Kinda lost...

[Darren]

Hello All,

This is one of those random, vague posts that asks the world... Oh well, here I go:

Some friends of mine in a hardcore punk band did a one day session with davemc at Indent Music (thanks davemc - sounded awesome). I was handed the PT files for re-mixing because I kinda talked myself up a bit and now I'm finding that its alittle bit more involved than I first thought.

I'm mixing ITB in Logic on PC and I've kinda fallen into the trap of trying to eq then compress things to make them sound louder which has somehow made them sound smaller (damn it).

I listen to stuff that guys like Phil Mckellar and DW Norton have done and although I realise there's an enormous wealth of experience and talent there I was just wondering if anyone knew of any resources that might put me on the right track.

Is there a book or a website that refers to this type of production. Or is there anybody out there feeling particularly friendly who might wanna field a few questions or even listen to an mp3 or two and tell me where I'm going wrong.

I read slipperman's posts on prosoundweb and that was a great help.

Even if you reply to this post with some processes that you normally do when mixing this kinda stuff that would be great.

I'm particularly interested in drums and guitar info.

Thanks for your time.

[davemc]

Hey,

If you want a hand give me a call. I did not use much EQ or compression on a lot of your mix. Only really to tone the guitar different then what they were(sucked teh crud out). I EQ'd the kick and Snare on the way in.
Think added a little more EQ to the snare later.
Added some to the toms.
A bit of compression on vocals though if I remember..

Sometimes not using plugins is the best thing you can do.
Always A/B so your not getting smaller. Also try to keep levels similar when A/Bing
You have to get to understand what a compressor does, I find a lot of people starting out hear about compression and think slaping one on every channel will make things bigger. Most of the time you kill to much transients and flattern a mix out..
Do some searches online and see what you find.
Sorry you just have to hear what it does. Hard to just show a example. The best way to start is put something like a Snare through and learn what the Attack and Release does to the sound. Then Threshold and ratio's and knees.

See the thing is you always changing things for different sounds and what you want to do. Its not always just a preset EQ or compression, actually hardly ever use the exact same settings from song to song.

So take it all off and start again.

[adamcal]

I think you should book some more time with Dave and have him take you through a mix.

[mfdu]

i agree - book in for some o' that special dave lovin'.

dave is a champ and if he has his 'new' console, then you could be in for a good time.

(dave - did you get the gear delivered, or is it still stuck up north?)

otherwise, if you are stuck mixing ITB remove ALL plugins, bus your signals on the way to stereo so all the summing isn't done on the stereo bus (vox, guitars, drums - you know the deal)
from there, try gentle dynamics and eq on buses only. and not as a matter of course.
not the ultimate solution, but a starting point.

as dave says, regularly a/b so you know you're not making it suck even harder with every step.

chris.

[davemc]

2" hopefully here today.. So probably Tomorrow.. he he
Then to re cable the place with the new patchbay.. such fun. I am so wanting to rewire 200+ connectors.

Darren PM or email me your Phone number and I will give you a call when I am at the studio so you can get what my starting eq's etc were.
Otherwise you want to do the drive again let me know.