I wasn't sure how to properly search for this one (being a multi-part question) but I also figured i'd get a better response from starting my own thread. I've run into a problem here recently when mixing a fast metal song that I wanted to ask what a good way to trouble shoot it is, and what people have done in their past experiences.
The Scenario: You're working on a relatively fast metalcore song with a lot of 32nd note kick and picking patterns. The song also happens to be in a pretty low tuning... drop A# for this particular one. The mix is meant to have alot of "bottom" to it since it is a band that primarily plays "heavy" breakdown style music, however they occasionally speed things up and attempt at playing semi-decent sounding traditional melodic metal riffs. The problem with this however is the bottom end of your mix (particularly the kick) gets sucked out by any low-band/general compression and you are missing the "punch" whenever those 32nd notes kick in... all smack and no balls.
The Quesion: To avoid this and regain the songs "balls" would one consider using time compression expansion to slow down the tempo of such sections on a DI guitar signal that has already been tracked? Or would that cause bad artifacts? (The drums are being ran through a program so those are no worry to me). OR is there a secret to keeping the thump of the bass drum consistent throughout the song no matter what speed its played at?? I know it's possible, i've heard it on the latest Chelsea Grin and White Chapel albums with some RIDICULOUSLY fast drum patterns that kept their "thump" through the whole damn thing somehow. One should note I have a relatively mild C4 compression set below 50hz at the end of my kick chain which pretty much gives the kick all it's character IMO. I would ASSUME this would help in evening out the bottom end but it doesn't really, atleast the way I have it set. Thoughts and suggestions?
The Scenario: You're working on a relatively fast metalcore song with a lot of 32nd note kick and picking patterns. The song also happens to be in a pretty low tuning... drop A# for this particular one. The mix is meant to have alot of "bottom" to it since it is a band that primarily plays "heavy" breakdown style music, however they occasionally speed things up and attempt at playing semi-decent sounding traditional melodic metal riffs. The problem with this however is the bottom end of your mix (particularly the kick) gets sucked out by any low-band/general compression and you are missing the "punch" whenever those 32nd notes kick in... all smack and no balls.
The Quesion: To avoid this and regain the songs "balls" would one consider using time compression expansion to slow down the tempo of such sections on a DI guitar signal that has already been tracked? Or would that cause bad artifacts? (The drums are being ran through a program so those are no worry to me). OR is there a secret to keeping the thump of the bass drum consistent throughout the song no matter what speed its played at?? I know it's possible, i've heard it on the latest Chelsea Grin and White Chapel albums with some RIDICULOUSLY fast drum patterns that kept their "thump" through the whole damn thing somehow. One should note I have a relatively mild C4 compression set below 50hz at the end of my kick chain which pretty much gives the kick all it's character IMO. I would ASSUME this would help in evening out the bottom end but it doesn't really, atleast the way I have it set. Thoughts and suggestions?
