i suck at mixing

[barren helm]

if someone could help me a lil on how to properly mix it would be greatly appreciated

[winged depot]

Anything specific? 😊

[tame apex]

Not that person but I got something specific. Here’s an example track. I’m trying to mix and master my own music but am just starting out and don’t really know where to go and what to do right now… what are you noticing that’s off just from this?

[vocal ingot]

I would overcompress the bassline and bring the volume up probably (but that's my personal preference I guess most of the people would argue with me about that) and the back snare sounds too fuzzy for me, but it can be meant to be like that? Overall, I like the stereo and the track is nice!

I would say - just always listen to your music with 3-4 devices at least and if all of them make you bop your head to it, then you're on the right track

[tame apex]

Yo thanks, great feedback!

[vocal ingot]

fck all techniques/tips everyone's giving, just listen to the track until you like it

[tame apex]

Baseline is tied to the sample though, so I oughta use a multiband compressor for that right?

[vocal ingot]

I used to listen to my music in the car (which is pretty important, cuz car stereo is ALWAYS different from any other system), my phone with a speaker, small headphones and a bigger headset

[vocal ingot]

you can, but as I said that's my craziness saying it, it still sounds pretty nice to me))

[tame apex]

Think it got enough space to rap on it? I get anxious about that since I don’t got a mic to rap yet, don’t wanna make it too full

[tame apex]

I’ve got a pair of speakers, two pairs of headphones and a phone and laptop speaker which oughta do it

[vocal ingot]

I feel like yes! Getting a second opinion would be nice though, as every opinion is subjective

[vocal ingot]

and any small crappy plug-in headphones would be also nice to see if that still sounds good

[vocal ingot]

life's unfair, and I got a new mic an a guy willing to rap on it, but no beat is ready yet 😂

[tame apex]

ahhh poor guy, gotta just work hard then

but yeah it is, I got quite a few finished, mixed, and sequenced beats, and would love to rap on em, but dont got a mic yet so yeah

[vocal ingot]

😄 😄 motivation is dying sometimes

[tame apex]

can't even master em before I got my vocals are on so gotta wait for that

[vocal ingot]

yeah true..

[tame apex]

oh yeah I get that, difficult thing to control

[vocal ingot]

what mic are u planning to get?

[tame apex]

lemme find the exact name 1 sec

an SE Electronics X1S

and it's accompanying studio bundle

goes for I think 350 dollars which for sure is on the low end but from what I've found it's a very respectable mic within its price range

My dream mic (for a somewhat realistic price) is a Neumann tlm 102 though

[vocal ingot]

hmm nice, has a nice review on Amazon and a large diaphragm as I see

what? why 350?

189, 201 - around that on amazon

I just got a Rode NT1 recently which is pretty much satisfactory for me

[tame apex]

yeah I've heard of it, seems like a solid mic

[vocal ingot]

used to have a AT2020 for around 120$ if I remember correctly, it's quite a brilliant investment for the price, but it has a low volume which made me nervous every time recording on it

[tame apex]

Glad you got an upgrade in that case. Difficult deciding between being within a reasonable budget and getting the best you can, tough balance

[vocal ingot]

paid EUR156 for the Rode NT1 Signature btw.. pretty much investment as well I think

Neumann would be much better though, I suppose, you're right

[tame apex]

When I first got my proper music setup after just using a leftover PC for half a year I actually worked an extra job in addition to my studies and did some other stuff to afford everything I got

not the most economically sound decision but worth it in the end now

[tame apex]

yeah Neumann's a legendary brand for a good reason

[vocal ingot]

yesss, and the worst part is I used to overpay for some expensive gear which turned out to be shittier than the budget one)))

[tame apex]

oop

[vocal ingot]

that's nice that you're hustling to work on what you really love my friend! that's the best attitude one can possibly have

[tame apex]

Was gonna say, I spent 1300 on a Macbook Pro for my music, which I'm half regretting since I bought it refurbished - for a better price - and it has a tendency to crash on me, and is janky in some other departments as well

so half regretting now just buying a slightly worse MacBook for cheaper

[tame apex]

oh absolutely! Got a MacBook, a solid turntable and a Maschine Mk3 - absolutely worth it

[vocal ingot]

yess!! Maschine was one of my dream tools as well until I got it))

I work as a software developer but don't wanna invest in anything else than my gear 😄 😄 have technics turntables as well with rane seventy two)

[tame apex]

The Maschine's great. Only issue I have with it is the lackluster DAW implementation, makes me wish I got an Ableton Push instead. But otherwise it feels amazing to use

[vocal ingot]

I feel you bro... using my old Mac as the audio workstation, which pretty much crashes all the time, as well)))

[tame apex]

lol I respect that. I got an audiotechnica AT-LP 120 for my turntable, does a great job when I need it

[tame apex]

yeah it's a pain. and don't wanna get a new one cos look at those prices man

bought a refurbished one for a reason lol

[vocal ingot]

yeah it sucks, but I just use it in Logic for a couple of tracks and that's it.. I love the samples/sounds it already has + all the additions u can get extra

[vocal ingot]

I had that)))) the tonearm used to always juggle and the needle would skip.. no matter how good u set it up 😄 got the original technics now, rarely this kind of shit is happening anymore

[tame apex]

Yeah sounds smart. Rn I just compose a beat in the Maschine's software then export to FL for arrangement and mixing, plus adding anything extra I can think of

RIGHt forgot again

[tame apex]

Yeah that happens to me too, such a pain but not often enough for me to be too upset about it

[vocal ingot]

happened to me while playing live all the time, it rly suckz))

[tame apex]

I'm really considering switching to Logic for the increased scope, massive library, as well as some other things, BUT the lack of an easily accessible sample library to the left - like in FL - has made me sustain so far

might just be me missing something though

[vocal ingot]

why do you export?? doesn't FL have ability to have Maschine as instrument track?? asking because I never did anything in FL... in Logic you can have it imported and work from there

[vocal ingot]

switched from Ableton to Logic JUST because it had better built-in sounds man... Ableton was sometimes better in a lot of stuff btw..

