Morning_Star
ProTools + Reason user
I've been seeing a lot of questions about mastering lately so I though I would post something about mixing because that's where you make mastering a much easier job. This is actually very easy to learn and get better at. Hopefully this will help because it's helped me with my new project I'm doing where I'm making, mixing and mastering tracks with the cheapest gear possible.
First, this can not be done with little pc speakers. Go get anything else. Go to yardsales and get those little bookshelf speakers and a home stereo amp. Chances are that you have one laying around. Thrift stores and goodwills are great also. Just get a Home Stereo amp that works and if you can't find bookshelf speakers buy these.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._B1000_SS_B1000_2_Way_Bookshelf_Speakers.html
Now you will need some headphones also. I suggest earbuds believe it or not. I use Skullcandy earbuds. They are only $20.
Before I continue I want to make sure you know that I have real mixing monitors and real headphones. I use JBL LSR4328, DT770, NS-10s, and Tannoys. But I will not be using them for this.
OK, first when you start to make your track throw a limiter on your master channel and turn the threshold all the way up so there is no compression going on. This just helps from clipping. Something I hate. Then a couple spots before that drop a compressor with a 2:1 ratio, soft knee, -10db threshold, .5ms attack, 4ms release, and no make up gain.
I use the Kjaerhus Classic Limiter and Classic Compressor. For the compressor I use preset premastering. And for the limiter I just turn the knob all the way to the right.
Now make your track. I like to make the track with the compressor and limiter because I feel it helps pick the right sounds that compliment each other.
Listen for phase issues. This is the whole reason you need speakers over headphones. You need to be able to hear when you get phase issues.
Now turn off the speakers and put in your earbuds. This is like giving you fresh ears to hear with. Turn every thing down all the way in the mixer. Then start with the kick and put the mixer fader at 0db. Don't worry about if it actually reads 0db on the meter. Then mix all the other intruments in. Then mix in your snare/clap and hi hats. When your mixing the limiter should be doing very little to no compression.
For eq I like to use the BootEQmkII in between the compressor and the master limiter. Don't eq more than + or - 3 db. Now turn back on your speakers to check your mix.
Then gently turn the knob on the limiter until you see some but little bouncing in the master meter on playback. That should get you close. If this didn't help you then you probably knew enough to get this good of results anyways.
Remember there is no mastering presets but this is a great starting point.
First, this can not be done with little pc speakers. Go get anything else. Go to yardsales and get those little bookshelf speakers and a home stereo amp. Chances are that you have one laying around. Thrift stores and goodwills are great also. Just get a Home Stereo amp that works and if you can't find bookshelf speakers buy these.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._B1000_SS_B1000_2_Way_Bookshelf_Speakers.html
Now you will need some headphones also. I suggest earbuds believe it or not. I use Skullcandy earbuds. They are only $20.
Before I continue I want to make sure you know that I have real mixing monitors and real headphones. I use JBL LSR4328, DT770, NS-10s, and Tannoys. But I will not be using them for this.
OK, first when you start to make your track throw a limiter on your master channel and turn the threshold all the way up so there is no compression going on. This just helps from clipping. Something I hate. Then a couple spots before that drop a compressor with a 2:1 ratio, soft knee, -10db threshold, .5ms attack, 4ms release, and no make up gain.
I use the Kjaerhus Classic Limiter and Classic Compressor. For the compressor I use preset premastering. And for the limiter I just turn the knob all the way to the right.
Now make your track. I like to make the track with the compressor and limiter because I feel it helps pick the right sounds that compliment each other.
Listen for phase issues. This is the whole reason you need speakers over headphones. You need to be able to hear when you get phase issues.
Now turn off the speakers and put in your earbuds. This is like giving you fresh ears to hear with. Turn every thing down all the way in the mixer. Then start with the kick and put the mixer fader at 0db. Don't worry about if it actually reads 0db on the meter. Then mix all the other intruments in. Then mix in your snare/clap and hi hats. When your mixing the limiter should be doing very little to no compression.
For eq I like to use the BootEQmkII in between the compressor and the master limiter. Don't eq more than + or - 3 db. Now turn back on your speakers to check your mix.
Then gently turn the knob on the limiter until you see some but little bouncing in the master meter on playback. That should get you close. If this didn't help you then you probably knew enough to get this good of results anyways.
Remember there is no mastering presets but this is a great starting point.
