It's been said before, but I think it bears repeating--if you must boost and sweep to find an offending resonance, get in the habit of dimming the monitors down at least -10dB first. Boosting and sweeping a problematic frequency at your normal listening level means a sonic assault on the the only tools you have for fine adjustments (your ears). I've rarely had the discipline to do it, but some mixers I've worked with don't sweep at all--they switch out the eq, take an educated guess at the bad freq, dial in a cut, and then pop the eq back in, repeating the process until satisfied. Keeps your ears roughly in the same place they started at. Absolutely agree about simplicity being the best guiding principle.
The infamous "demon frequency". I am so grateful that you taught me to hear this common event. People often overlook this octave resonance and only work on the fundamental frequency.
Man, you really helped me I've been watching for 2 years and haven't paid back or put a like I'm sorry for that I only understand mixing techniques from you one and only, Thank you
I've figured out this days ago. Compressed my vocals a lot e realized this frequency and was thinking it was my vocal technique. Thank good Lord it's something comun... I'm gonna just take the frequency out an be happy with it. Bless you, cheers.
I did this just yesterday without knowing it. Has a section in a track that was a bit blah. Had a ride ding/tinging along. Swapped out a few hits along the train “ride” for crashes and things came to life. This video helps me know that YES! do more of this! in more ways! thanks Joe!
Another helpful tool is to select your instrument's eq settings prior to tracking. This is for guitar, keys, bass, etc. Can include mic placement/positioning. This will reduce the amount of information going into the mix and will help specifically with the low mids if you go ahead and make notched reductions between 200-600hz
Scouping the EQ for harmonic abnormalities, like you demonstrated, ALWAYS helps clean up the vocals... I will often create a 5 db dip at 1500khz in the instrumental sub to create a "vocal shelf" to help push them out front... Great content as always, Joe. Thanks for all your Tips and techniques!! My mixing is mostly for live musical theatre productions, but good technique is good technique, right?
As I understand it, we need to be aware when notching frequencies this, the deeper the cut the more it can affect the resonant frequencies. For example, deep cut at 2.5k can affect 5k or 1.25k, or a deep cut at 4k impacts 8k & 2k.
I love subtractive EQ. Adjusted correctly it can change the feel of your mix. It’s amazing when you focus your tracks with the right subtractive EQ, no pinesal needed👍
what would be really useful is if someone would do mixing vocals that are baritone and notes sung in the e to a region below middle c . How to get them to sit nicely without tons of exciter etc. And in a dense mix (not loud necessarily)
best way i found is, first do a mix-down of all instruments, except vocals ...then record vocals ...then turn off mix bus limiter, and set limiter on a bus for vocals, then do final mix-down ...this will make vocals cut-though effortlessly on top of the loudest of mixes ...your welcome! :P
Hey man, I don't rly understand this mixing battle between vocals and music. Can you please check a song of mine and tell me if vocals are fighting the music?
Absolutely not. Why would I record vocals last? This is exactly how you get them clashing with the arrangement. Get the vocals down along the basics (bass, drums, etc.) and then you know if you need any extra stuff. The first step to a good mix is in the *arrangement*. A good arrangement barely needs effort in mixing. I'm not wasting my time on orchestrating and ear candy if I'm just gonna bury it with vocals later.
Hey joe so i have a 300$ mic and a home portable booth that i bought from amazon for 400$ the equipment i have is good but as a music consumer turning engineer i feel like i struggle to understand what the dry vocals need in order to eq and compress ect can you make a video on how to more easily hear what your dry vocal needs… also if i could pay you to just listen to my dry recordings to give me feedback on what i could fix or need to fix in the mixing stage would appreciate it so much thank you for all the knowledge you give for FREE!!!
Hey Joe ! I have a question for you (maybe an idea foe a new video). so, Im using studio on 6.6 and I have noticed that not all effect plugin have a mix knob built in. problem is, some times I want to automate the mix knob, and I couldn't find a decent way of doing it. If you or anybody have a solution, I would love to hear it !!
I got your email on compression Joe but I must say there is no compressor that can give you 5 dB of gain reduction with 1:1 ratio. Even with the threshold way way down.
