☑️ Buy the Reference plugin here: www.pluginboutique.com/product/3-Studio-Tools/95-Referencing-Tools/10218-REFERENCE-2-FREE-Copy-Of-EXPOSE-2/?a_aid=5d496680b59cd ✔️ VST & Effect Plugins: pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=5d496680b59cd ✔️ Premium Loops And Sample Packs: www.loopmasters.com/?a_aid=5d496680b59cd Want professional feedback on your track? Mixing or Mastering? www.fiverr.com/firewalk Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/firewalkmusic
Hands down to the best music production channel on UA-cam. I know there are alot of great channels and I appreciate everyone of them, but for real tho you're explaining everything so clear, step by step and it all actually works (this should be obvious, but i have watched tons of tutorials, which just didnt work). In couple days just by watching your videos i figured out tons of stuff i've been struggling for months... thank you
Thanks for that awesome feedback! I'm very happy to hear that you have found the content helpful, and feedback like this really motivate me to keep on making these videos. I spend a lot of time making every single video because I want it to be perfect. I rewrite the script over and over until I'm certain that it's as simple and logical as possible. Even a simple 15 minute video can take me days to produce. I'm glad to see that it's worth it. :)
My opinion is - Just mix how you like it. Make a pause and return later to your own mix and continue to work on it. You don't need other peoples references. Don't overestimate mixing and mastering. It's about the melody, harmonies, quality of your arrangement. That's the most important thing. A great mix can't save a bad song. EQ your track how you like it. Don't mimick or copy other peoples mixes or sound. If you think your mix sounds good, then it's good. Simple as that!
Thanks for the feedback. I realize that not everyone is going to be able to buy this plugin and that's why I included the old school way of doing it first. By dragging in a reference track and using that as a guide you should be able to improve your structuring skills a lot. It's a bit more tedious and the levels won't match properly, nor will you be able to compare the tonal energy in the various bands and so on, so a plugin like this makes it much easier when it comes to the mixing aspect of it as well. There are several cheaper alternatives available out there too, as well as a few free ones if memory serves. :)
Hello FireWalk, I found out that you're tutorials are really effective. I was just wondering if you could do a video about Mastering with Izotope 7 or 8 in fl studio, it would be very helpful.
Thanks for these videos, but can you make a full mixing tutorial covering some important topics like EQ, Compression, Saturation, Reverb actually I don't know when to use reverb and when not to use it?
You're welcome. I already have a few tutorials about mixing actually, like how to EQ, how to get the levels right and how to layer leads etc. I'm planning on making more though, so that I eventually have a complete "how to mix" series. :)
I have watched countless videos on "reference tracks and their use". BUT, NO ONE ever starts from the beginning. Do you have to buy them? In this video, you brought in a WAV file. So where did you get it? I don't think that I could even plop in an old CD of the Eagles, and download Wave files of Peaceful Easy Feeling, as an example. SO, I would really like to see someone actually start from the beginning. Since I started my home studio 2 yrs ago, I do see one common fault, well, maybe a couple. Trainers "assume" everyone knows the terms you are using, and never really start from scratch. I have a plugin called Metric A/B but first need to find out WHERE and HOW I can obtain the actual reference tracks. And thanks for listening....
Hi, thanks for your feedback! This kind of detailed feedback is very helpful when it comes to improving my tutorials in the future. To answer your question: Most people download music from www.beatport.com. It's typically just a few bucks per track. You can in some cases download from various streaming services too, depending on which plan you have. If you have reference tracks on CD, then there are lots of free software that allows you to record those songs as wav / mp3 etc on to your computer. Here's a few free ways to do this: www.videoconverterfactory.com/tips/cd-to-wav.html
Completely made my day with this video! Big help on how to use reference. Had a question. Say your track is too dynamic in the mid compared to the reference, would you compress your master bus with a multiband or Compress individual elements in the mid range? Thanks!
It's always best to fix any problems in the mix. You're not really supposed to fix problems during the mastering stage unless you have no other choice. :)
That will be very difficult indeed. Generally, you should never compare your own unmastered track to a commercial master, but that's what most of us have to do. That's part of what's so clever about this plugin, because it will volume match the commercial master with your own track. Keep in mind that louder always sounds better to humans. Once the sound level is equal, much will be done. It makes it much easier to reference. I often recommend that people put a temporary limiter on their master, to kind of simulate how the track will behave when it's mastered. If you do that in combination with this plugin, then you'll be able to minimize the difference. Referencing should then be a lot easier.
I really like your videos ,this is the best UA-cam channel to learn everything about music production.Can you make a video how to mix the kick with the bass and after that how to mix one more sound for example the lead?
Whilst I appreciate the instructional video, I think you failed to mention a remedy to loud masters being dragged into your session. Clip gain in Pro Tools in conjunction with a metering plugin on your master bus are effective tools to level match tracks before you A/B to them. I use an aux track for my mastering plugins and send the reference tracks to main outs so they bypass the processing. I will be purchasing this plugin all the same. Thanks for the video, you outlined the functions very well.
