Originally Posted By: Janice & Bud
FWIW and since Bluegrass has been mentioned the biggest issue I note in some attempts at a BG mix is leaving the rhythm in while the respective instrument is soloing. Doesn't matter where you pan the solo in this case because it just doesn't happen with an actual BG band.

Another FWIW, I try and mix BG the way I would hear a typical live band if I was sitting dead center of them in a room with no mics.

Bass center
Lead vocal center
Harmony vocals L/R 12 out (Logic Pro value)
Guitar L/R close center 6-8 out
Rhythm banjo, fiddle, dobro, mandolin L/R 17-20 out
Solos L/R 10-12 out


Bud,
that is close to the way I try to mix my songs and I try to emulate an actual band by dropping the rhythm when soloing. A mandolin player can't play Rhythm and melody unless there are two of them which is unlikely. Twin fiddles maybe. My thought when I started this thread was that when the vocal drops out, that leaves a hole in the center. I thought it might be better to fill that hole during the break. This all leads me to another question on karaoke-style backing tracks which are used for live performance, but I should probably start a new thread for that.

https://soundcloud.com/tmelvin-950716356