Drop 2-4khz in all other instruments , but leave it in the vocals. It’s not as much about turning up a channels volume , as it is reducing combating frequencies.
Hey Joe. I’m sorry to ask this here, but I haven’t found any help yet. You had a video about macros a bit ago. How can I create a macro for “unpack takes to new layers”? I would have left my comment on the macro video, but I couldn’t find it. 🙄 Any help would be appreciated!
I've realized I can't add multiple-layered heavy guitar tracks when recording in digital (probably analog too). If I have 4-6 guitar tracks (using plug-ins only) all doing different things, it becomes a total muddy mess. I'll have to write songs with only the root part and maybe one harmony or it just sounds like total shit. Anyone has a solution for this, I'm all ears, so to speak.
What we can't discern the key offending resonant freqs on our own? By ear I mean. Can we use generalities? "Around 2K is usually a problem for vocals?" Or use a plugin which allows us to see imbalances?
First you need to be able to identify what you don't like about the track, just by listening to it. THEN you can sweep for that specific problem you hear. Otherwise, sweeping is useless, because EVERY frequency sounds bad when you boost it that much.
▶︎▶︎ Vocal Mixing Guide: www.homestudiocorner.com/vocal
Joe my brother I know you have a video coming soon featuring Studio One Pro 7
Great advice. Think the production through before recording
It's been said before, but I think it bears repeating--if you must boost and sweep to find an offending resonance, get in the habit of dimming the monitors down at least -10dB first. Boosting and sweeping a problematic frequency at your normal listening level means a sonic assault on the the only tools you have for fine adjustments (your ears). I've rarely had the discipline to do it, but some mixers I've worked with don't sweep at all--they switch out the eq, take an educated guess at the bad freq, dial in a cut, and then pop the eq back in, repeating the process until satisfied. Keeps your ears roughly in the same place they started at. Absolutely agree about simplicity being the best guiding principle.
The infamous "demon frequency". I am so grateful that you taught me to hear this common event. People often overlook this octave resonance and only work on the fundamental frequency.
Love the bucket analogy!
Truly amazing explanation
Man, you really helped me I've been watching for 2 years and haven't paid back or put a like I'm sorry for that I only understand mixing techniques from you one and only, Thank you
Excellent illustration to bring home the idea Joe...bravo!
Thank you 😊
The balanced mix is the best mix...
I've figured out this days ago. Compressed my vocals a lot e realized this frequency and was thinking it was my vocal technique. Thank good Lord it's something comun... I'm gonna just take the frequency out an be happy with it. Bless you, cheers.
I did this just yesterday without knowing it. Has a section in a track that was a bit blah. Had a ride ding/tinging along. Swapped out a few hits along the train “ride” for crashes and things came to life. This video helps me know that YES! do more of this! in more ways! thanks Joe!
Another helpful tool is to select your instrument's eq settings prior to tracking. This is for guitar, keys, bass, etc. Can include mic placement/positioning. This will reduce the amount of information going into the mix and will help specifically with the low mids if you go ahead and make notched reductions between 200-600hz
Thank you Joe
Marlin lover here too ⌚😍😍
Great explanation and info. Thanks Joe.
Makes total sense! Thanks for a clear explanation.
Scouping the EQ for harmonic abnormalities, like you demonstrated, ALWAYS helps clean up the vocals... I will often create a 5 db dip at 1500khz in the instrumental sub to create a "vocal shelf" to help push them out front... Great content as always, Joe. Thanks for all your Tips and techniques!! My mixing is mostly for live musical theatre productions, but good technique is good technique, right?
I really like watching you! You are the best🥺
Waaaooo!!!
Now I understand!!!
Thanks
Great professor Joe. I will try find the ressonances in my next mix.
As I understand it, we need to be aware when notching frequencies this, the deeper the cut the more it can affect the resonant frequencies. For example, deep cut at 2.5k can affect 5k or 1.25k, or a deep cut at 4k impacts 8k & 2k.
