Should I this? Should I that?

Hummmmm I don't know. Should you?

This is art. There are no hard fast rules. You do what sounds good to you and hope others like it too.

It might take you years of experimenting to find out what works best for you. I know it did for me and I'm still learning things every time I turn on the DAW to record.

What I try to achieve. I use Sonar as my DAW so you know. All references are in relation to that DAW.

I like the tracks to be full. Not weak, thin, or straight lines.... and on the other hand.... not clipping and certainly not bricked. anything in the area of 50% to 80% is where I aim to have the waves. This is from the visual observation of the track in my track view mode. If it's inside that window I can make it work well in a final mix. Speaking of bricked...... I try to keep all my tracks under the point of clipping on the output side. This is generally a function of how high I run the compression levels INSIDE the master buss. A little bit of slamming the ceiling is OK (IMHO) but when it looks like a solid brick.... nope.... go back and fix that compression rate. Let it breathe.

Have I use normalize on a weak track? yep. In the early days I tended to get a lot of thin line tracks. I've learned how to record solid tracks.

Effects on the tracks. Sometimes yes, mostly no. I will use FX in the effects bin but if I have several guitars, or several vocals, I will set up a buss and route them to the buss and put the FX there. Drums and bass are the exceptions. they get FX in the track bin. I never apply the FX to the tracks so that it's written into the bits. In the FX bin I can change it or shut it off. Remember, that verb is cumulative so if you have verb in the master, and you have verb in the buss.... be careful because it's all adding up to become a mess of reverb. Often my tracks are all dry. I use very light verb in the buss and in the master. Guitar is another exception sometimes. I don't record dry clean guitar.... it's recorded like I want it to sound from the start.

I start my mixing... let me back up... I start my recording with the end in mind. So I'm essentially mixing as I go. Compression and verb are set as defaults in the master. I tweek them as needed as I move along. I set up sub-busses as needed. This allows me to hear what the result of adding a track or an FX has on the overall mix instantly.

It's been a learning process. I'd suggest getting some projects....with waves...from one of the several sites online that has tracks bundled for you to download and mix. Mixing someone else's tracks, especially when they are solidly recorded, is a GREAT way to get experience. If you're having issues getting solid, well recorded tracks, this is a great way to get them. I can't imagine anyone who has BB & RB having any issues though, with getting well recorded tracks.

Anyway.... it's art.... so enjoy.

Last edited by Guitarhacker; 05/30/19 03:28 AM.
You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
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