#1
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basic mix - a few questions
Hi Everyone. I would like to learn to mix my solo acoustic guitar recordings a bit, to make them sound more polished for YT and if I am handing out a recording to someone. I don't know that I would ever try to mix my own album.
Here is my initial basic attempt, I would love some feedback from you more experienced folks. I am using my Gefell M300's in ORTF, RME Babyface Pro, and Logic X. I set a brickwall low cut filter at 40hz, applied some reverb and compression, and raised the level a bit. Extraneous room noise was removed using RX 7. I don't really know what I am doing with the compression, I just used my ears. Maybe it was to much. I need to learn more about that, and reverb. Besides RX7 the plugins are demos from Fab Filter. I found the interfaces super nice and easy to use. A few questions. 1. Do most folks apply effects to a bus and then route the dry track to the bus? 2. When using ORTF is it ok to adjust the pan so the track is even left to right? I try my best with placement and position, but invariably things sound or look a bit uneven when I listen back. There is no adjustment in this track.
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http://wwww.celticfingerstyleguitar.com Albums: The Isolation Waltz Noone Lasses Youtube Music on Spotify Last edited by anton; 12-09-2018 at 12:10 PM. |
#2
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Sounds very good. Could leave it as is.
To see how effective your post recording tweaks were it would be helpful in giving any possible advice if you would post the raw track in addition the tweaked track you posted. For solo guitar,regarding routing effects I usually do everything right on the track. On a rare occasion I will use a send pre FX (for some effect(s)) and a return. Match the volume R and L to center the image rather than panning. Sometimes a track delay can be used in conjunction with volume tweaks to center (though probably not needed or useful when using ORTF mic'ing).
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above Last edited by rick-slo; 12-09-2018 at 11:45 AM. |
#3
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I think the recording is very very good, and needs little if any change. it is quite lovely as is
About the only thing I can think of might be improved, is perhaps just a bit more air/presence in the high end . ( some of that may be function of the RX removal of room noise ) but you might play with adding a slight (couple 2 -4 db) high end EQ boost starting somewhere between 4kHz and 8kHz on up In a solo guitar performance with only one stereo or two mono tracks EQ is much less of an issue as unwanted build up is less That said personally I tend to set my EQ low cut filter more between 60 and 80 hz as most of the monitor speakers only go down to between 60 and 40 hz. BUT note I also almost always have multiple tracks Again for solo guitar it is probable a toss up as to having Reverb on the audio track itself or a seperate track. The reverb you have is great as it is just ambient suggestion and in the background, which is IMO where it should be .
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#4
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I updated my post to include the non mixed track.
Kev, I agree with you on the high end. Its something I have noticed in all my recordings. I think a part of it is just my tone and how I attack the guitar. I wouldnt mind some more sparkle, but I am also pretty happy with how this sounds.
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http://wwww.celticfingerstyleguitar.com Albums: The Isolation Waltz Noone Lasses Youtube Music on Spotify |
#5
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Something I learned from George Massenberg was the idea of turning co-incident and near-coincident arrays on end to record guitar, so you don't end up with vastly diiferent spectra between the left and right mics. It gives you a nice soundstage but even spectral content.
That is an inverse ORTF turned on end. Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |
#6
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It’s a beautiful track. Both sonically and playing. Very unique. Don’t know if I’d change anything!
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#7
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Thanks! I'm just ripping off Martin Simpson's version of Shallow Brown.
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http://wwww.celticfingerstyleguitar.com Albums: The Isolation Waltz Noone Lasses Youtube Music on Spotify |
#8
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Sounds really good, Anton, your best recording I've heard. I could see adding some high end (try a few db shelf starting around 2K), but it's also excellent as-is. Is this the goodall?
I use a bus for reverb, but it's really all a matter of routing and how you want to do it. It all gets mixed in the software, one way or the other, so it depends on your workflow and what you want to do. With just one guitar track it doesn't matter much.
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#9
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What a nice recording of some beautiful playing.
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#10
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Experimented with the raw file. Your tweaked recording sounds
great. I just wanted to play with a bit more reverb. As listening volume goes up the lower frequencies become more prominent and it can become congested. Do your tweaks while listening at near your typical listening level (but no more than about 84 decibels if you want to preserve your hearing). The main thing on your recording setup would likely be the above and the selection of what reverb to add in. For example a couple of different reverbs I tried: A Aether Reverb: http://dcoombsguitar.com/Misc/Shallow-Brown.wav and with a Waves IR1 reverb: http://dcoombsguitar.com/Misc/Shallow-BrownWavesIR1.wav Anton, you may want to test out the Aether Reverb trial. IMO it works very well with the warmer sound you get in your recordings. Waves IR-1 (and Waves IR-L) works well also IMO.
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above Last edited by rick-slo; 12-10-2018 at 12:55 AM. Reason: typo |
#11
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Quote:
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#12
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Yea Doug, its the Goodall. I figured it might be harder to record given its more a dreadnought shape but it doesnt sound to boomy to me here. It certainly is quite resonant and responds well to a light touch. I guess Steve playing it for 25 years helps.
Rick thanks for doing that reverb comparison. Your mix sounds nice too. I was pretty set on getting the Fabfilter bundle which includes their EQ, Compressor, and Reverb plugins, but this gives me other options to consider. Dumb question, but what is the best way to figure out the my regular listening level? I agree anything approaching 84db is going to be to loud.
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http://wwww.celticfingerstyleguitar.com Albums: The Isolation Waltz Noone Lasses Youtube Music on Spotify |
#13
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Quote:
Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |