mixing and monitoring

[jkhuri44]

gday dudez..

ive been having a bit of a dilemma recently in regards to mixing and monitoring....

at uni, i do most of my mixing on Genelec 1031A's...with their matching subwoofer....and shit sounds hot! :P

However, considering i am getting this mastered...at the said mastering house : ) I wanted to know what i should do:

a)get an awesome mix on the Genelecs only...

OR

b)get an awesome mix on the Genelecs AND change the mix to make it sound better on other systems before mastering....

i say this as the Genelecs love the low end, however it doesnt translate so well on smaller speakers with no subs...etc...

[smash]

grab a few of your favourite CD's, or at least the ones that you want this project to sound like, and have a listen to them through your monitor chain.

If, for example, your bottom end sounds much quieter/louder on your system then the reference CD's, then adjust your mix to match.

[chris p]

Yeah, and while you're at it do the same through a pair of headphones - decent ones, not ear buds. Then, when you're done, listen through ear buds as well - it won't sound as good, but hey, its how many will listen to your work. I'm not saying mix for the ear buds, but yes, do it as a last check on the mix.

[mfdu]

once i've got a mix up, i flip it through a close-spaced pair of bookshelf speakers (4" drivers) and also through my flappy old IMF floor-standing hi-fi jobbies (woof woof!).
and i pop it in the car.

at that point, i start feeling fairly certain the client won't get any nasty surprises, regardless of what playback system they use.

but to be honest, my clients are too low in the food-chain to take work to mastering - they're just interested in using a nice demo to get their next pub gig.

that makes me a bottom-feeder, i suppose.

chris.

[jkhuri44]

thats the thing mfdu..we definately will be going to get mastering..

so i was thinking to just get things sounding bangin' on the Genelecs...and let the mastering engineer....umm...Rick..do what he reckons is good to get as much low end or what not on as many play back systems as possible....

i have been very confused about using mastered music as a mix reference...it seems using mastered music for a reference during mastering is a good idea...but is it also a good idea when your mixing?? since it is tailored to sound best on home/stereos/cars/web, and quite different on monitors....just a thought...

[mal stanley]

If there's not enough bass on other systems..reduce the amount in your sub...
You should hopefully want to achieve a good full range monitoring system....mixing with a mastered reference has problems because you are listening to the final version with mastering compression/eq etc....
Trust your ears once you have your monitoring setup..maybe use an analyser and some test tones to see where the problems are..also Genelecs can make your mixes a tad dull elsewhere unless you are aware of this (because of their revealing upper mids)...

[mfdu]

i've heard that subs can be deadly - you keep thinking you've got a good mix, but then it all falls apart when you trial it on a non-sub system.
(edit - i don't have a sub, and so i really wouldn't know!)

yeah - try a measurement mic to check for buildup in the room if you're uncertain.
but use it also to check that the 2.1 crossover is actually set where it should be. you don't want to double up on the 100>250Hz area.

lock and load!

chris
mfdu

[davemc]

I hate monitoring systems that sound big and do not translate. I personally do not want to keep second guessing myself, although seeing it is not your room your going to have to adjust and learn the system.
First off I would look at bringing a boombox and some nice headphones you know well in. Try to adjust the sub level in the studio and cross over points if you can. As it is not your place, once you get it right, write down the settings to change each time.
I would then do a mix quikly of levels, take it to your car or somewhere and work out what the room/speakers do to be different.
Then your going to have to mix second guessing yourself.

I find a lot of studio crank the SUB for the big factor, I had a 15" Quested sub in my old room. Scared the crap out of engineers until they found when I turned it off you lost the low end definition not 50% less level in the low end he he.
With mixing and speakers its all personal, I have mates who like mixing on hyped systems.

[jkhuri44]

nice tip davemc...

i shall do that asap : )

as you said, its frustrating...coz everything sounds good on those genelecs...it drives me up the friggin wall when i take it to my other systems!

[davemc]

Could also be the room as well.
I really think monitoring and room is what people fix last, I know I used to be like that I had lots of hi end pres, mics and compressors. Although the room needed fixing and my KRK's annoyed me. Fixing the room and monitors allows you to hear the mix better.
Good luck.

[graemeh]

Be wary about your listening levels too - if you're pumping the volume the mix will sound more exciting.
Anything over 85dB and you'll need to think about the equal loudness/Fletcher Munsen curves that distort what you're listening to...
Try the other extreme - the "threshold of audability" test. When your mix is so soft that it's almost "invisible" you should be able to hear all the important bits and the mix itself should be coherent.
If it's not - back to the drawing/mixing board...Cheap as well!