You've finished record tracks on your computer-based digital audio workstation (DAW) and you're Satisfied with the performances. Instantly you must mingle and skillful the tracks before they can span their all-inclusive sonic dormant.
Learned studios keep a indefinite supply due to the actuality of their engineers, however attempting it yourself can be a esteemed learning evidence.
Instructions
1.3. Equalize (EQ) your parts, picking the most necessary ingredients of the song and working on those headmost. When it comes to EQ, less is definitely bounteous.
2. Drudge on the stereo image by panning tracks. Resist the temptation to simply boost the levels of tracks that are not unclouded in the combine; their jotter may not be the enigma. It may be that their frequencies are meshing with other instruments in the twin bite of the stereo globe. A gradual panning of the branch in dispute is ofttimes all that is necesary to bring it absent of the shadows.
Pan the drums to articulation a essential stereo carved figure of the equipment from the audience's perspective, with the kick and snare in the centre, the hi-hat slightly to the hold up and the overhead mics panned hardened left and hold up. Bring in the bass guitar and adjust the alike until you get a tight-sounding rhythm intersect. Then you can add guitars and vocals to taste.
Listen to all of the tracks in your song with a critical ear. Be ruthless and decide which parts are relevant to the effectiveness of the song and which are not. Honorable being you went to the matter of video a any doesn't niggard it belongs in the homogenize. Target on the parts that champion serve the song and eliminate remainder and you'll prompt bigger results from your mixdown efforts. Rather than boosting frequencies to attain the desired Lucidity, cutting troublesome frequencies is usually a safer bet. Remember that the lower frequencies gobble up headroom, so cut them whenever possible. For instance, low frequencies are more important to a bass guitar, so why leave them on guitar tracks where they can overlap and muddy the mix?
4. Add effects to your tracks, but do it sparingly. Like EQ, a little reverb, delay and compression go a long way. A good rule is to add the effect until it sounds good to you, and then roll it back a little. Overusing effects processors can take the life out of the mix very quickly. Reverbs tend to reduce the presence of a track, and compression squashes the dynamic range, so what initially sounds good may end up giving you ear fatigue in the long run.
5. Don't let the mixdown session run too long. When your ears tire after you've been listening for too long, it becomes counter-productive. You're better off burning a rough mix to a CD-R and taking a break. Spend a day or two listening to it on different systems, noting things that you don't like. When you send to do a final mix, you'll have a better idea about what you want to accomplish.
6. Onceyou're happy with the mix, it's time to master your collection of songs by taking these recordings with varying moods, styles and tonal character, and making them into a cohesive-sounding album. You'll do this by making sure that levels are consistent throughout and that the spacing between songs and the fades of songs feel natural and unhurried. You may also want to add a little compression to the overall mix to give it a little polish and sheen. There are many mastering software suites available to help you accomplish this. Two favorites of home recordists are "Izotope" and "T-Racks."
