- Oct 30, 2008
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no need to fuck around too much, just write the one thing that pops in your head regarding recording/mixing/music production. keep it short, and eventually i'll gather everything and try to put some sort of tip compendium together.
EDIT 26.4.2013:
Production:
1. Use your ears.
2. If it sounds good it is good
3. There are no rules, at least no unbreakable ones.
4. Always aspire to improve and learn as much as possible.
5. Try and edit and tune as little as possible. be careful not to overlook the times when the timing or tuning being slightly off MAKES the part what it is. if the drummer has a nice groove with a section of the song, why fuck with it? and often with singers you can have times where it just sounds better leaving the tuning as it is. -> this goes back to use your ears. use your judgement to decide whether a section needs fixing/tightening up/etc.
6. I'll add one of my own: Always walk to extra mile. ALWAYS. a mix that is 99% done is not done. take your time and make sure that the mix is 100% done before it's released.
Recording:
1. Get it right on the source.
2. Tune your fucking instrument and use new strings, ALWAYS.
3. Make sure the musician is as comfortable and familiar as possible. have them play through the song a few times before tracking and make sure they are really chilled out before recording. its SO easy to forget what its like being in their shoes, especially when you feel in a rush and just want to steam through things.
4. Aim for performances that have character. any old robot can edit a riff together so its "perfect", its way more interesting to hear HOW something is played rather than WHAT.
5. Don't let anything slip past you during the tracking phase just because you/your ears are tired. Get up, take a break, go for a walk if need. This works really well for the musician tracking as well.
6. Get your gain staging right.
7. Not everything has to be grid-tight. When tracking violin or vocals you don't have to use a click, but make sure the rhythm instruments are edited first.
Mixing:
1. When using compression, use it because you have a reason. Nowadays everybody throws compressors everywhere, even if they dont have a clue why.
2. Don't mix too loudly. You can get free or cheap SPL meter apps for your smart phone to give you an idea of the levels you are working at. 75dBSPL works best for me, find what works for you.
3. Learn about compression before you use it, and don't just put it on everything, learn when and where it needs to be used, and be conscious of what you're doing and why you're doing it
4. Cut before boost!
5. Seek and destroy resonant frequencies on all tracks with narrow cuts before starting a mix.
6. Learning mixing takes much time and frustration.
7. BUY/READ ERMZ'S SYSTEMATIC MIXING GUIDE ($20)
8. LISTEN to what the song needs rather than what you were told it would need.
Sorry for the delay guys! my internet was down for about a week. let this be a tip for you: always pay your internet bills on time. always!
Iv'e gathered some of the more useful and insightful tips, trying not to delve into the subtleties of what do to but rather how to approach it.
It seems that the last 2 pages of the thread had drifted away from the point, so put your pity arguments aside and keep firing.
Try to be less specific about freq. and plug-ins and give guidance rather than preach.
EDIT 26.4.2013:
Production:
1. Use your ears.
2. If it sounds good it is good
3. There are no rules, at least no unbreakable ones.
4. Always aspire to improve and learn as much as possible.
5. Try and edit and tune as little as possible. be careful not to overlook the times when the timing or tuning being slightly off MAKES the part what it is. if the drummer has a nice groove with a section of the song, why fuck with it? and often with singers you can have times where it just sounds better leaving the tuning as it is. -> this goes back to use your ears. use your judgement to decide whether a section needs fixing/tightening up/etc.
6. I'll add one of my own: Always walk to extra mile. ALWAYS. a mix that is 99% done is not done. take your time and make sure that the mix is 100% done before it's released.
Recording:
1. Get it right on the source.
2. Tune your fucking instrument and use new strings, ALWAYS.
3. Make sure the musician is as comfortable and familiar as possible. have them play through the song a few times before tracking and make sure they are really chilled out before recording. its SO easy to forget what its like being in their shoes, especially when you feel in a rush and just want to steam through things.
4. Aim for performances that have character. any old robot can edit a riff together so its "perfect", its way more interesting to hear HOW something is played rather than WHAT.
5. Don't let anything slip past you during the tracking phase just because you/your ears are tired. Get up, take a break, go for a walk if need. This works really well for the musician tracking as well.
6. Get your gain staging right.
7. Not everything has to be grid-tight. When tracking violin or vocals you don't have to use a click, but make sure the rhythm instruments are edited first.
Mixing:
1. When using compression, use it because you have a reason. Nowadays everybody throws compressors everywhere, even if they dont have a clue why.
2. Don't mix too loudly. You can get free or cheap SPL meter apps for your smart phone to give you an idea of the levels you are working at. 75dBSPL works best for me, find what works for you.
3. Learn about compression before you use it, and don't just put it on everything, learn when and where it needs to be used, and be conscious of what you're doing and why you're doing it
4. Cut before boost!
5. Seek and destroy resonant frequencies on all tracks with narrow cuts before starting a mix.
6. Learning mixing takes much time and frustration.
7. BUY/READ ERMZ'S SYSTEMATIC MIXING GUIDE ($20)
8. LISTEN to what the song needs rather than what you were told it would need.
Sorry for the delay guys! my internet was down for about a week. let this be a tip for you: always pay your internet bills on time. always!
Iv'e gathered some of the more useful and insightful tips, trying not to delve into the subtleties of what do to but rather how to approach it.
It seems that the last 2 pages of the thread had drifted away from the point, so put your pity arguments aside and keep firing.
Try to be less specific about freq. and plug-ins and give guidance rather than preach.