Nice one
I love subtractive EQ. Adjusted correctly it can change the feel of your mix. It’s amazing when you focus your tracks with the right subtractive EQ, no pinesal needed👍
100% broh
what would be really useful is if someone would do mixing vocals that are baritone and notes sung in the e to a region below middle c . How to get them to sit nicely without tons of exciter etc. And in a dense mix (not loud necessarily)
Same concept no matter what range the singer is in.
2kish stuff in vocals , guitar , overheads and room mics often get cut by me.
best way i found is, first do a mix-down of all instruments, except vocals ...then record vocals ...then turn off mix bus limiter, and set limiter on a bus for vocals, then do final mix-down ...this will make vocals cut-though effortlessly on top of the loudest of mixes ...your welcome! :P
Hey man, I don't rly understand this mixing battle between vocals and music. Can you please check a song of mine and tell me if vocals are fighting the music?
Absolutely not. Why would I record vocals last? This is exactly how you get them clashing with the arrangement. Get the vocals down along the basics (bass, drums, etc.) and then you know if you need any extra stuff. The first step to a good mix is in the *arrangement*. A good arrangement barely needs effort in mixing. I'm not wasting my time on orchestrating and ear candy if I'm just gonna bury it with vocals later.
@@felixmarquesThere are instances where you have to record vocals on already made instrumentals.
👍
Hey joe so i have a 300$ mic and a home portable booth that i bought from amazon for 400$ the equipment i have is good but as a music consumer turning engineer i feel like i struggle to understand what the dry vocals need in order to eq and compress ect can you make a video on how to more easily hear what your dry vocal needs… also if i could pay you to just listen to my dry recordings to give me feedback on what i could fix or need to fix in the mixing stage would appreciate it so much thank you for all the knowledge you give for FREE!!!
Hey Joe !
I have a question for you (maybe an idea foe a new video).
so, Im using studio on 6.6 and I have noticed that not all effect plugin have a mix knob built in.
problem is, some times I want to automate the mix knob, and I couldn't find a decent way of doing it.
If you or anybody have a solution, I would love to hear it !!
❤️❤️❤️
Simple Solution people of the world unite! Bob Newhart “JUST STOP IT or I will BURRY YOU IN A BOX!” Simple 🤣
I got your email on compression Joe but I must say there is no compressor that can give you 5 dB of gain reduction with 1:1 ratio. Even with the threshold way way down.
There was a typo. If you look carefully, you'll see I said to raise it up to something like 1.2:1 or 1.3:1. That's talking about the ratio.
It's hard though as I want the mix to sound full. Its. Battle to get out of the loudness wars in trade with quality sound.
Drop 2-4khz in all other instruments , but leave it in the vocals. It’s not as much about turning up a channels volume , as it is reducing combating frequencies.
That won’t solve the ringing frequency in the vocal track.
Believe it or not I had a hard time hearing that noise lol, it could be my headphones, it could be my untrained ear, I think it's more of the latter
Hey Joe. I’m sorry to ask this here, but I haven’t found any help yet. You had a video about macros a bit ago. How can I create a macro for “unpack takes to new layers”? I would have left my comment on the macro video, but I couldn’t find it. 🙄 Any help would be appreciated!
Sorry I don't know. You could just turn on the setting "Record Takes to Layers" and then you don't need that macro. 😊
I've realized I can't add multiple-layered heavy guitar tracks when recording in digital (probably analog too). If I have 4-6 guitar tracks (using plug-ins only) all doing different things, it becomes a total muddy mess. I'll have to write songs with only the root part and maybe one harmony or it just sounds like total shit. Anyone has a solution for this, I'm all ears, so to speak.
What we can't discern the key offending resonant freqs on our own? By ear I mean. Can we use generalities? "Around 2K is usually a problem for vocals?" Or use a plugin which allows us to see imbalances?
No you need to learn how to hear it
@@HomeStudioCorner On elec guitar I can find ringing freqs fine. Same idea here... sweep for ringing/whooping?
First you need to be able to identify what you don't like about the track, just by listening to it. THEN you can sweep for that specific problem you hear. Otherwise, sweeping is useless, because EVERY frequency sounds bad when you boost it that much.
Here's me gaslighting myself to hear that 2.1k frequency in his vocal
👍🤝
Before water 😮😅😮
Air
Ducking
Saturation
Compression
What else