Indeed, there are ways around it of course, but I wanted to showcase this plugin itself in the video as I generally find it's much easier to use. Just drag and drop the files into it and you're done. :)
Hi, it's all about the mixing. Using the right combination of EQ, compression and saturation. I have a lot of mixing tutorials on my channel that will help you get clean sounding mixes :)
why can't u just route the reference track to the master and then have all of the mastering plugins for your personal track be on, say, mixer track number one. then, of course, mixer track number one is routed to the master. that way, you are comparing your mastered track to the reference
You could do that, but when this video was made the developers had still not redesigned the PDC in FL Studio, so doing that would cause even the most powerful computer to grind to a halt. I believe it should work now though. Still, I think the Reference plugin is well worth it since it not only compares the two, but also offers automatic volume leveling, the ability to see the overall energy in the various bands, ability to solo the various bands so that you could hear just the low end in the reference track vs your own and so on. Sure, you could do most of this stuff without it, but at the end of the day it's all about saving time. Working quickly is the key to finishing a track. You want to get things done quickly, before you get fatigued from listening to it too much, and I've found that plugins that speed up workflow can be very helpful in that regard. :)
FireWalk thanks for your reply. where do u recommend getting reference tracks from? i have songs in mind that i want to reference. but i don’t know how to get wav files of them
I asked a tutorial about reference tracks, and look : Eirik did it again. Thank you very much my friend. Think I have to buy Reference now. Or do you think there are other good reference vst's (free) ? I will Google a while now. Thnx again my man ! :-)
Thanks Jan! I know I have promised you to make this tutorial for a long time now. I finally got it done. I have tried several other reference plugins in the past. This is the one with the most and best functions in my opinion. Also, ozone 8 have some similar functions, but it's much more expensive, costing $499. The reference plugin is just $49 to purchase. Definitely worth it. I use it all the time now. :)
HEY FIREWALK PLEASE HELP ME, WHEN I ADD GROSSBEAT IT SAYS 0,34 MS LATENCY, AND WHAT IS PLUGIN DELAY COMPENSATION AND ALL THE YELLOW / GOLD CLOCKS IN THE MIXERTRACKS AT THE BOTTOM?
Hey. Automatic Plugin Delay Compensation (APDC) Is used to keep all the vst's and plugins in your project in sync. When you first start out on a project, you may just have one synth and one EQ. Your computers processor will spend a little bit of it's processing time generating the sound from your synth and then processing the EQ. This adds a little bit of "lag" to the playback. As you keep on adding more and more synths, and more and more effects, the processor has to process more and more information, and it won't be able to keep up any more, so it takes it longer to finish. Therefore, a little bit of "lag" is purposefully added in order for everything to be able to stay in sync. IF APDC was not in place, your kick, hat, snare, bass, leads etc would all be out of sync, and that wouldn't sound good. :) When grossbeat reports 0,35ms latency, that's the time it takes your CPU to process that plugin. And that time will be added to the total "lag" in your project, in order for everything to play back in sync. You might have noticed that in a very large project, you might have to increase the buffer settings in order to avoid stuttering and such. When that happens, it becomes difficult to play the midi keyboard at the same time. There will be a lag. I suggest you check out my video on CPU performance in FL Studio to know more about this: ua-cam.com/video/OWYmqwb7b4k/v-deo.html
Okay so even tough with the red exclamation mark on the grossbeat and the clocks in the mixer that turn yellow, im still fine? And thanks for answering so fast love your vids you earned a sub
okay yes but i mean the song will still be in the right pace, noting is delayed or out of tempo even tough is says by the clock in the bottom right corner in the mixer 0,34 ms
Yes, I recommend using as high quality as possible. You can go to beatport for example and buy your favorite tracks there, and download the high quality wav version. That's what I often do. It only cost 2-3 dollars at the most. :)
Wonderful just like every time , Please can you publish a tutorial about "midside processing", ? What is it and what use it for , Thank you for your help Your have best tutorial in you tube
Nice tips! i used to make a track, and it sounds fine on my speakers, but when i hear in my MP3 Player it freaking suck, epsecially in the LOW FREQUENCY
Hey Jack! yeah, getting a mix to sound good on all kinds of devices is almost impossible. I recommend testing it on several different devices during the mixdown. Test it in your car, on earbuds, on bluetooth speakers etc. The goal is to get a well balanced mix that sounds decent on most devices. You will have to make some compromises though. :)
Hey, thanks! Glad to hear that you like the video. We spend a lot of time trying to make all our videos as short, straight to the point and easy to understand as possible. :)
Please make a tutorial to how to eq premade drum loops or any loop which contains different stuffs in it. Bass,lead or anything else. And also mixing a sub bass is very necessary for a lot of genres in these days. How can we fattener a sub bass (808) or smoother without killing its characteristics? Can we use 808 and bassline at the same time etc... This would be a great one.
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll put it on my list. But to answer your question: Usually you have to choose between a thumping kick or a rumbling bass. You usually can't have both at the same time. Psy Trance has both powerful kicks and bass, but the kicks are extremely short, which is why they get away with it. An 808 is a totally different beast. So a rule of thumb would be to either have a low going kick and a cutoff bass, or a cutoff kick and a low going bass. I hope that helps. :)
It would be much more efficient if u will not only shown functionality, but share your work flow with this vst with your live comment. How you correct your track, what do u see on spectrum and hear, and what and how it should be corrected. Thank you!
Hi and thanks for the review and insights! Would this software work for a singer-songwriter trying to reference more acoustic-based music, particularly with matching vocals and guitar sounds?
