OverClocked ReMix...

Modus · #1 03-15-2011, 06:23 PM

I've made a thread about this before but I don't care. I'm just to the point of punching something because I LIKE my arrangements, my choice of samples, and so on, but it's all ruined because everything sounds compressed and occupies the same space. I try doubling and panning, modest EQ, extreme EQ, etc. etc. etc. and nothing! NOTHING!

Maybe someone could guide me through mastering and EQ through Skype? I'll pay you, I don't care. I don't want to be a professional, I don't ever expect to make it on OCR, but I just can't stand knowing zircon uses FL studio too and has the most crisp sounding samples I've ever heard. Do you think it could be my VSTs? Here's a sample.. at the beginning of the song it sounds fairly clean, right? Then as I add pads it gets muddy and the WAHHH pattern could also have so much more impact. These are all Nexus add-ons I think.

http://tindeck.com/listen/howj

And here's a meatboy-inspired one that came out sounding quite a bit more clean. What did I do differently? Absolutely nothing.

http://tindeck.com/listen/ekkh

Nutritious · #2 03-15-2011, 07:20 PM

Some quick thoughts while a have a minute:

-You've got lots of reverb on lots of different instruments. That's certainly going to fill things up quickly.

-The songs sound like they're mixed pretty "hot". No reason you couldn't pull back the levels a bit and still get an acceptable output volume level IMO

-it sounds like you're trying to have ALL of the elements in the song come out loudly. Consider working on your balance so that supporting parts sit further back than leads, drums punch through appropirately, etc.

Modus · #3 03-15-2011, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nutritious

Some quick thoughts while a have a minute:

-You've got lots of reverb on lots of different instruments. That's certainly going to fill things up quickly.

-The songs sound like they're mixed pretty "hot". No reason you couldn't pull back the levels a bit and still get an acceptable output volume level IMO

-it sounds like you're trying to have ALL of the elements in the song come out loudly. Consider working on your balance so that supporting parts sit further back than leads, drums punch through appropirately, etc.

I was going to see if someone brought up my reverb addiction.

Yeah, I totally see what you mean though. I haven't been able to balance out the sounds because I do push everything loud but then when I push it back it seems to me like no one can ear it now. Maybe I want all the sounds to be consciously heard when some need to be "there but you're not thinking about it."

Archangel · #4 03-15-2011, 10:32 PM

I agree with Nutritious. I used to have the same problem--actually, I still do sometime--I added too much reverb and too many instruments, and I wanted all of them to play the main role in the song. Sometimes you just have to face the fact that some instruments have to take a back seat (sometimes to the point of being almost inaudible).

Plus, it helps if you keep switching them - for example, one of them plays the melody for a few bars, then another one takes its place and so forth. That way you can still use a variety of different sounds AND make sure the song doesn't sound overcrowded.

And don't be so pessimistic about your work! All it takes is some practice, so keep doing stuff and you'll see that you'll learn something new with every track you make.

Sorry I can't be of more help. I too am an amateur when it comes to equalizing and mastering. =D

Arcana · #5 03-15-2011, 10:47 PM

I am unable to listen to the songs at the moment but one thing to keep in mind is that instrument selection is a very important part of mixing/mastering. It's not just about the effects/EQ/compression.

So even if the "arrangement is perfect", maybe it isn't if you have two instruments that conflict for the same frequency space.

Neblix · #6 03-16-2011, 12:40 AM

You're never on skype, otherwise I would've been glad to help.

Call me ASAP. :P

Modus · #7 03-16-2011, 02:20 AM

I'll be on next week during spring break neblix. Homework up to me eyes right now.

Thanks for the tips so far, all.

Rozovian · #8 03-16-2011, 02:37 AM

What do you do when you eq? Having an eq doesn't make anything better, you gotta use it right. :P

Also, not only do you need to give each track its own space, you also need the right overall frequency balance. Have you compared your mixes closely to well-mixed ones to hear if your overall frequency balance is off?

Turtle · #9 03-16-2011, 03:18 AM

We need some kind of a thread where you put up a song that's finished in terms of composition but completely untouched in terms of mixing, and then someone else takes the file and mixes it, then gives it back so the first person can take it apart to see how it ticks.

Moseph · #10 03-16-2011, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turtle

We need some kind of a thread where you put up a song that's finished in terms of composition but completely untouched in terms of mixing, and then someone else takes the file and mixes it, then gives it back so the first person can take it apart to see how it ticks.

It isn't in a thread specifically for general mix help, but I did take one of GarretGraves's tracks and mix it with commentary, which is I think the sort of thing you're interested in seeing. Read the entire thread if you're interested in the context.

There's also this thread, which never really saw much action.