Learning to Mix?

[Noeezy]

So I'm trying to record some shit but I want to learn how to mix.
basically lookin to see how to balance out the vocals with the beat, add right amount of effects, etc.

Any tips for a beginner?

[Jay-19]

Mind if I add you too Maybe?
I got some questions about mixing as well...

[Mr. Chambers]

compression....EQ.....reverb

hip hop has alot of compression

EQing is a pain in the ass...and you'll learn to hate it by the time you finally start getting the groove of it........


i actually find reverb/echo fun to experiment with..........


but yea....be prepared to spend ALOT of time reading up on it...and fucking alot of vocals up

[Noeezy]

compression....EQ.....reverb

hip hop has alot of compression

EQing is a pain in the ass...and you'll learn to hate it by the time you finally start getting the groove of it........


i actually find reverb/echo fun to experiment with..........


but yea....be prepared to spend ALOT of time reading up on it...and fucking alot of vocals up

how do you get to those in FL8?

EDIT: hm i found a set of videos for anyone else that wants to learn @ http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_3293_mix-rap-song.html

[Xray]

I've tried a few tutorials of others on youtube and they all suck, most of them don't even have that musical ear that tells the difference between effects or how to get it as close as professional sounding as possible. So my advice is stay away from that bullshit on youtube.

Don't use FL8 to mix, use a program like Cool Edit/Adobe Audition specifically Cool Edit 2.1 or Adobe Audition 1.5 cause the later versions of Adobe Audition have the latency bullshit which delays your vocals and you gotta setup the settings and even if you get it as close as possible you'll still have doubts that the vocals are delayed so yeah.

First thing you should do to a vocal is, use noise reduction, that gets the background microphone noise out of the vocals so you can get crystal clear vocals, gotta use this nicely and set it up good if you want crystal clear vocals. Next what I usually do is add a compressor (also called dynamic compressor), what that does is, it gives it a nice effect and balances out the volume of the acapella.

Next you can use EQ (graphic equalizer), which from here you decide whether your acapella is going to be wet, dry, or mid ranged sounding to suit the beat. The ones on the left is the bass, the middle is the mid-range, the ones on the right are the trembles. So basically, left = dry, middle = middle, right = wet.

And from here, you can add more effects, and don't forget the reverb, I usually add it at the end. Cause I realized adding reverb before the compressor they interfere and sound different.

If you really really need help send me an acapella, and I'll lay out an tutorial on which effects to use to suit your needs. Peace.

[Mr. Chambers]

^i was always told noice reduction really fucks up the quality.........

but i'll try using it next time i do a song

[Xray]

^i was always told noice reduction really fucks up the quality.........

but i'll try using it next time i do a song

Hmm it does if you misuse it. Noise Gate can pretty much do the same thing, except its way harder to make it sound good, cause if you do it wrong, your shit'll sound choppy.

When you noise reduct make sure you don't apply to much to it. If your applying 100% of noise reduct to it, then of course its gonna ruin your quality, but adding 50% and below wouldn't. Btw do you have a low noise xlr cable? Cause you need it if your getting to much back ground noise.

[Jay-19]

I've tried a few tutorials of others on youtube and they all suck, most of them don't even have that musical ear that tells the difference between effects or how to get it as close as professional sounding as possible. So my advice is stay away from that bullshit on youtube.

Don't use FL8 to mix, use a program like Cool Edit/Adobe Audition specifically Cool Edit 2.1 or Adobe Audition 1.5 cause the later versions of Adobe Audition have the latency bullshit which delays your vocals and you gotta setup the settings and even if you get it as close as possible you'll still have doubts that the vocals are delayed so yeah.

First thing you should do to a vocal is, use noise reduction, that gets the background microphone noise out of the vocals so you can get crystal clear vocals, gotta use this nicely and set it up good if you want crystal clear vocals. Next what I usually do is add a compressor (also called dynamic compressor), what that does is, it gives it a nice effect and balances out the volume of the acapella.

Next you can use EQ (graphic equalizer), which from here you decide whether your acapella is going to be wet, dry, or mid ranged sounding to suit the beat. The ones on the left is the bass, the middle is the mid-range, the ones on the right are the trembles. So basically, left = dry, middle = middle, right = wet.