I don't get it, so if you press the button top right to automatically adjust the volume to your track then if you start adjusting levels to try match, wouldn't the volume of the reference go down as well? If thats the case how are you meant to get a balance., am I missing something along the lines?
It will match the overall loudness so that it's the same. But you're right to point this out, it's one thing that's worth keeping in mind, if you increase your kick by 10 dB for example then it will of course affect everything. I don't recommend keeping that option on while mixing, because it will constantly try to readjust, which is as you pointed out annoying. Instead, I recommend using this plugin to get a feel for how it sounds, and get a mental image of what needs adjusting, then you try to mix it down without the plugin, and then you go back and check if it's better. Ideally they should implement an option to make sure this feature is only active when the plugin is focused for example. That way it wouldn't mess up anything when you're not actively using it and trying to mix.
One more thing, at what point in your mix did you start using the ref plugin/tracks? I was thinking of using it right from the start, as soon as I load the first kick drum. Is that the idea?
No you should be fine. There are two "sweet spots" if you will when it comes to the low end. Typically the 80 and 50 / 60 hz region. The 80 hz is not a problem for most speakers, but the 50-60 hz is right at the threshold of the capability of most of the smaller 5" speakers. You simply won't get an accurate representation of those frequencies with those smaller moniors, and this is a huge problem because this frequency range is so important. The 50 / 60 hz region is what makes the rumble from your sub bass and your kick for example. It's what you'll typically feel in your gut when you're in a club. With larger monitors you'll be able to feel the air pressure, and you can tell by the vibrations in the floor that there's enough low end. With smaller cones that won't happen and you will often feel like there's too little bass. This causes you to add more and more bass trying to compensate for this lack of bass, when in reality the bass was always there, you just can't hear it because of the monitors. This is a typical beginner mistake, which is why it's generally easier to mix on somewhat larger monitors which goes lower. 37 hz is fine. You'll typically low cut stuff around 30-40 hz anyways. :) It's the 50-60 hz you need to be able to really hear.
@@FireWalkMusic I don't own PreSonus < I guess I need that and it comes with a preSonus HUB to download so it can be use d in other DAW's, please correct me if I'm wrong
Your ears :) I typically start by figuring out the chord structure and the melodies, and then I add various effects and fills etc when all the major stuff is in place. The most obvious challenge when recreating a track from scratch is that you're not going to have the exact same samples and sounds that the original composer used, so it will typically end up sounding slightly different. You can tweak synths to get very close, but regarding samples it's more difficult. You can also experiment with various layering in order to get the exact sound you're looking for. I recreated Kygo's Sexual healing a while back, and I think it came out very close to the original. I have a video showing how it's put together here: ua-cam.com/video/kKukr--7Tks/v-deo.html
I have a Question, when you have no compression in a Frequency range, and REFERENCE is telling you that you need to have less compression on that frequency range... what do you need to do? bc im so confused with that, what i mean is... you have no compression on your instruments in a determinate range, but REFERENCE is telling you that you have to remove the compression. So if there's someone who can help me, i will appreciate it. btw sorry for my english... Thanks!
It could simply mean that you have a lot of instruments in your track, occupying a wide band of frequencies. This plugin can't really tell the difference. It's meant to be used as a reference only. I recommend always using your ears first. If it sounds good, it sounds good. Visual tools can be a helpful tool to double check, but always rely on your ears first. :)
@@FireWalkMusic Thank you mate!, now i know that. I`ll pay more attention to my instruments in order to not compress a lot. But yes, i heard what i did and for was good, so I left it as it was.
Hey buddy! Any way you could potentially make a video tailored to "how to mix/master specifically for soundcloud"? Im trying to compile a list of things to always make sure i do so that my SC uploads are as loud & HQ as possible.
I take it you found it useful :D I'm constantly trying to figure out which tutorials will be the most helpful to my viewers, and this is something I wish was available back in the day when I first started making music. :)
That depends on a lot of things. How much CPU you want to use and what you're using it for. Are you just out to get a good overview? Or perhaps you're using it to detect certain problems in the mix? For comparing a reference track you probably just need to see an average, so the default settings will probably do.
I usually just place a limiter on my master and push it up a little to "simulate" the squashing that goes on during the mastering, it will bring you closer to the end result for comparison purposes.
Firewalk my qn is i always am using Fl but i don`t know should i put any plugin to the mix bus before or after mixing to mix down a beat ready for recordin??
Yes, I have a "how to mix" series. It's not finished yet, as I have a couple of more videos to go. But I will eventually cover all the most important mixing steps, including mastering.
Not sure but I think you can load up all your mastering plugins on your premaster. Than keep the master channel empty, load up your refernce track and set the reference track to your master channel. Then mute back and forth from master to pre master channels.
No it's not. It's currently $49 to purchase, but it's definitely worth it. There are other similar plugins which cost more and have less functionality. Also, the Ozone 8 have some of the same capability, but it cost $499. I own this plugin myself and I use it all the time now. :)
Tutorial on how to make good powerful drums like deadmau5. for example, I've been trying SO hard to make kicks and snares and hi hats sound clean. and overall mixes in general. like that. But I struggle,Same with bass. And if you want to see what I mean You can check out my music on soundcloud and check the mixing out Soundcloud.com/glivtch and no, I'm not promoting myself I just need help on making drums/mixes sound as good as that. I've always noticed deadmau5 has good ass drums and everythings is clean and well balanced please Make a tutorial on how to do that. Also i use FL.Studio12.2
Thanks for the suggestion. Regarding deadmau5 and drums, the trick there is usually compression. Or alternatively a transient shaper. This is usually used to control the attack and punch of drums.