[tame apex]

Actually don't know, found the implementation a bit too complex, especially when working with several tracks for all the stems - a single export and just dragging and dropping some files became easier

[tame apex]

Yeah I've tried Ableton too. Would switch if I got the Push, but not certain about that yet.

Haven't had enough reason to switch to Logic or Ableton yet, even if I definitely see their pros.

I mostly work with samples right now, am planning on setting aside some months to learn keys and more music theory but til then I'm staying with FL I think

[vocal ingot]

I reckon only EDM producers are now using Ableton...

[tame apex]

yep at least from what I've seen lol

that and a few hip hop producers, like knxwledge and Like

[vocal ingot]

yeah... I also need real keys.. have a bad keyboard now and still not a pro at playing it.. but if you can play the melody in mind that immensely elevates your producing game

[tame apex]

absolutely. some of my favourite producers, like Kanye or Tyler, are incredible at sampling as well as keys - mastering both is an amazing skill

[vocal ingot]

yesterday was watching Scott Storch's advises and saw he's also using Logic, which made me a little bit happy)))) he's my all time favorite

and he also talked about starting from just playing keys

[tame apex]

Slightly unrelated, but I just "finished" a new instrumental/beat - wanna have a listen? A second pair of ears never hurt.

[tame apex]

Haven't heard off, oughta look him up

[vocal ingot]

yes! definitely! throw it in)

[tame apex]

Here you go

[vocal ingot]

he's the number 1 hitmaker man... Beyonce, 50 Cent, Fat Joe... so many legends passed through him.. Still DRE is his beat

[tame apex]

An issue I've had with hiphop tracks is sequencing them right. Sometimes you wanna build them up an expand throughout the runtime, other times a few back and forths to keep in interesting - but staying the general same - is what you want, not always obvious what to do

[vocal ingot]

I love sampling as well by the way! It's so much better always... just clearing a sample is a pain in the ass... not worth the time/effort and especially the money to realase a sampled beat

[tame apex]

oh shit no way

big name for me to've missed

[tame apex]

Oh for sure, sampling is for rich people in a way lol

Still so so so fun

[vocal ingot]

yesss more about what you feel - is one of Scott's advices too btw

[tame apex]

some stuff you just cant do without samples

[tame apex]

wise man already

[vocal ingot]

man this sounds awesome!! you have a taste definitely!

[tame apex]

Aw hah thanks, that's appreciated!

[vocal ingot]

there's so much of good old funk/soul music to sample from.. it hurts that u can't release all those))) always coming up with something good when sampling

[tame apex]

For sure. I've found a GOLDMINE of sampling recently that's really helped with finding my own sound, which is more modern (late 2010's, 2020's) soul, rnb, and even some indie/bedroom pop

Same sound as all those old classics that have been sampled a million times

But untouched

Just waiting to be sampled for something

It's great!

[vocal ingot]

this reminded me of a guy I really like on instagram, you can check him out if not already, @isaintjames on instagram..

gives me the same vibe)

[tame apex]

I love how I sampled in this track and that type of sampling. The different portions I used are very far apart throughout the track, but combining them to make it seamless like this, and then leaving them - almost - untouched since they take up so much space. All I did was layer a kick for some low end, increase the pitch and stretch it a bit, and also layer in vocals from another sample I found a while back

[tame apex]

I'll look him up!

My dream is to really be able to "Make it" as a producer - get signed to one of those big labels in the west or east coast, that stuff. Hence why I hope to be much more diverse and also learn the keys well.

[tame apex]

Looked him up and yeah I've seen him before! Awesome producer for sure

[vocal ingot]

he got so much funk in him)))

[vocal ingot]

where u from by the way brother?

[tame apex]

All the way in Sweden actually, you?

[tame apex]

For sure I love his vibe. Alchemist follows him to, I can see why

[vocal ingot]

based in Amsterdam now, originally from Armenia

[tame apex]

Hah we're not too far apart

[vocal ingot]

yes kinda close now)))

always wanted to travel through Scandinavian countries

I hope I will be able to do that upcoming year

[tame apex]

I hope so for you too! It's great, especially during late spring/early summer, holler if you ever want some specific travel advice. Lovely areas in general.

I hope to move to NY, or maybe LA, once I'm doing with my studying here in Sweden. Wanna get into NYU, study music technology and try to get signed

Only been into making music 10 months or so though so I got a way to go

[vocal ingot]

hope everything goes as you planned, my brother!

[tame apex]

Thank you! 🙏

[vivid bolt]

For those that believe that suck at mixing, it's true or you're not skilled yet? Your skills of genius are sleeping... trust me..
Maybe a mentor, videos, books, just study and be your version. My main advice.

Mixing is just: don't use annoying things as sounds & avoid at all costs bad distortion (digital clipping or even analog one).