The mixing process is something that you have to work on and learn about.

My philosophy is to add nothing to the music or the mix that doesn't improve the mix. Beginners tend to think that if they have a tool, they are supposed to use it or they're not a good mix engineer. Nothing is farther from the truth.

The following is MY OPINION and take on mixing. Listen to my tunes to determine if you think it works or not.

First of all, BiaB & RB will give you some really nice sounding tracks. So, there's not a huge need to add compression and EQ because that's already in there. Some folks with good ears on other sites have noticed that the drums especially are compressed, perhaps a bit too much (by PG) so be careful if you think you need MORE compression.... very likely you don't. I tend to use very light reverb and very subtle EQ to the tracks.

I mix starting with the bass a drums together. Using the BiaB tracks and the Real Tracks and some of my own live tracks.... I tend to simply add a small amount of EQ generally to brighten the track a bit...

Drums get an eq boost since the BB tracks tend to be dark. I add NO REVERB to the bass and drums and use compression sparingly. I have a nice multiband compressor which I can use ONLY on certain frequencies and I will use that on the drums and bass. I tend to pull the mids down slightly to get a cleaner sound and more bottom and sufficient kick and punch.

Guitars, piano, keys, and other things go in to taste and only the guitars get reverb and a very slight amount at that. No compression and very little EQ.

Any compression is in the master of the DAW I use to mix. (Sonar) And I set up busses for guitars and vocals where I have the verb and eq.

In other words, the mixes I do are pretty straight forward and boring in many respects. Keep this in mind..... with EQ, subtract more than add. I've heard it said that the difference between an amateur and a pro is not in what you play (or do) but what you don't play (or do).

A good way to learn the ropes is to check out some videos but don't take them as the gospel truth. Mixing is a destination with many roads leading there. The best way is to take the tracks created in BB and pop them into a DAW (Real Band or other) and practice mixing. To get better you have to actually do the process. Then, post the results in the User Show Case and ask for crits on the MIX. Keep the sound scape balanced. What you do on one side, there should be something on the other.....and keep the core things... drums, bass, lead vocal straight down the center. Let the guitars and keys and other things play in left and right field in a balanced relationship.

There are a number of folks here with critical listening skills who can pin point the major mistakes and offer guidance to a better mix. So throw a tune together and put it up for some crits. The more you mix, the more you learn, the better you get with time.

EDIT to add: Starting out, keep an MP3 of the basic BB mix as it comes out of BB. Refer back to it as you work on your mix. Let it be your "control group" so to speak. If your new mix starts to sound worse than the BB mix....STOP....and start over from scratch by removing ALL of the plugs and FX. Pull all faders back to 0db and remove the envelopes...... then, start again. I can tell you that I have done the stop/restart from scratch on more projects than I can remember. BUT... it's all part of the learning process. Don't try to repair or fix a mix that is going south until you have more experience and develop your own critical listening skills. It will come with time.



Last edited by Guitarhacker; 07/13/14 07:38 AM.
You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.