Unique Original Articles » Record At Home: Tips & Tricks 1

Your Ears are the Most critical Hardware You Own:

That's correct, your ears are the most critical component in your pro sounding production but unfortunately they do not come programmed for the activity. You will want to listen to mixes that share the equivalent production sound you are attempting. The only way to really "program" your ears for the job is through repetition of these "reference" mixes. And most importantly, listen to them during those periods when you are actually mixing and finalizing the tracks.

Listen to the effects, the levels of each one instrument and make an effort to break down the frequencies that get each instrument up in the mix.


The Pillars of a Good Mix:

I'd have to say that E.Q. is indisputably the most influential thing to a mix, but a near by second surely will be levels - hotly varying levels in a song is maddening and crummy, and the easiest way sooth the rough waters of a track with "rowdy" volumes is to compress them in the right way. That will make it easier for the ear to listen to the production as a whole and not be distracted by unappealing spikes in volume.


Of course, the best way to have smooth levels in your final mix is to record the instruments with good levels. Because you will most likely be using your personal computer and recording digital audio, you can't push the level too hot. That would cause "clipping" of the audio. Clipping can not be fixed, only eradicated. So be sure not to clip the audio by recording at too loud an input level.

A great way to manage that is to compress the audio a bit on its way into the track. Be vigilant not to "squash" the sound, but tempering the spikes in volume with a subtle compression might help.
Alan Currens of Speck 5 writes articles to help musicians find new avenues to record at home that can make them sound more professional and save them money. Alan Currens music, , can be heard where Best Alternative music is available on the web. Reverb Nation, iTunes, Amazon, Speck5.com, etc...
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