FireWalk Do you think you can show a tutorial I have the SPL transient designer and API 2500 waves compressor. And the drums do come out more with the Transient but idk what Else I'm missing. I have a TOP kick and low Kick and Like Middle kick and routed to a kick bus and then On that kick bus I use the SPL and the compressor and they still don't sound how I want them to. Idk if im not compressing right or doing something wrong same with the bass. If you can try to help me on it, it would be much appreciated I know it's kind of a weird question.
finally you done a vid with your way of using ref. track :) thank you for sharing knowledge bro!would another video i love to find here, is about quantization and groove translation from drum/perc loops into midi to work with. thats the only thing i really not satisfied in fl is compared to the powerfull groove pool groove extracting tools from ableton. may using melodyne to get midi extraction is the best workaround.what you think ?
@@jamalcole1985 It certainly works as intended. I must admit, I'm finding the whole direct referencing process frustrating just because it's so hard to get close to professionally-produced records, but I feel that's more on me than the plugin. How about you?
@@MrSirMrSirMr yeah okay that makes a lot of sense I've been using it for about a day as well and I'm noticing a lot of stuff about my vocals that need some extra work and on the low end as well
☑️ Buy the Reference plugin here:
www.pluginboutique.com/product/3-Studio-Tools/95-Referencing-Tools/10218-REFERENCE-2-FREE-Copy-Of-EXPOSE-2/?a_aid=5d496680b59cd
✔️ VST & Effect Plugins:
pluginboutique.com/?a_aid=5d496680b59cd
✔️ Premium Loops And Sample Packs:
www.loopmasters.com/?a_aid=5d496680b59cd
Want professional feedback on your track? Mixing or Mastering? www.fiverr.com/firewalk
Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/firewalkmusic
Hands down to the best music production channel on UA-cam. I know there are alot of great channels and I appreciate everyone of them, but for real tho you're explaining everything so clear, step by step and it all actually works (this should be obvious, but i have watched tons of tutorials, which just didnt work). In couple days just by watching your videos i figured out tons of stuff i've been struggling for months... thank you
Thanks for that awesome feedback! I'm very happy to hear that you have found the content helpful, and feedback like this really motivate me to keep on making these videos.
I spend a lot of time making every single video because I want it to be perfect. I rewrite the script over and over until I'm certain that it's as simple and logical as possible. Even a simple 15 minute video can take me days to produce. I'm glad to see that it's worth it. :)
My opinion is - Just mix how you like it. Make a pause and return later to your own mix and continue to work on it. You don't need other peoples references. Don't overestimate mixing and mastering. It's about the melody, harmonies, quality of your arrangement. That's the most important thing. A great mix can't save a bad song. EQ your track how you like it. Don't mimick or copy other peoples mixes or sound. If you think your mix sounds good, then it's good. Simple as that!
Yes! Why should I listen to a song that has a bad melody but a good mix?
@@modernmabuse Yep :D
And here we go again! Another one ☝️😁😏👍🏾!
It's been a few weeks now since the last one. I've been so busy lately. Hopefully people will find this useful :)
FireWalk don’t worry 😉 u doing pretty good:)! I really needed it, this kind of tutorial. Mastering the mix has pretty good and easy plug ins :)
Thanks :) Yeah, they have some really good & very useful plugins for mixing and mastering.
FireWalk indeed!👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
1:23 that's so me hahahaha
I think we have all been there :D
Producer's hangover lmao
Man, I love your videos. Your explanation is very clear. Congratulations for your job
Thanks! Glad you liked it :)
Very helpfull, as always. Thank you very much for making these, you help me to improve so much!
Thanks, glad to hear it! :)
can't stop thinking of that "how its made" comment lol
:p
Fantastic clarity and quality content. Thank you!
Thanks! Glad you liked it :)
brillant tutorial until you bring up a costly plugin, everything after that is just useless to me
Thanks for the feedback. I realize that not everyone is going to be able to buy this plugin and that's why I included the old school way of doing it first. By dragging in a reference track and using that as a guide you should be able to improve your structuring skills a lot.
It's a bit more tedious and the levels won't match properly, nor will you be able to compare the tonal energy in the various bands and so on, so a plugin like this makes it much easier when it comes to the mixing aspect of it as well.
There are several cheaper alternatives available out there too, as well as a few free ones if memory serves. :)
Just what I was looking for! I Dig it!!!
Glad you liked it :)
Amazing tutorial again,thank you very much!
You're welcome :)
very good breakdown, thank you very much.
Thanks! Glad you liked it :)
The song sounds amazing
Thanks! Much appreciated :)
Hello FireWalk, I found out that you're tutorials are really effective. I was just wondering if you could do a video about Mastering with Izotope 7 or 8 in fl studio, it would be very helpful.
I'm planning on making a video about mastering. In fact, I have many more mixing related videos planned. :)
Well thanks for the response. Eagerly waiting for those stuffs.
Thanks for these videos,
but can you make a full mixing tutorial covering some important topics like EQ, Compression, Saturation, Reverb actually I don't know when to use reverb and when not to use it?
