How to Record At Home - Mixing Your Music

Posted by admin Staff Writer on October 3, 2009

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When it comes time to mix down your tracks, there's an infinite number of possibilities, and most of them will lead to a poor mix if you're not careful. I've learned that when it comes to a final mix, what you don't do is equally as important as what you do do. But first things first, have a reference mix. A recording of someone who has the "sound" you're after. You can buy songs anywhere online for this. I've hooked up with a free week of music from eMusic. Just click on the banner below to get your free week and start downloading reference songs now.

Use these helpful tips to guide your decision making during the process:

How to Record At Home - Mixing Guide

  1. Experiment like crazy with your software and plugins. Look for hints, tips and suggestions in forums.
  2. Remember this rule: "Crap in... crap out." (Except when I heard Geoffe Workman say it at one of my first pro studio sessions... he didn't use the word "crap") If you don't capture a good clean sound of voice or instrument, then your odds of making it sound better with effects are poor. Keep at it until you get excellent quality and clean recordings to work with.
  3. You're mix, ultimately, will only be as good as teh speakers you hear it through. Invest in your monitors (speakers) and learn what your options are. There are good products reviewed on this site.
  4. You can write the song with any instrument or voice or lyric... but when it comes time to record, lay down the rhythm section first and build on that.
  5. Panning and effects is crucial. Center the lead vocal, snare and kick drums and the bass guitar. Other instruments and percussions can be panned right or left, but don't go crazy. Especially with reverb, delay or other 'sweetening' effects. They can kill a perfectly good mix if they are not policed well.
  6. Clashing instruments or vocals will happen. You'll be tempted to pan them apart to solve the issue, but this really doesn't 'solve' it, you'll need to use the E.Q. to separate sounds. There's plenty of good and tested techniques you can play with and I cover some in the video tutorials.
  7. If you don't use or understand compression, now is the time to educate yourself. An even level is important to your final mix. Unexpected spikes in volume are toxic to the ear, unless they are planned and used effectively in the mix.
  8. Mastering is last. Put compression or any effects on the Master track you have mixed everything down to. Just be careful and "test" your mix everywhere... cars, home systems, iPods, etc.

Use the Amazon search box to find your home studio software or book needs (I'll always recommend Cakewalk Sonar products) and use the MP3 shopper below to buy and download the perfect "reference" music to guide your ears. Buy a song or songs that you want to emulate the sound of with your mix (or close to the sound at least) so that you can continually reference the song to compare how you're doing.