Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:33 pm   Reply with quote      

Hey Matt - First off, thanks for the incredible site. I've been checking it frequently for the past few months and have learned a lot of really good tips and tricks that I was clueless to after messing around with digital audio for years. Thanks man!

My question comes down to the final mix. You posted the Spectral Analysis plugin and mentioned that it is a must-have tool for any producer.
I have read and gathered that the idea behind using it is to analyze the frequencies of your various song parts to determine each parts frequency range, and helping confine your different instruments to seperate ranges.

I am working on a remix track for someone else and want it to be sounding the absolute best. In the past I have just listened and thought "Man! That sounds slammin'!" I want to get more technical to find the -true- best.

When I loaded the plug into a few parts, I got totally lost as to what to do. I found that when I tried to EQ some of the BD's sound out of where the bass synth's freq. range was, I lost a lot of flavor, and vice versa.

Can you (or anyone) please write up a typical scenario type usage guide for that plug? I am using Live 6 and was trying to use an EQ8.

I saw in another post that you are working on a premium members area that includes mixdown tips-- I eagerly await

Thanks,
Tim

Tue Aug 28, 2007 6:26 pm   Reply with quote      

Thanks Tim! I really appreciate the feedback. It makes this whole project worthwhile



That's exactly correct. The idea is to give yourself a visual aid when attempting to define the frequency range used by each instrument. You'll find that professional mixing engineers often use it to assist their ears when carving out frequencies for each instrument and also for the final mix. (More on that in just a sec.)



Then you are on the right track! Using a spectral analyzer gives you to ability to correct problem frequencies that may not be noticable using your monitors. For example, certain DSP operations can create a lot of subsonic energy (e.g. around 20hz). These frequencies are not discernable using standard studio monitors, and they will cause your final mix to sound very quiet when compressed. This is because the subsonic frequencies use up energy that should be applied to your other (discernable) frequencies.



It is important to remember that the analyzer should be used as an assistant to your ears. There should be some overlap between the frequencies occupied by your kick drum and by your bass. How much overlap is dependent on the music and the individual sounds. A spectral analyzer can't tell you how much to allow - only your ears can tell you that. But, if there is a heavy overlap and you can't clearly hear each element, then you can use the analyzer and a low pass filter to pull the kick closer to the 60hz-100hz range. If the kick has a lot of subsonic energy, then you could also use a high pass filter to pull out frequencies above 20hz. After that, use the analyzer and a high pass filter to cut out bass frequencies above 100hz or so. I always use my ears as the final decision maker, but if I am using less-than-ideal monitors, the spectral analyzer is invaluable.



Always put the spectral analyzer on the master track. Then, when if you want to analyze a single track, just solo it. Remember to put the analyzer before any other plug-ins in the signal chain.

When you are putting the final touches on your mix and after you have performed any mastering that you want to do, do a spectral analysis of an especially well-mixed reference song. Then, compare your song's frequency spectrum to the reference song. This is a good way to see if your final song will blend with other songs in the same genre of music.



The Premium section should be available very soon. I am putting the finishing touches on several lessons that cover sample-creation, arrangement, mixing, recommended reading, recommended sample CD's, recommended plug-ins, and even more Ableton Live tips. I hope that it will provide the definitive source of information for electronic music producers.

Thanks for writing and I hope these tips improve your mixes

Mon Jun 30, 2008 2:23 pm   Reply with quote      

Thanks for all the great information Tim. I'm so glad I found this site.
I wanted to see if you could clarify this part for me. you mention to put the analyzer on the master track, but also before all other plug ins in the chain. Do I use 2 analyzers? I'm just not clear on having the analyzer on the master bus yet prior to any other plug ins in the signal chain.

thanks -

Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:35 am   Reply with quote      

HI Bhang,

Just something i want to re-itterate regarding matts advice.

ONLY use the spectrum analysis plugin as an assistant to your ears, do NOT rely on it solely.

Remember, Music is a LISTENING art, you should always make your initial choices with your ears, use the Spectrum Analyser to re-inforce these decisions. Also the spectrum analyser is great when you have a less than perfect monitoring situation but again, its only an assisting tool, use it sparingly to find those hard to hear frequencies, especially, as Matt points out, low freqs that suck all the power from your mix.

Too often have i come across people using a spectrum analyser INSTEAD of their ears, which is crazy, your ears can do the job very well, and after all, its all about how your music sounds, NOT how it looks.

Mark

Thu Aug 28, 2008 3:14 pm   Reply with quote      

Oh of course not. I only use these tools to help pinpoint the issues I already hear. It is often difficult to find that interfering frequency with out a little visual help, or at least you can find it far quicker. But, you need your ears to know somethings wrong to begin with. I figure this analyzer at the end of the chain is to look for heavy lopsidedness or checking to see, as you said, if the low end is in line or killing the dynamic range of the mix. I believe i understand what was being said previously, but it sort of lumped ALL plug ins together and I think he meant no plug ins on the master track, not plug ins on individual channels. That was what I wanted to clarify. The more that I think about it the more the answer to my original question becomes obvious. Of course your not going to turn off all of your channel plug ins. That would be ... rather useless.
Well, I have been using this technique since my 1st post with very much success. I love my bass, and always mix it too hot. Now I can tell at a glance. Do some adjusting and see if the mix still kicks and now all the other details start to sparkle.
Thanks again for the help,

-Bhang