - Kick, Snares, Bass and Vocals
Left - Lead Guitar 1 and Guitar Layer, L Overhead, Tom1, Tom 2, L Strings, Adlibs
Right - Lead Guitar 2, R Overhead, Hi-Hat, R Strings, Adlibs
Lastly I added automation to the tracks especially the vocals to get rid of peaks, panning and release automation on the adlibs. I also place an EQ on the stereo output for the overall sound.
Again good details. I think you needed to consider swapping out the drum samples at least for the kick and snare.
ReplyDeleteThe drums EQs are problematic. It's usually not a good idea to boost the same frequencies on different instruments. Each drum needs it's place. In general, you need to do more research on EQ, especially the use of subtractive EQ and color EQ.
Most of your compressor selections are pretty good. Was that luck or research? Did you compare the sounds?
I'm surprised that you, along with everyone else, stuck with the Logic plugs. The UA plugins sound better and easier to use. Take the time to learn about them.
Harsh lead Vocal when he goes high, multipressor, delay reverb. . Band balance pretty good. Separate Rhythm guitar parts. Lead guitar should be centre when focal point. Guitar EQ ? I don’t hears the strings. Reverb on drums too long. On kick and snare need short. Why are you using exciters on guitar. I don’t see the “glue”
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