How to on MIXing - final recordings

Portable PA
1

Hi awesome soloists out here

I’m a soloist trying to record my demo and cd, but am struggling to get that intertwined vkcal mix with the backing tracks

I use vocalive for ipad and has a great deal of effects, low mid high, pan ect, but Does anyone know any basic tips and tricks on MIXING?

What has worked for you?
What is the trick to surrounding your voice with the backing track to not sound so "layered"

Thanks so much for reading my question I really appreciate any help at all
Thankyou

2

Prattz,
Ya know…I’ve been looking into this a little lately too. The CDs that I have made with my multitrack have seemed to lack that certain magic I hear in other professional disks that also have less instrumentation or about the same as mine.

Not having live drummer dynamics is one problem.
The bass being synthesized is another.

Maybe it takes a second party to do the mixing…I don’t know. There is mastering suites of software out there that you can buy and run on your PC that claim to bring that magic for you. Right now I’m looking at this.

If you sing to recordings, it seems like it would be a slam dunk. But doing it from scratch is difficult for sure to record.

Producers secrets??

If anyone else can bring any comments to this thread, that would be nice. Like Prattz, I’m searching too. Like has anyone found any helpful tools for mixing and mastering?

3

Below are just two of many sites that offer tips and suggestions for home recording, as well as the link to a Google request for home recording tips.


http://www.soundrecordingadvice.com/tips.html


http://cdmusicmastering.com/mu…ing-studio-tips.html


http://www.google.com/#hl=en&o…c7f&biw=1440&bih=795

O…

4

Hi Prattz,

Here’s another link:

http://blog.shure.com/shure-no…e-mixdown-landscape/

5

Ozone software

I had an older version of this that helped. It’s an option - but it’s not cheep anymore.

Try the real pan and balance stuff first - and the tips in the other posted links for sure - but there are some neat programs that can move you forward to a more “pro” sound that are more than just compression. My own stuff is in need of a step change UP in mastering as well so I’m with ya on the hunt.

6
quote:
My own stuff is in need of a step change UP in mastering as well so I'm with ya on the hunt.

May I suggest Presonus Studio One Pro V.2 software.
Complete DAW and mastering suite.
Touted as "simple", it's a bit of a challenge for me, but I'm warming up to it.
Has great sounding presets for vocal & instrument processing.
Simple one-screen assembling & mastering.
Drag & drop drums and instruments.
Lots of Youtube "how to" videos to help you along.

Oh yeah, and seamlessly integrated Melodyne Pitch Correction!
Create great harmonies in no time flat.
7

I have been working on a new demo CD. Here’s some interesting and rather inexpensive solutions I’ve found.

You can spend a lot on suites of software. But free Audacity can do it all. You still need a multitrack to record the wave files. A Zoom R16 is a nice choice. Make your takes…Then you can remove an SD card and copy the wave files to your PC…run them through a very stable and friendly free Audacity program.

I found out that Audacity can do more than just make a master…it can do multitrack too.

You can run the mono files (each track) by dragging them one by one into the Audacity window. You can apply level, effects etc to each track. You can make a mix down to an MP3 or wave master easily.

Audacity is free…just Google it. It has a manual too. I really like it. I can’t imagine what the paid suites could offer that you can’t get with Audacity. Anyway give it a try…and keep learning things.