You're welcome. I already have a few tutorials about mixing actually, like how to EQ, how to get the levels right and how to layer leads etc. I'm planning on making more though, so that I eventually have a complete "how to mix" series. :)
I have watched countless videos on "reference tracks and their use". BUT, NO ONE ever starts from the beginning. Do you have to buy them? In this video, you brought in a WAV file. So where did you get it? I don't think that I could even plop in an old CD of the Eagles, and download Wave files of Peaceful Easy Feeling, as an example. SO, I would really like to see someone actually start from the beginning. Since I started my home studio 2 yrs ago, I do see one common fault, well, maybe a couple. Trainers "assume" everyone knows the terms you are using, and never really start from scratch. I have a plugin called Metric A/B but first need to find out WHERE and HOW I can obtain the actual reference tracks. And thanks for listening....
Hi, thanks for your feedback! This kind of detailed feedback is very helpful when it comes to improving my tutorials in the future. To answer your question: Most people download music from www.beatport.com. It's typically just a few bucks per track. You can in some cases download from various streaming services too, depending on which plan you have.
If you have reference tracks on CD, then there are lots of free software that allows you to record those songs as wav / mp3 etc on to your computer.
Here's a few free ways to do this: www.videoconverterfactory.com/tips/cd-to-wav.html
holy shit im sold!
Glad you found it useful :)
Another great tutorial!
Thanks! Glad you liked it :)
This might be the answer to my mixproblem that bugged me for months! Gonna try it soon!
+1sub :)
Glad you found it helpful :)
You're a legend
Glad you liked it :D
Great vid, thank you!
You're welcome :)
super dope bro realy good video can you make more mastering and uplifting trance videos in the futur thank you & good luck
Sure, I'll try! :) Thanks
Can you map the switch button to a keyboard shortcut or midi knob so you can make changes and switch at the same time?
I haven't tried myself but I suspect that's possible, yes.
Your tutorials are the best !!
Thanks! Much appreciated :)
Completely made my day with this video! Big help on how to use reference. Had a question. Say your track is too dynamic in the mid compared to the reference, would you compress your master bus with a multiband or Compress individual elements in the mid range? Thanks!
It's always best to fix any problems in the mix. You're not really supposed to fix problems during the mastering stage unless you have no other choice. :)
Has anyone ever told you that you have a golden voice? Cuz' you do!
Thanks :)
well as a small producer, good luck getting non-mastered professional tracks to reference with
That will be very difficult indeed. Generally, you should never compare your own unmastered track to a commercial master, but that's what most of us have to do. That's part of what's so clever about this plugin, because it will volume match the commercial master with your own track. Keep in mind that louder always sounds better to humans. Once the sound level is equal, much will be done. It makes it much easier to reference. I often recommend that people put a temporary limiter on their master, to kind of simulate how the track will behave when it's mastered. If you do that in combination with this plugin, then you'll be able to minimize the difference. Referencing should then be a lot easier.
I really like your videos ,this is the best UA-cam channel to learn everything about music production.Can you make a video how to mix the kick with the bass and after that how to mix one more sound for example the lead?
Thanks! Glad you like the videos. Good suggestion, I'll put it on my list :)
Whilst I appreciate the instructional video, I think you failed to mention a remedy to loud masters being dragged into your session. Clip gain in Pro Tools in conjunction with a metering plugin on your master bus are effective tools to level match tracks before you A/B to them. I use an aux track for my mastering plugins and send the reference tracks to main outs so they bypass the processing. I will be purchasing this plugin all the same. Thanks for the video, you outlined the functions very well.
Indeed, there are ways around it of course, but I wanted to showcase this plugin itself in the video as I generally find it's much easier to use. Just drag and drop the files into it and you're done. :)
very nice tut man
Thanks :)
How do you get that sound on fl studio?? Omg!
Hi, it's all about the mixing. Using the right combination of EQ, compression and saturation. I have a lot of mixing tutorials on my channel that will help you get clean sounding mixes :)
@@FireWalkMusic 💕
why can't u just route the reference track to the master and then have all of the mastering plugins for your personal track be on, say, mixer track number one. then, of course, mixer track number one is routed to the master. that way, you are comparing your mastered track to the reference
You could do that, but when this video was made the developers had still not redesigned the PDC in FL Studio, so doing that would cause even the most powerful computer to grind to a halt.
I believe it should work now though. Still, I think the Reference plugin is well worth it since it not only compares the two, but also offers automatic volume leveling, the ability to see the overall energy in the various bands, ability to solo the various bands so that you could hear just the low end in the reference track vs your own and so on. Sure, you could do most of this stuff without it, but at the end of the day it's all about saving time. Working quickly is the key to finishing a track. You want to get things done quickly, before you get fatigued from listening to it too much, and I've found that plugins that speed up workflow can be very helpful in that regard. :)
FireWalk thanks for your reply. where do u recommend getting reference tracks from? i have songs in mind that i want to reference. but i don’t know how to get wav files of them
Thanks for these videos! Very very awesome channel
Thanks, glad to hear that you like the videos :)
I asked a tutorial about reference tracks, and look : Eirik did it again. Thank you very much my friend. Think I have to buy Reference now. Or do you think there are other good reference vst's (free) ? I will Google a while now. Thnx again my man ! :-)
Thanks Jan! I know I have promised you to make this tutorial for a long time now. I finally got it done.
