Mixing

[Opera Populare]

When u finish your tracks do u go straight to mixin them down or juss leave em how they are until someone picks one they want. I think this is a problem for me. I'm so used to juss sittin down and makin beats that i really dont focus on mixing everything down but I kno its needed. Like i have posted before i'm gettin more into mixin and all but i juss wanted to kno was i the only one who doesn't mix down when the beat is finished

 

[FistFulloDollaz]

I just give em a rough mix and 2 track em

its very time consuming to track everything out separately and give them a full mix down especially if ur not selling the track

on the other hand if ur thing is engineering its always good to practice

it just depends on what u wanna do, spend more time on making beats or mixing

 

[sYgMa]

For me, I mix down the beats I think are the dopest and leave the rest like they are... chances are, my dope beats will be chosen 1st... and if someone is interested in the others, then I mix them... And then, sometimes, when I dont have any inspiration, I mix those other beats.

 

[Agent Smith]

it all depends...i have two choices...usually i mix all the tracks within my fantom and have the midi version mixed nice...then i just bounce a stereo mix of all the tracks...then if its really important, ill record each track seperately and mix them.

 

[Hypnotist]

The best way to do it, if you just want to catalog your beats for sale is to create a basic template for your mixes, keeping everything in the same order: Kick, Snare, Hats, etc.

Then, just import, drop a couple faders and make as good of a mix as you can, but give yourself a time limit. Say: "I'm gonna make this mix work in 15 minutes so I don't wear myself out" and just work on levels and real basic panning. Go through a process, like this:

Bass: "Okay, are my speakers farting?" "Is there enough presence in the low-end?" "Is the kick drum interfering with the bass line?"

Middle: "Is the meat of the [sample] melody thick enough?" "Are the melodies/guitars/keys interfering with the low end?"

High: "Are the hats/cymbals too loud?" "Would someone have trouble rhyming over this because there's too much competition with the melodies for vocals?"

(after your 15 minutes are up): "Is my head noddin?" "Is this shit TIGHT as hell or what?" (give dap to your cousin) "Would I BUY this beat?"

Keep it as simple as possible, but the more you get good at noticing these few steps, the quicker it gets for a rough mix. Lately, my rough mixes sound as good as my old finals. Aside from my ears getting much better, it's because of the shortcuts and practicing the same methods to make it more efficient.

 

[Opera Populare]

good looks hyp

 

[Dugsy]

i kinda do the same too

 

[joeburnem]

I let them linger around a for a few days or maybe weeks. Then I go back with fresh ears and mix down.

 

[Spen Zilla]

i do the same as fistfulladollaz, just a quick rough mix, and 2track it and be on my way =)

 

[Opera Populare]

i finally mixed one down that im plannin to throw on this cd im tryin to get to the diplomats camp after mixin each track seperatly i used equalities method from this post https://www.illmuzik.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12500 and it came out nice im proud as shit right now lol

 

[N.U.G.]

this might be a worthwhile purchase for anyone wanting to learn about mixing

Mixing Simplified Vol 1: Creating The Perfect Stereo Mix

http://www.mpc-samples.com/product.php/64/8/

 

[MarkN]

well for a starters you've got to be realistic with what you can acheive this depends on wot your using and your skill level !
id imagine you probably have a pretty basic knowledge of mixing in which case id give it a rough mix as soon as you finish, tbh i do a rough mix as i go it should be pretty close imo once youve finished working on the beat if its that far off i don't see how you would be able to listen to it ! then leave it a day or so and come back to it with fresh ears and just check to see what you have done is correct and make any adjustments you feel you need to ! as long as its a half decent mix no1 will complain, if the beat ever gets used or woteva then it would be mixed by a pro anyway so theres not too much point wearing yourself out over a mix !

 

[Opera Populare]

if the beat ever gets used or woteva then it would be mixed by a pro anyway so theres not too much point wearing yourself out over a mix !

true but ive noticed when i play my music on bigger speakers the drums always seem to be louder than everything else kind of pushing some things to the back so sometimes its nice but other times i really wanted the melody to stand out more. i dont have monitors and sometimes these headphones make shit seem like its in the right place get it on a different system wit some good speakers and the drums are takin over so im tryin to get outta that stage

 

[MarkN]

yea headphones are a nightmare to work on, i will use headphones as a reference i also use my monitors my car stereo system and my regular boombox and if it soundstight on all those then it probably is, try to get hold of sumthing that will allow to play your beat on a different set of speakers, this is the best reference normally !
i remember just blaze saying they made producers who came to the roc play their tapes on crappy boomboxes coz if sounded hot on them then it woz !

 

[Hypnotist]

When mixing just a beat, I would usually just use the rough mix. When there's vocals on it later on, I'll mix it differently, and EQ the melody so the vocals don't clash, etc.

But sometimes when a beat lingers around for a while, or if I'm showing it off, my ears get so familiar with how it sounds the way it is, so that when I mix it later, my ears play tricks on me. This is why I like to make a good rough mix right away. I don't know if you guys have ever gone through this; it's one of my quirks.

 

[Sanova]

I usually just do everything in reason and let it be. i only track em out seperately in nuendo or sumthin if its been purchased or its for a competition etc.