And from here, you can add more effects, and don't forget the reverb, I usually add it at the end. Cause I realized adding reverb before the compressor they interfere and sound different.

If you really really need help send me an acapella, and I'll lay out an tutorial on which effects to use to suit your needs. Peace.

Thanks for the tips Saj!
Can turn out to be really, really helpful!

[Noeezy]

I've tried a few tutorials of others on youtube and they all suck, most of them don't even have that musical ear that tells the difference between effects or how to get it as close as professional sounding as possible. So my advice is stay away from that bullshit on youtube.

Don't use FL8 to mix, use a program like Cool Edit/Adobe Audition specifically Cool Edit 2.1 or Adobe Audition 1.5 cause the later versions of Adobe Audition have the latency bullshit which delays your vocals and you gotta setup the settings and even if you get it as close as possible you'll still have doubts that the vocals are delayed so yeah.

First thing you should do to a vocal is, use noise reduction, that gets the background microphone noise out of the vocals so you can get crystal clear vocals, gotta use this nicely and set it up good if you want crystal clear vocals. Next what I usually do is add a compressor (also called dynamic compressor), what that does is, it gives it a nice effect and balances out the volume of the acapella.

Next you can use EQ (graphic equalizer), which from here you decide whether your acapella is going to be wet, dry, or mid ranged sounding to suit the beat. The ones on the left is the bass, the middle is the mid-range, the ones on the right are the trembles. So basically, left = dry, middle = middle, right = wet.

And from here, you can add more effects, and don't forget the reverb, I usually add it at the end. Cause I realized adding reverb before the compressor they interfere and sound different.

If you really really need help send me an acapella, and I'll lay out an tutorial on which effects to use to suit your needs. Peace.

yeah I got cool edit for vocals but i heard adding reverb to the kick/snare makes it sound better or somethin, thats why i was askin about FL. but you explained some stuff i wondered about so thanks man, i'll give it a try, and if i have to ill send u the accapella lol

[Mr. Chambers]

Hmm it does if you misuse it. Noise Gate can pretty much do the same thing, except its way harder to make it sound good, cause if you do it wrong, your shit'll sound choppy.

When you noise reduct make sure you don't apply to much to it. If your applying 100% of noise reduct to it, then of course its gonna ruin your quality, but adding 50% and below wouldn't. Btw do you have a low noise xlr cable? Cause you need it if your getting to much back ground noise.

no....but when i record...i got a closet with some shit to help keep sound from getting in kinda........and i close all my windows......so i don't really get that much background noice...i mean obviously i get some since i ain't in a soundproof room...but it ain't too bad

yeah I got cool edit for vocals but i heard adding reverb to the kick/snare makes it sound better or somethin, thats why i was askin about FL. but you explained some stuff i wondered about so thanks man, i'll give it a try, and if i have to ill send u the accapella lol

thats for if your making beats brother........if you add reverb to a whole beat...chances are its gonna come out kinda shitty lol...........

[Noeezy]

Hmm it does if you misuse it. Noise Gate can pretty much do the same thing, except its way harder to make it sound good, cause if you do it wrong, your shit'll sound choppy.

When you noise reduct make sure you don't apply to much to it. If your applying 100% of noise reduct to it, then of course its gonna ruin your quality, but adding 50% and below wouldn't. Btw do you have a low noise xlr cable? Cause you need it if your getting to much back ground noise.

no....but when i record...i got a closet with some shit to help keep sound from getting in kinda........and i close all my windows......so i don't really get that much background noice...i mean obviously i get some since i ain't in a soundproof room...but it ain't too bad

yeah I got cool edit for vocals but i heard adding reverb to the kick/snare makes it sound better or somethin, thats why i was askin about FL. but you explained some stuff i wondered about so thanks man, i'll give it a try, and if i have to ill send u the accapella lol

thats for if your making beats brother........if you add reverb to a whole beat...chances are its gonna come out kinda shitty lol...........

yeah im workin on beats too, guess i should of clarified that in op
i'm tryin to learn as much about both things as I can cause I don't exactly have the funds at the moment to pay someone to do it, i'm just tryna get a good start so I can do some stuff for my group