Looking for mix advice

Freebase Dali · 12-24-2012, 12:34 PM

The crash cymbal in the right channel is far too apparent/loud in comparison with the rest of the drums and the mix as a whole. It doesn't sound like it belongs with the rest of the drums.

The hihats need more high-end EQ and could stand to be panned more to the left (or right, depending on how you like the drum perspective to be). The snare could use a bit more too.

The kicks could be more defined.

Overall, all the sounds need to have more of an individual sense of space. As it stands, the crash cymbal is the only thing that isn't mushed together with everything else.
EQing for each individual element needs to eliminate frequencies that don't pertain so much to them so that they're not stepping on elements that do actually use a lot of that frequency. That will give everything its own clarity and intelligibility.

Here's a site that can help you get started in regard to which instruments typically occupy which frequencies. Might help with your EQing.

Interactive Frequency Chart - Independent Recording Network

Do you have each element of the drums on separate tracks, or as a single clip? If it's separate, that will go a long way in allowing you to get them sounding right. I'd mix the drums first with everything else solo'd, then start bringing in the other elements and mixing them off that basis.

Also, double-tracking your guitars and panning them away from each other will give things more width, and proper EQing would add depth. As it currently stands, everything is sorta 2 dimensional.

Anyway, this is just first-take off the top of my head. I could run the track through an analyzer and tell you what you could do specifically as far as mastering is concerned.

12-24-2012, 12:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	The crash cymbal in the right channel is far too apparent/loud in comparison with the rest of the drums and the mix as a whole. It doesn't sound like it belongs with the rest of the drums. The hihats need more high-end EQ and could stand to be panned more to the left (or right, depending on how you like the drum perspective to be). The snare could use a bit more too. The kicks could be more defined. Overall, all the sounds need to have more of an individual sense of space. As it stands, the crash cymbal is the only thing that isn't mushed together with everything else. EQing for each individual element needs to eliminate frequencies that don't pertain so much to them so that they're not stepping on elements that do actually use a lot of that frequency. That will give everything its own clarity and intelligibility. Here's a site that can help you get started in regard to which instruments typically occupy which frequencies. Might help with your EQing. Interactive Frequency Chart - Independent Recording Network Do you have each element of the drums on separate tracks, or as a single clip? If it's separate, that will go a long way in allowing you to get them sounding right. I'd mix the drums first with everything else solo'd, then start bringing in the other elements and mixing them off that basis. Also, double-tracking your guitars and panning them away from each other will give things more width, and proper EQing would add depth. As it currently stands, everything is sorta 2 dimensional. Anyway, this is just first-take off the top of my head. I could run the track through an analyzer and tell you what you could do specifically as far as mastering is concerned.