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Old 12-09-2018, 10:54 AM
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Default 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.

Last edited by anton; 12-09-2018 at 12:10 PM.
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Old 12-09-2018, 11:25 AM
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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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Last edited by rick-slo; 12-09-2018 at 11:45 AM.
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Old 12-09-2018, 11:39 AM
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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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Old 12-09-2018, 12:15 PM
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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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Old 12-09-2018, 12:26 PM
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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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Old 12-09-2018, 12:51 PM
Joseph Hanna Joseph Hanna is offline
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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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Old 12-09-2018, 01:23 PM
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Thanks! I'm just ripping off Martin Simpson's version of Shallow Brown.
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Old 12-09-2018, 01:28 PM
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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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Old 12-09-2018, 02:04 PM
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What a nice recording of some beautiful playing.
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Old 12-09-2018, 02:51 PM
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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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Last edited by rick-slo; 12-10-2018 at 12:55 AM. Reason: typo
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Old 12-09-2018, 03:14 PM
jim1960 jim1960 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Womack View Post
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
I've never tried this but wouldn't the bottom mic pick up a lot of breathing from the player?
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Old 12-09-2018, 05:50 PM
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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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Old 12-09-2018, 08:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jim1960 View Post
I've never tried this but wouldn't the bottom mic pick up a lot of breathing from the player?
It is pointing at the neck where it joins the body. I've never had a problem with that, actually.


Bob
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