Vocals in serperate project? (and a bonus question)
- Thread starter Pdennis89
- Start date
JeffTD
Senhor Testiculo
amarshism
Member
BLUElightCory
Member
If we're talking mixing why not bus all of the instruments through a stereo aux into the compressor, and then mix the vocals with that? That way you can make adjustments to the music if needed (without having to reprint), but the vocal won't be routed through the compressor. Then run the whole shebang to the master bus as normal.
amarshism
Member
What about making space for the vocals in the mix. Sounds like everyone's mixing the music irrespective of the vocal and vice versa. Seems like a bad idea.
Skinny Viking
¯\(°_o)/¯ How do Lydian?
exactly, thats why I wasn't sure what he was asking. I think the intention of the question might have gotten twisted up a little. I took that part as "since I'm having problems mixing vocals in the full master session would it work better if I just retracked them in a new session to a stereo mixdown of the music"
I think it could be taken either way due to the phrasing of his questions
however, based on his most recent response, it seems maybe the way i interpreted it was correct? I'm still confused to be honest
Either way ... TRACK your vocals in a separate session with a stereo mix of the music for the reasons listed, sure ... best to MIX them in the full master session after
Skinny Viking
¯\(°_o)/¯ How do Lydian?
thats why in my 1st response I told him that 95% of his problems could probably be solved with EQ & automation
amarshism said:
No, we are saying to track them in a separate session, with a stereo bounce of the music, then import the finished edited takes into the mix session and go from there.
Backe
Space Cowboy
of course vocals are gonna get buried in choruses and stuff because you generally make everything louder/more powerful, i like bumping up the OHs, guitars, adding melody guitars etc, so you automate the vocal to be louder during such parts and/or double track the main vocal during i.e. a chorus to make it pop and naturally bring up the level. no mix is gonna sound good with just a bunch of one-setting plugins and a constant level, you need to make the mix come alive with automation, bumping up certain things at certain points to make the focus shift for the audience. a good live sound engineer who knows the songs wouldn't just stand back during the entire performance, he would play with the faders constantly to make sure the audience hears what they're supposed to hear. if you love a little part of the vocal for example, like if the singers voice is cracking up in a good way somewhere, that would otherwise just blend in with the rest or even disappear, even though you're hearing only that every time. so you bump that up so no one could miss it. exaggerate details.
something that improved my mixes alot was mixing without master bus plugins, like compressors and limiters. sure, it helps glue the stuff together, so it's easier to get the levels right. but if you nail a good mix without any mb plugins, your mastering process will be loads easier and everything will sound good and work together regardless. instead of relying on a masterbus EQ bringing up the clarity of it all, boost the things that really need high-end, like cymbals and vocals, instead of making a mess with a mastering high-shelf. bottom line, mastering should improve an already good sounding mix, your mix should never depend on a mastering chain. if your mb compressors is hitting like 6 db GR when you're mixing the instruments and everything sounds good, then you add the vocals and they don't quite fit, then you start changing your mb because there isn't enough room, then the instrumental mix is just gonna come apart. headroom is the key. doing mastering last and seperately is especially helpful when you're mixing several songs to sound alike, like an album or an EP. just tips of course, there's no right and wrong, but it might help cause it sure helped me.
something that improved my mixes alot was mixing without master bus plugins, like compressors and limiters. sure, it helps glue the stuff together, so it's easier to get the levels right. but if you nail a good mix without any mb plugins, your mastering process will be loads easier and everything will sound good and work together regardless. instead of relying on a masterbus EQ bringing up the clarity of it all, boost the things that really need high-end, like cymbals and vocals, instead of making a mess with a mastering high-shelf. bottom line, mastering should improve an already good sounding mix, your mix should never depend on a mastering chain. if your mb compressors is hitting like 6 db GR when you're mixing the instruments and everything sounds good, then you add the vocals and they don't quite fit, then you start changing your mb because there isn't enough room, then the instrumental mix is just gonna come apart. headroom is the key. doing mastering last and seperately is especially helpful when you're mixing several songs to sound alike, like an album or an EP. just tips of course, there's no right and wrong, but it might help cause it sure helped me.