I have tried several other reference plugins in the past. This is the one with the most and best functions in my opinion. Also, ozone 8 have some similar functions, but it's much more expensive, costing $499. The reference plugin is just $49 to purchase. Definitely worth it. I use it all the time now. :)
Wow, I never thought about using a reference track in that way, thanks for the idea! ;)
You're welcome! :D
reference track is the best..sorre to came late.....Thanks
It's a great plugin indeed :)
ToneBoosters Plugin Bundle is good i recomend
Thanks! :)
You're welcome :)
pro tracks are clipping at an average of +6db. horrible. I have to go back to a 1970's vinyl album to get a decent reference.
HEY FIREWALK PLEASE HELP ME, WHEN I ADD GROSSBEAT IT SAYS 0,34 MS LATENCY, AND WHAT IS PLUGIN DELAY COMPENSATION AND ALL THE YELLOW / GOLD CLOCKS IN THE MIXERTRACKS AT THE BOTTOM?
Hey. Automatic Plugin Delay Compensation (APDC) Is used to keep all the vst's and plugins in your project in sync. When you first start out on a project, you may just have one synth and one EQ. Your computers processor will spend a little bit of it's processing time generating the sound from your synth and then processing the EQ. This adds a little bit of "lag" to the playback. As you keep on adding more and more synths, and more and more effects, the processor has to process more and more information, and it won't be able to keep up any more, so it takes it longer to finish. Therefore, a little bit of "lag" is purposefully added in order for everything to be able to stay in sync. IF APDC was not in place, your kick, hat, snare, bass, leads etc would all be out of sync, and that wouldn't sound good. :)
When grossbeat reports 0,35ms latency, that's the time it takes your CPU to process that plugin. And that time will be added to the total "lag" in your project, in order for everything to play back in sync.
You might have noticed that in a very large project, you might have to increase the buffer settings in order to avoid stuttering and such. When that happens, it becomes difficult to play the midi keyboard at the same time. There will be a lag.
I suggest you check out my video on CPU performance in FL Studio to know more about this: ua-cam.com/video/OWYmqwb7b4k/v-deo.html
Okay so even tough with the red exclamation mark on the grossbeat and the clocks in the mixer that turn yellow, im still fine? And thanks for answering so fast love your vids you earned a sub
It's just alerting you that the plugin is "cpu hungry" so to speak.
okay yes but i mean the song will still be in the right pace, noting is delayed or out of tempo even tough is says by the clock in the bottom right corner in the mixer 0,34 ms
More like they are fooled by their own confirmation bias. They sound good to themselves so therefore that confirms they must be good.
Next time maybe something about sound design or equing a few tracks with the similar frequencies? (4 pads for example).
FW, is the reference track source file format matter? I mean like mp3/AAC using lossy compression and it may have artifact or even lost frequencies.
Yes, I recommend using as high quality as possible. You can go to beatport for example and buy your favorite tracks there, and download the high quality wav version. That's what I often do. It only cost 2-3 dollars at the most. :)
Wonderful just like every time ,
Please can you publish a tutorial about "midside processing", ? What is it and what use it for ,
Thank you for your help
Your have best tutorial in you tube
Thank you, much appreciated! I'll put it on my list :)
Thank you! Glad to hear that you found it helpful! :)
Nice tips! i used to make a track, and it sounds fine on my speakers, but when i hear in my MP3 Player it freaking suck, epsecially in the LOW FREQUENCY
Hey Jack! yeah, getting a mix to sound good on all kinds of devices is almost impossible. I recommend testing it on several different devices during the mixdown. Test it in your car, on earbuds, on bluetooth speakers etc. The goal is to get a well balanced mix that sounds decent on most devices. You will have to make some compromises though. :)
First video that I played from you, and what a quality ! Best tutorial 👍🏻
Hey, thanks! Glad to hear that you like the video. We spend a lot of time trying to make all our videos as short, straight to the point and easy to understand as possible. :)
FireWalk I’m french, altought you have american accent I understand very well that you said and course your explantions are easy & clear.
which other refrence vst are there?
Magic AB is also good, but I prefer this one.
Please make a tutorial to how to eq premade drum loops or any loop which contains different stuffs in it. Bass,lead or anything else.
And also mixing a sub bass is very necessary for a lot of genres in these days. How can we fattener a sub bass (808) or smoother without killing its characteristics? Can we use 808 and bassline at the same time etc... This would be a great one.
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll put it on my list. But to answer your question: Usually you have to choose between a thumping kick or a rumbling bass. You usually can't have both at the same time. Psy Trance has both powerful kicks and bass, but the kicks are extremely short, which is why they get away with it. An 808 is a totally different beast.
So a rule of thumb would be to either have a low going kick and a cutoff bass, or a cutoff kick and a low going bass. I hope that helps. :)
It would be much more efficient if u will not only shown functionality, but share your work flow with this vst with your live comment. How you correct your track, what do u see on spectrum and hear, and what and how it should be corrected.
Thank you!
Hi, thanks for the suggestion. I'll keep this in mind in the future. :)
Does it matter if the ref track is mp3, wav etc?
No, you can use many formats but I recommend using the highest quality possible. Don't use a very low bitrate mp3
Cheers buddy appreciate it
Firewalk you are amazing i learn about a lot of thing from your channel so plz make a video in which you teach everything about massiv
Thanks! Glad I could be of help :)
Hi and thanks for the review and insights! Would this software work for a singer-songwriter trying to reference more acoustic-based music, particularly with matching vocals and guitar sounds?
