Mixing related question

[Mux]

Hey whats up?

Im new to the producing game and i have a mixing related question

do everybody uses compressors / play with eq and stuff on the mixing phase? or i can mix only ajusting pan and vol ? atm im just putting a limiter on my master output fader and playing with pan and vol of the tracks, its how it works?

thank you

[noblewordz]

Depends on the track.. Sometimes a little panning and the right levels is all you need .. not very often but still. If you inexperienced your better off sticking to levels and panning until you have more of a grasp on effects.

[MadTiger3000]

You actually are more on the right track than many.

You know what volume and panning are. You learned how to use them. You use volume and panning where necessary.

Learn what the other things are. Learn how to use them. Then decide if you need to use them in your creations. Don't compress just to compress. Don't EQ just to do it.

[WatchWhatHappens1204]

great advice as usual

i just started learning myself that compression isn't a mandatory standard in mixing... that being said, it did help me out alot in some mixes but one o these days i'll have to launch a full investigation into my old sh** to see what fits n what doesn't have to... great concepts...

and yeah, the earlier you get that knowledge o mixing and effects, the faster you can make true magic. it took me some GOOD time to realize the power o these things, and they took my production to that level and still continue to do so. some extra advice, look 4 info, and learn about EQing, mixing, all that jazz EARLY.

[Obitheincredible]

You actually are more on the right track than many.

You know what volume and panning are. You learned how to use them. You use volume and panning where necessary.

Learn what the other things are. Learn how to use them. Then decide if you need to use them in your creations. Don't compress just to compress. Don't EQ just to do it.

I agree when you compress you do it because it fits, because it needs it, same with eq, I just did a track with about 20 tracks of percussion, not including the actual drums or andything else, just percussion. Some stuff sounded great, but then in the mix I need to make it fit, that is where I used eq. but only AFTER I tried to mess with levels, pan and reverb.

[901_Rice_Street]

...........nevermind

[virtualdave]

Hi!

I think most of the time, priority should be given to volume, panning and EQing.

EQ is very important to me to get rid of the unwanted frequencies.
I would say that the more tracks you have in your mix, the more you will have to EQ them so that you don't get frequency cancelation.

I used to use compression a lot when I started because i felt i had to in order to bring everything into place, but the more I've learnt, the more I've realised instead of compressing a track to raise it's volume, it's better to just turn all the other tracks down.
Your dynamics will be so much better in the end, and the mix will breathe.

Today, I only rarely use compression as an artistic effect, not a mixing one...

There will be plenty of compression with the pre mastering anyway... (not to mention the compression added for radio airplay and all that...)

[hackenslash]

I actually tend to think that EQ is something you shouldn't have to use. Try to get it right on the way in, rather than trying to fix it afterwards ITB. EQ can be useful for making space for elements of your mix, but it's still much better to account for this during tracking, as a) it gets you closer to where you need to be to start with and b) gives you greater felxibility during mixing. You should only really have to use EQ for small notches, etc, during mixing.

[virtualdave]

I see what you mean, I guess that depends on what sort of music you produce.
My music is mainly electronic and I compose at the same time as I record so I don't have a clear image of what the mix will be when I start recording.
It all gets together at the same time.
Because of that, I have to readjust things all the time, and I often do my guitars, keyboards and vocals takes as neutral as possible at the beginning.
There is a lot of midi plugins involved as well so those need to be EQed as there is no microphone takes for them...
My mixing approach is not live at all and I would certainly do it differently if I were mixing a full band that comes in with a song that already has an identity...

[oggy]

i think mixing is a purely subjective matter that actually depends on your track. i understand it is all about balancing the elements of a track so they exist together musically. the elements am talking about are Frequency, volume, stereo spread, depth, mono compatibility,dynamics and of course the Genre.
approaching it with an open mind can help. use the effects/processors only when deemed fit.....and that is after critical listening and evaluation of the track. so monitoring(speakers+room acoustics) is pertinent to this coz u can only mix dependn on wat u are hearing.
i know some genres use certain techniques to achieve their trademarks so i bet u need to be conversant with them.....parallel compression in hip hop...etc
we need to use this tools sparingly wen processing audio in general or to use them in extremes wen going for a certain effect.
EQ- best used for creating space for other tracks in the mix. can be used as an effect-automated filters,telephone/radio effect etc. one good rule for example is to eliminate very low bass(HPF) from tracks like vox, synths that dont use natural lows.
compression: used as an effect to shape sound...overcompressed sounds, NYC,. can also be used mildly to gel the tracks together
reverb: to add naturalness to very dry sounds or can be used for effect(large amounts, automated, gated)
delay- to add interest, fatten sounds or as an effect in extreme amounts
my thinkn is that a mix should be shaped according to the sounds at hand. pull up the kik, add the snare. add the bass. if it is muddy do complimentary EQ,sidechain,. if it is dynamically exerting compress it a bit...add reverb to the snare. sounds good? add the hats. pan them slightly, add some slow flange/delay if it fits the song. make a drum subgroup, add maybe some global reverb to push the drums into the same room, add some gentle compression to gel the kit together and maybe some soft limiting/clipping to prevent the transients going to the red. listen and re evaluate the mix. play with the settings.
wat am jus sayn is that mixing is better approached open mindedly. understand the mixing tools,effects/processors inside out. know how they work, how to use them musically, know wen not to use them and then know wen/how to abuse them to good effect. then listen to your track and decide wat to do to improve it from the above knowledge of technique and audio engineering!!!
invest in good speakers and acoustics first. ultimately start wit good samples!!!