Mixing Tutorial - General Methods

[DaveyDoo]

Based on this conversation, I've mixed a couple of projects in the last few days and they didn't sound awful. One was a loud punk-type number and the other was a quieter acoustic number. I applied this general method:

1. Record each track with with adequate levels that, most importantly, never peak. This is my RAW Audacity project and I give it a name like "My Song RAW.aup". If I mess up any track during mixing, I can always come back here and get it. If I add another track later, I'll add it to the RAW project first.
2. Save the RAW project under another name such as "My Song MIX 01.aup". Now I'll work in this MIX Audacity project.
3. If there are some instruments to which you know you'll want to apply Equalization, do this now. For example, my harmonica sounds a little shrill unless I apply the acoustic eq pattern and also lower it around the 3kHz band.
4. Adjust the levels on each track to suit your ear. Start with all the Gain Controls in the middle and adjust with either the Gain Control or the Envelope Tool. If you have to raise any tracks to a level that will possibly peak, raise the level using the Fast Lookahead Limiter.
5. Save the MIX project.
6. Now I will export 2 or 3 high-quality WAV files of the major components of my MIX that I'll import later into a MASTER project. Generally, I'll export a file with the mix of everything EXCEPT vocals and another file of the vocals only. If there's another instrument such as lead guitar that I want to stand out, I'll export it to a file as well (removing that instrument from the mix).
7. Create a new Audacity project with a name like "My Song MASTER 01.aup". This is my mastering project. Import each WAV file you've exported in step 6.
8. Duplicate each track. These duplicates will be the tracks to which I apply reverb.
9. Apply equilization to each duplicate track to gradually remove the bands below 300Hz.
10. Apply reverb to each duplicate track. I use the AWIDA Soft DX Reverb Light with the default settings.
11. Move the Gain on all tracks except the mix track to zero. Play the song and gradually move the duplicate/reverb mix track's gain up until you can just hear the reverb.
12. Move the non-reverb vocal track's gain to the middle. Play the song and gradually move the vocal duplicate/reverb track's gain up until you can just hear the reverb. If you want the vocals to stand out a little more, bring the duplicate/reverb track up a little more.
13. Once you're satisfied, export to a WAV file. This is your master.
14. If you're making a multi-song CD, import your masters into one long Audacity project. Amplify the whole thing as much as possible and apply the Fast Lookahead Limiter to the whole thing at a Limit setting of about -7dB. Listen carefully and make any find adjustments needed.

Dave

[alatham]

Sounds pretty similar to what I do, though I work much more haphazardly (because I'm crazy like that).

At this point I can't really say anything else unless I get a chance to listen. Any change you could post those tracks somewhere (like MySpace)?

[DaveyDoo]

Any chance you could post those tracks somewhere (like MySpace)?

I have to do some legal stuff to release my full-band recordings, but my solo stuff is at http://www.myspace.com/stationarydave
The first song on the list is a live recording, but the others are new at-home Audacity projects. None have been normalized and one (I'll let you guess which) has one track that's way too hot.
Dave

[alatham]

It sounds pretty good, but I do have some criticisms.

The stereo balance is right-heavy due to the guitar being panned that way (and it being the main instrument). I would pan the guitar about 10% right and the vocals about 10% left to even things out. I'm sure many would balk at putting the vocals off-center, but I don't care.

Since you have so few instruments, you might think about stereo micing that guitar (if you have two mics).

You Can Turn Around seems to have a guitar track that is a few dB louder than the others, is that what you mean? I think the harmonica could come down a tiny bit too.

Other than that, it all sounds pretty clean and decently recorded. My tastes in production run pretty far from your style (I like lots of studio tricks), so I don't know how much of my criticisms will help, but they're there all the same.

I don't know if I linked you to my MySpace page or not, so I'll do it here:
http://www.myspace.com/andylatham

[waxcylinder]

I'm sure many would balk at putting the vocals off-center, but I don't care.

George Martin didn't care either when he was recording the Beatles in early stereo - and he's one of the best .....

WC

[alatham]

Sweet George Martin backs me up (or maybe I back him up).

But putting the vocals off-center certainly seems like it's an unwritten faux pas for some reason.

[LilSpider]

I use the AWIDA Soft DX Reverb Light with the default settings.
Dave

This is my first post of many, I'm sure. I've been reading through the boards and finding a lot of very helpful info, so thanks to all of you w/expertise and experience who are helping out the people (like me) who are scaling a steep learning curve.

I looked into the ANWIDA free plug-in mentioned in this thread and downloaded/installed it in the plug-ins folder of Audacity. It appears in the correct folder when I look in Windows Explorer but - even after restarting computer, it's not showing up on my dropdown of Effects when I have my project open in Audacity. I'm wondering if someone could help me troubleshoot why the effect doesn't seem to be available.

It should be noted that I'm running Audacity 1.3 on Windows XP operating system, in case that makes a difference.

Thanks again!

[alatham]

LilSpider,

That's a VST plugin, you need to install the VST plugin enabler available here:
http://audacityteam.org/download/plugins

It won't look the same (due to licensing restrictions, Audacity can't use the VST graphical display code), but hopefully it will function. VST support is buggy at best, but simple things like reverb tend to work.

[LilSpider]

LilSpider,

That's a VST plugin, you need to install the VST plugin enabler available here:
http://audacityteam.org/download/plugins

It won't look the same (due to licensing restrictions, Audacity can't use the VST graphical display code), but hopefully it will function. VST support is buggy at best, but simple things like reverb tend to work.

Got it. Thanks!