Yes :)
fantastic video!!!!!
Thanks, glad you liked it 😀
Awesome video! I'm definitely getting this plugin. Thanks! :)
You're welcome :)
Yo the Mitnight Example hurts too much, sooo true 😭
I don't get it, so if you press the button top right to automatically adjust the volume to your track then if you start adjusting levels to try match, wouldn't the volume of the reference go down as well? If thats the case how are you meant to get a balance., am I missing something along the lines?
It will match the overall loudness so that it's the same. But you're right to point this out, it's one thing that's worth keeping in mind, if you increase your kick by 10 dB for example then it will of course affect everything. I don't recommend keeping that option on while mixing, because it will constantly try to readjust, which is as you pointed out annoying. Instead, I recommend using this plugin to get a feel for how it sounds, and get a mental image of what needs adjusting, then you try to mix it down without the plugin, and then you go back and check if it's better.
Ideally they should implement an option to make sure this feature is only active when the plugin is focused for example. That way it wouldn't mess up anything when you're not actively using it and trying to mix.
One more thing, at what point in your mix did you start using the ref plugin/tracks? I was thinking of using it right from the start, as soon as I load the first kick drum. Is that the idea?
There's no rules. Whatever works for you. If you have a clear goal in sight then there's nothing wrong i using it from the start.
No worries thanks again. I must say though, I have to be the world's worst producer. No joke.
Original track sound is better for reference)
1:20 Yeah, I know this and feel exposed. xD
Wow. Thanks for letting me know about this plug-in, Will use this one alot :)
Thanks again for all great videos
You're welcome :)
My monitors go down to 37hz (M-Audio BX8-D3), would you still recommend investing in a subwoofer?
No you should be fine. There are two "sweet spots" if you will when it comes to the low end. Typically the 80 and 50 / 60 hz region. The 80 hz is not a problem for most speakers, but the 50-60 hz is right at the threshold of the capability of most of the smaller 5" speakers. You simply won't get an accurate representation of those frequencies with those smaller moniors, and this is a huge problem because this frequency range is so important. The 50 / 60 hz region is what makes the rumble from your sub bass and your kick for example. It's what you'll typically feel in your gut when you're in a club.
With larger monitors you'll be able to feel the air pressure, and you can tell by the vibrations in the floor that there's enough low end. With smaller cones that won't happen and you will often feel like there's too little bass. This causes you to add more and more bass trying to compensate for this lack of bass, when in reality the bass was always there, you just can't hear it because of the monitors. This is a typical beginner mistake, which is why it's generally easier to mix on somewhat larger monitors which goes lower. 37 hz is fine. You'll typically low cut stuff around 30-40 hz anyways. :) It's the 50-60 hz you need to be able to really hear.
@@FireWalkMusic thanks for the highly detailed reply! Seems I'm all set then :)
is this vst only exclusive to Studio one?
No. It this works in all daws. 🙂
@@FireWalkMusic I don't own PreSonus < I guess I need that and it comes with a preSonus HUB to download so it can be use d in other DAW's, please correct me if I'm wrong
Your channel just explains me all my questions about fl studio. Thank you for being on youtube
Glad to hear it :) You're welcome
What tools do you think are the best tools for recreating/copying a song you like?
Your ears :) I typically start by figuring out the chord structure and the melodies, and then I add various effects and fills etc when all the major stuff is in place. The most obvious challenge when recreating a track from scratch is that you're not going to have the exact same samples and sounds that the original composer used, so it will typically end up sounding slightly different. You can tweak synths to get very close, but regarding samples it's more difficult. You can also experiment with various layering in order to get the exact sound you're looking for.
I recreated Kygo's Sexual healing a while back, and I think it came out very close to the original. I have a video showing how it's put together here: ua-cam.com/video/kKukr--7Tks/v-deo.html
I have a Question, when you have no compression in a Frequency range, and REFERENCE is telling you that you need to have less compression on that frequency range... what do you need to do? bc im so confused with that, what i mean is... you have no compression on your instruments in a determinate range, but REFERENCE is telling you that you have to remove the compression. So if there's someone who can help me, i will appreciate it.
btw sorry for my english...
Thanks!
It could simply mean that you have a lot of instruments in your track, occupying a wide band of frequencies. This plugin can't really tell the difference. It's meant to be used as a reference only. I recommend always using your ears first. If it sounds good, it sounds good. Visual tools can be a helpful tool to double check, but always rely on your ears first. :)
@@FireWalkMusic Thank you mate!, now i know that. I`ll pay more attention to my instruments in order to not compress a lot. But yes, i heard what i did and for was good, so I left it as it was.
make a video on best mixing plugins.
Sure, it's already on my list :)
I NEED the unfinished track from the video! and the reference tracks!
It's still unfinished I'm afraid. Turns out I have basically NO spare time.. at all. :p
Big thanks!
You're welcome
It still needs the ability to add loop markers to the reference mix tho. That would help.
Hopefully more features will be added in future updates, as it has in the past. :)
Where can one get this reference plugin?
