Mixing help :)

[Yardood]

Ello everyone, I have been making some music for a while, I love making music, and I enjoy listening to what I've done so much.

the thing is... I don't have the smallest clue on how to mix, use the EQ, compressors etc.. for the benefits of the sound of my music,
so I was thinking, if anybody here knows how to mix and stuff, and he/she likes my music, we could work together :)

thanks a lot, and also let me know if this is something ridiculous to ask here :|

thanks again! D:

[MetalRenard]

The first thing about eq is creating a sound you want. You can drastically change the sound of a synth just by eqing it. You have to teach your ear to recognise certain frequencies without even thinking, this may take time but it's worth it and happens naturally.

Next you can use EQ to fit different sounds together. Like if you open your hands and interlace your fingers, spaces created in one hand are filled in by the other. If your fingers are closed then they don't slide together, they just bump into one another.
EQ is similar, you have to find out where each instrument sits in the sound spectrum from very low (usually no lower than 20hz) to very high (you can't really hear much more than around 18khz, but it goes up to 20k [and above 15khz is mostly harmonics... but forget that for now])

Your hands are those frequencies - your thumb is the bass, do you see how it goes up then dips? Try that with a bass and you'll make it sound "bassy" yet clear (roughly 100hz to 300hz for bass instruments). You want a beefy kick drum? Try boosting it around 60-100hz. You want a heavy snare sound? Add some power around 600hz. A lead synth, 1khz.
Each instrument takes up its own space in the mix, you have to cut out frequencies where they're not needed and add them where they are.

End of lesson one, now try that and come back for compressors later. Compressors affect a lot including some key factors you don't want to miss like transients.

[Yardood]

Hey thank you dude ! :)
thats very helpful!
is there like a chart of things like you said? lead synth - 1k etc..?

thanks alot!

Your hands are those frequencies - your thumb is the bass, do you see how it goes up then dips? Try that with a bass and you'll make it sound "bassy" yet clear (roughly 100hz to 300hz for bass instruments). You want a beefy kick drum? Try boosting it around 60-100hz. You want a heavy snare sound? Add some power around 600hz. A lead synth, 1khz.
Each instrument takes up its own space in the mix, you have to cut out frequencies where they're not needed and add them where they are.

[eppskevin]

Here is a GREAT frequency chart for all kinds of instruments, including voices(since that's an instrument in itself).

[MetalRenard]

Why not just give him the link? http://www.independentrecording.net/irn/resources/freqchart/
main_display.htm
I think I showed all you guys that chart in the first place. :)

At 11/20/12 09:04 AM, eppskevin wrote: Here is a GREAT frequency chart for all kinds of instruments, including voices(since that's an instrument in itself).

[eppskevin]

At 11/20/12 09:29 AM, MetalRenard wrote: Why not just give him the link? http://www.independentrecording.net/irn/resources/freqchart/
main_display.htm
I think I showed all you guys that chart in the first place. :)

At 11/20/12 09:04 AM, eppskevin wrote: Here is a GREAT frequency chart for all kinds of instruments, including voices(since that's an instrument in itself).

Actually I've never had the original. I had gotten the image as an email attachment. So that's why I just uploaded it.

[dem0lecule]

At 11/20/12 09:04 AM, eppskevin wrote: Here is a GREAT frequency chart for all kinds of instruments, including voices(since that's an instrument in itself).

Yawn, why don't you point them to the interactive chart?

[MetalRenard]

At 11/20/12 12:40 PM, dem0lecule wrote: Yawn, why don't you point them to the interactive chart?

Because I already have. :P

[Stapless]

That chart is interesting thanks for the share. :D

[dem0lecule]

At 11/20/12 01:14 PM, MetalRenard wrote:

At 11/20/12 12:40 PM, dem0lecule wrote: Yawn, why don't you point them to the interactive chart?

Because I already have. :P

Oh, buggers. Thanks.