Switching from E tuning to C# - help please

[jamesmsv]

Hi guys, I'm new to this site and found it while googling a problem I've got. I have quite a few years' experience of home recording using all the usual software and had settled into a fairly good mixing routine to achieve the results I wanted with my standard E-tuned metal. I can end up with an RMS of around -10 which I think is acceptable for home recording and the result is fine, although sounds a bit trebly when sat next to modern down-tuned stuff.
For my next album i've joined the 21st century at last and decided to tune down to C#. I've spent ages sculpting my tone which has turned out far easier as it doesn't sound so naturally harsh as E. The problem is I've done a test run using the same mastering process and my result is a very well rounded sound eq-wise but I'm only hitting -15db RMS which seems way too quiet. I know, I know, loudness is way down the list of priorities but I would at least want to hit the same volume as my older stuff.
If I try and squish it further I tend to lose a lot of high end snare and cymbals for some reason and I don't want to destroy what I consider to be a good mix overall.
So my question is: does anyone have any tips for the mixing process that's different when in lower tuning than E? I have a feeling I must be missing some EQ clashes here and there but I haven't been able to find them yet. Any opinions much appreciated, cheers.

 

[Williamn]

Post a clip would help you the most here .
You should be able to hit -10 rms without any problems, so it seems like there is some serious issues going on in the mix tbh.

 

[Loki Laufeyiarson]

Paying more attention to the low ens of your mix might be a good idea. Because everything is tuned lower, you have more bassfrequencies wich really take up a lot of space. Start cutting there. Or use a tubescreamer in front of your amp to tighten up the low end of your guitar before it gets to tape. And posting clips will be helpfull as well.

 

[xTomx]

If you're tuning lower your fundamental guitar frequencies will be lower, around 70Hz for C sharp, so make sure not to cut too much of that out with your high-pass filters etc, the rest of the harmonics etc will be lower too

 

[jamesmsv]

cheers guys, I'll post something in a couple of weeks, I'm actually moving house shortly so have just packed everything up and can't do any bouncing.
The guitar/bass EQ is certainly interesting when moving to this tuning, I find the guitars way easier to sound good than in E, but much harder to get a good clear bass tone that sits between kick and low-end guitar. It could well be the bass causing me the problem.
In E I'd roll off my guitars at about 175Hz, giving me around 75-100hz space for the bass between them and the kick depending on the mix - any tips on some good EQ areas to watch for slotting kick/bass/gtrs in when tuned down this low?