It's available on plugin boutique: www.pluginboutique.com/product/3-Studio-Tools/72-Utility/3675-REFERENCE?a_aid=5d496680b59cd
Hey buddy! Any way you could potentially make a video tailored to "how to mix/master specifically for soundcloud"? Im trying to compile a list of things to always make sure i do so that my SC uploads are as loud & HQ as possible.
Yes, this is something that's on my list already. :)
Perfect man - cant wait. Thanks!
Are you reading my mind with your tutorials?
I take it you found it useful :D I'm constantly trying to figure out which tutorials will be the most helpful to my viewers, and this is something I wish was available back in the day when I first started making music. :)
You deserve a lot more subscribers dude...hats off and thank you
Thanks, very much appreciated :)
Hey Firewalk! What would be the ideal setting(slope, block size) on Span analyser for mixing using a reference track?
That depends on a lot of things. How much CPU you want to use and what you're using it for. Are you just out to get a good overview? Or perhaps you're using it to detect certain problems in the mix?
For comparing a reference track you probably just need to see an average, so the default settings will probably do.
FireWalk I'm using span to detect masking frequencies and phase correlation issues. So for this the default settings would do right?
Thank you,so much for your help , greeitings from Sweden !
You're welcome! :)
Can we use this plugin seprately in sub mixter before mastering.
I usually just place a limiter on my master and push it up a little to "simulate" the squashing that goes on during the mastering, it will bring you closer to the end result for comparison purposes.
The mastering state of the parts should not be more than -33 your lower frequencies -36 is over.
As said, not mixed down properly yet. ;)
Firewalk my qn is i always am using Fl but i don`t know should i put any plugin to the mix bus before or after mixing to mix down a beat ready for recordin??
Do you mean if you should mix with mastering plugins on the master bus?
can a make a video on how to make our mix sound louder...
Yes, I have a "how to mix" series. It's not finished yet, as I have a couple of more videos to go. But I will eventually cover all the most important mixing steps, including mastering.
very very good video thanks!!!
Thanks, you're welcome :)
is that really your voice? is amazing like be in cinema!
real radio sales and advertisement voice!
what are some other plugins like this?
You can also try Magic A/B
Not sure but I think you can load up all your mastering plugins on your premaster. Than keep the master channel empty, load up your refernce track and set the reference track to your master channel. Then mute back and forth from master to pre master channels.
very good vid bro!! no questions left..
Thanks :)
really great tutorial thanks for the info.....
You're welcome :)
you are an extremely competent teacher! Thank you!
Thank you, glad you found it useful :)
Gonna try this out today!
It's great! :)
Is the REFERENCE plugin free?
No it's not. It's currently $49 to purchase, but it's definitely worth it. There are other similar plugins which cost more and have less functionality. Also, the Ozone 8 have some of the same capability, but it cost $499. I own this plugin myself and I use it all the time now. :)
Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks! :)
Very helpful great job sir
Thanks
How do I get the plugin please
www.masteringthemix.com/products/reference
plz tell me how to buy massive
www.native-instruments.com/en/products/komplete/synths/massive/
I can't listen like that unless they are lined up to beat match. Drives me nuts.
Ooooo love that new intro and stuff really fancy :0
Thanks :)
I wish all the tutorials are like this, really helpful sir!🤗
Thanks! Glad you liked it :)
Tutorial on how to make good powerful drums like deadmau5. for example, I've been trying SO hard to make kicks and snares and hi hats sound clean. and overall mixes in general. like that. But I struggle,Same with bass. And if you want to see what I mean
You can check out my music on soundcloud and check the mixing out Soundcloud.com/glivtch and no, I'm not promoting myself I just need help on making drums/mixes sound as good as that. I've always noticed deadmau5 has good ass drums and everythings is clean and well balanced please Make a tutorial on how to do that. Also i use FL.Studio12.2
Thanks for the suggestion. Regarding deadmau5 and drums, the trick there is usually compression. Or alternatively a transient shaper. This is usually used to control the attack and punch of drums.
FireWalk Do you think you can show a tutorial I have the SPL transient designer and API 2500 waves compressor. And the drums do come out more with the Transient but idk what Else I'm missing. I have a TOP kick and low Kick and Like Middle kick and routed to a kick bus and then On that kick bus I use the SPL and the compressor and they still don't sound how I want them to. Idk if im not compressing right or doing something wrong same with the bass. If you can try to help me on it, it would be much appreciated I know it's kind of a weird question.
finally you done a vid with your way of using ref. track :) thank you for sharing knowledge bro!would
another video i love to find here, is about quantization and groove translation from drum/perc loops into midi to work with.
thats the only thing i really not satisfied in fl is compared to the powerfull groove pool groove extracting tools from ableton.
may using melodyne to get midi extraction is the best workaround.what you think ?
You're welcome. You can also use newtone or edisn :)
The first song I used to test this plug-in was 'Go To The Mirror Boy!' by The Who - so the Mirror button confused me for a bit.
Lol does this plugin work for you?
@@jamalcole1985 It certainly works as intended. I must admit, I'm finding the whole direct referencing process frustrating just because it's so hard to get close to professionally-produced records, but I feel that's more on me than the plugin. How about you?
@@jamalcole1985 (I've only been using it for a day though, so it may just be more about practice)
@@MrSirMrSirMr yeah okay that makes a lot of sense I've been using it for about a day as well and I'm noticing a lot of stuff about my vocals that need some extra work and on the low end as well
love your videos!
Thank you! Glad to hear it :)