Help with mix frequencys, etc

[jwnc]

Hi guys.. I have been working on some new mixes and one of the things I seem to be having a problem with is things fighting for space. I have been eqing and carving out trying to make space. Still cant quite getting everything to gell and have its own space and not fight for dominance. I am not trying not to overcompress everything.

Any ideas maybe.. something to jumpstart me mixing again?

I am using Nuendo 3, UAD, sonalksis, etc
Thanks
Jason

 

[Giles117 DP]

EQ, Compression and Reverb all atribute to Space

 

[streetbeats]

not to forget panning...

 

[jwnc]

haha well i know all that... but i was just trying to see if there were any helpful hints and experience that might help it all gell together.

Jason

 

[Giles117 DP]

Best we can do based on what you gave us.

Not like How do I get the Bass and Kick to gell.

 

[jwnc]

yeah i kinda know its tough so many things not known. Like here is an example of something. If I put some reverb on an acoustic guitar and lets say its a hall not to big though. The guitar tends to go further back but yet the reverb itself seems to disappear. I cant really hear the reverb (maybe thats good..haha)

Do you tend to carve out all your instruments very precisely? high cut/low cut, etc to make each instrument fit into a space?

Thanks
Jason

 

[Giles117 DP]

I tend to find my lead instrument and place everything else around it, carving freq's out of those instruments to keep the lead the lead.

then I work into the mix with the other elements in a like fashion. along with panning and verbs.

Using smaller spaces and bigger spaces depending upon what feeling/effect or position I need.

 

[Eric Dahlberg]

yeah i kinda know its tough so many things not known. Like here is an example of something. If I put some reverb on an acoustic guitar and lets say its a hall not to big though. The guitar tends to go further back but yet the reverb itself seems to disappear. I cant really hear the reverb (maybe thats good..haha)

Yeah, that's a good thing, it means your guitars are being positioned without having the reverb add density to the mix. I'd actually like to know what reverb you're using, that can be a difficult thing to pull off.

I like to mix in a little stereo delay with zero feedback & delay times of around 50ms on one side & 60ms on the other. If you keep it mixed in real low, the out of phase sides will spread the instruments away from the middle while still retaining mono compatibility. The middle is where the bass, kick, & lead vocal live, everything else should be wide. It's much easier to mix vocals when you've got that much space to work with.