How did you learn to mix and eq? (speaker, mic)

Ditty · 03-29-2009, 01:45 PM

Playing instruments is one thing, but I'm finding that recording, mixing, etc is a whole different ball game.

So for you experienced amateur producers out there, how did you learn to properly mix/eq your tracks? Does anyone know a good resource out there to help me learn on my own?

My story: I've been recording for a while on my own. I'm working with decent mics, cables, mixers, etc. Though I haven't had the time to switch to Cubase which came with my mixer, so I'm still running all of this through Garageband - which is fine, I like how simple and easy it is. The sound isn't quite there though.

I guess I'm looking to make this more of a science. More laid out steps so I don't end up doing so much guesswork with getting the sound I want. Any help out there in banterland?

SATCHMO · 03-29-2009, 03:59 PM

So much of it is just trial and error and learning to trust your ear. I have had a career as a concert audio tech and I will tell you that everybody does it differently. Aside from having the main levels set well and making sure that your mic's have good placement its just a matter of closing your eyes and listening for a minute and then making adjustments.
for EQ'ing the poster below helped me when I was learning:

Yukon Cornelius · 03-29-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SATCHMO

So much of it is just trial and error and learning to trust your ear. I have had a career as a concert audio tech and I will tell you that everybody does it differently. Aside from having the main levels set well and making sure that your mic's have good placement its just a matter of closing your eyes and listening for a minute and then making adjustments.
for EQ'ing the poster below helped me when I was learning:

I wing it as if that werent obvious... Satchmo have you heard anything i have done via my sig?

Freebase Dali · 03-31-2009, 10:44 AM

Ditty, I'm willing to help out and find a lot of resources for you, but I gotta know you're going to stick around here long enough for that to happen.
You're only 2 posts deep and you could have taken off, never to return again.

I don't want to expend the effort for nothing, so please reply if you intend to stick around the forums for at least a week.

**Janszoon** · 03-31-2009, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ditty

Playing instruments is one thing, but I'm finding that recording, mixing, etc is a whole different ball game.

So for you experienced amateur producers out there, how did you learn to properly mix/eq your tracks? Does anyone know a good resource out there to help me learn on my own?

My story: I've been recording for a while on my own. I'm working with decent mics, cables, mixers, etc. Though I haven't had the time to switch to Cubase which came with my mixer, so I'm still running all of this through Garageband - which is fine, I like how simple and easy it is. The sound isn't quite there though.

I guess I'm looking to make this more of a science. More laid out steps so I don't end up doing so much guesswork with getting the sound I want. Any help out there in banterland?

If you can, try taking a class. I took a couple sound studio classes and they were a huge help for me. Also, read as much as you can about the subject. There are some great book out there but also a lot of article available for free online. I've found this archive of articles pretty helpful for example.

SATCHMO · 03-31-2009, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

If you can, try taking a class. I took a couple sound studio classes and they were a huge help for me. Also, read as much as you can about the subject. There are some great book out there but also a lot of article available for free online. I've found this archive of articles pretty helpful for example.

Sound studio classes can be helpful for some, but they can also be very dull for the non-tech minded as they often don't realize that a large part of learning studio engineering is more about understanding electrical signal path and acoustics and not so much the semi-subjective art of mixing and mastering. I was lucky enough to learn hands on in a professional environment before I took a class. If I took classes first I probably would have fallen asleep through them, but that's more an indictment of me than of your post.

Whatsitoosit · 03-31-2009, 02:19 PM

I agree with Satchmo... good levels and good mic placement are key. The rest is going by what is pleasing to your ear. I've gracefully bowed out of the mixing side of recording as I would rather pay close attention to how I record each of my tracks and then pass it over to somebody I trust (who mixes for a living) to make the end product sound amazing. One day I would like to get back into the mixing side of it... I currently use Digital Performer for Mac and haven't really dived into mixing within' that platform.

I used to mix everything when I recorded 4 track style (1995/1996) and then 16 track style (1999-2006)... I would just roughly place all the tracks where they felt right to my ear and then from there I would move levels around and run multiple rough mixes (play them on multiple speaker systems, in different rooms... and in the car), take notes and then go back to making a new mix while altering whatever didn't sound right from the previous listen. Keep doing this until you are happy... do this enough times and you will begin to develop an ear for what you find is right.

03-29-2009, 01:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ditty Groupie Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 2	How did you learn to mix and eq? Playing instruments is one thing, but I'm finding that recording, mixing, etc is a whole different ball game. So for you experienced amateur producers out there, how did you learn to properly mix/eq your tracks? Does anyone know a good resource out there to help me learn on my own? My story: I've been recording for a while on my own. I'm working with decent mics, cables, mixers, etc. Though I haven't had the time to switch to Cubase which came with my mixer, so I'm still running all of this through Garageband - which is fine, I like how simple and easy it is. The sound isn't quite there though. I guess I'm looking to make this more of a science. More laid out steps so I don't end up doing so much guesswork with getting the sound I want. Any help out there in banterland?

03-31-2009, 10:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	Ditty, I'm willing to help out and find a lot of resources for you, but I gotta know you're going to stick around here long enough for that to happen. You're only 2 posts deep and you could have taken off, never to return again. I don't want to expend the effort for nothing, so please reply if you intend to stick around the forums for at least a week. __________________

03-31-2009, 02:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
Whatsitoosit Bringer of Carrots Join Date: May 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 648	I agree with Satchmo... good levels and good mic placement are key. The rest is going by what is pleasing to your ear. I've gracefully bowed out of the mixing side of recording as I would rather pay close attention to how I record each of my tracks and then pass it over to somebody I trust (who mixes for a living) to make the end product sound amazing. One day I would like to get back into the mixing side of it... I currently use Digital Performer for Mac and haven't really dived into mixing within' that platform. I used to mix everything when I recorded 4 track style (1995/1996) and then 16 track style (1999-2006)... I would just roughly place all the tracks where they felt right to my ear and then from there I would move levels around and run multiple rough mixes (play them on multiple speaker systems, in different rooms... and in the car), take notes and then go back to making a new mix while altering whatever didn't sound right from the previous listen. Keep doing this until you are happy... do this enough times and you will begin to develop an ear for what you find is right. __________________ "It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but it doesn't take any to just sit there with a dumb look on your face."

03-29-2009, 03:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
SATCHMO Al Dente Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,708	So much of it is just trial and error and learning to trust your ear. I have had a career as a concert audio tech and I will tell you that everybody does it differently. Aside from having the main levels set well and making sure that your mic's have good placement its just a matter of closing your eyes and listening for a minute and then making adjustments. for EQ'ing the poster below helped me when I was learning: