Mixing Explanation/Education Requested Audio Examples & Screenshots Included

[CheckYourHead2727]

Lets focus on frequency spread vs. volume that is my learning goal for this post. Post 1 (of 3).

So I compared a snippet of a trap beat I made with a professional trap beat Gucci Man Still Selling Dope Prod. By Metro Boomin.


Here is Metro Youtube:




Track Notes:
I am Using Fl Studio.
I turned the Metro Beat down so it was peaking at -12db.
I programmed my percussion and programmed my beat in the sequencer.
I turned output volume waaaay down on my monitors so I could hear what was loudest and compared the result with the Metro Beat.
I found a balance I liked on the faders.
I turned the monitors up to check the bass at high volume adjusted the 808 Volume.
Did a little panning of hats and melodic elements.
I added a touch or reverb and delay to the melodic elements.
Rolled off a bit high fizz on the melody synth.


That's it I did nothing else.

My beat is peaking at -12db just like the reference track by Metro.


Here is my beat:



I used Voxengo Span a free frequency analyzer vst which can be downloaded here to compare the tracks.

Real-time audio spectrum analyzer plugin (AU, VST) - Voxengo SPAN - Voxengo

First the Reference Track by Metro(remember this is turned down to be peaking at -12db on fl Mixer meter):


Nice even frequency spread right?

Ok here is My Track (peaking at -12db)


seems like a huge bass spike right? Well guess what that bass spike is actually 5db quieter than the reference track by Metro. I cant turn it up any louder with out exceeding are artificial peak of -12db on the whole track. And you know what the track sounds like it has plenty of bass already.

As I listen my track lacks mid and high energy too.

I will analyze that in the next post below.

 

[CheckYourHead2727]

Post 2 of 3

So I loaded up maximus a multiband mastering compressor in FL Studio I used the default setting. With both tracks peaking at -12 db this applies no compression to the tracks as the threshold is too high. I just want to look at the dynamic range and db level of different frequency ranges. The Multiband frequency ranges are split up like this:

1) under 200hz
2) 200hz to 2000hz
3) above 2000hz

Here is the reference track by Metro at under 200hz:



Here is my track under 200hz



So the difference is mine is peaking higher and the sustain is much lower than the reference. So compress? cause I can't really turn up the bass As I stated above.

Here is the reference track by metro 200hz to 2000hz:



Here is my track 200hz to 2000hz:



Wow much lower in peak and sustain in the mids on my track!

Continued in Part 3.

 

[CheckYourHead2727]

Part 3 of 3

I'm not gonna post the screenshots but trust me I am missing high frequency energy in my track too.

Conclusions & Questions

I can solve the problem under 200hz with compression or ducking the 808 when the kick hits and turning up the sustain. I can work that out.

So how do I add more mid and high frequency energy without messing up my balance?

Do I turn up the mid and high percussion and melodic instruments?
That will mask the kick transient right?

Do I Eq the whole track? Thats a big boost that will introduce phase problems and I'm pretty sure that's not the best practice.

Do I Multiband compress the whole track? That can't be right that is essentially mastering and I thought mastering was only to squeeze out a few extra decibels. Not a massive change.

Do I pretreat the individual sounds by adding more high end and mids and cutting lows? This seems too random how will I know how much to boost without hearing it in context.

What am I missing? What don't I know or need to study? What am I doing wrong? Is there a better way to balance your mix?

I feel like I'm missing something obvious.