Guest Music Writer Liyana Perry (photo provided by Ms. Perry)
There are a lot of experts in mixing music that has become famous nowadays. This art is indeed one of the best ways to showcase one’s talent in music as it involves complicated and diverse methods that only an expert would be able to play with. Did it ever pass your mind though to be one of these guys sometime in the future? Are you a music enthusiast who wants to know the basics of using music mixer software? You’ve landed to the right place!
Here are some of the tips and techniques on how to use music mixer software like a pro.
Strike the Balance
Pan Your Tracks
By this, we simply mean being able to keep the balance between all of the tracks to be included in your mix. Now this means being able to mix all of your materials without compromising the rest of the others on the mix you are trying to make.
Proper Monitoring Levels
Proper monitoring levels are also vital in doing your first mix. Consider the type of mix you want to come up with, gather all your thoughts and slowly put things together. You may use Logic Pro X which is probably one of the best mixing software out there which provides an easy and clean interface for first-time mixers. [see previous article by Wild Bill McClintock]
Utilize Effects
Once you’ve already gathered and started mixing all of the tracks you’d like included on your first mix, it is now time to put some effects to add more colour and punch to your final result. I would recommend visiting Music Scanner as this website provides a variety of available options for you to keep your tracks clean and great.
Use Automation and Effects
Consider the use of automation software and effects in your first mix. This will give you presets that would be very important for beginners in this art. There are a lot of automation software you can check and download online for free.
Begin Mixing Quietly Towards Loudness
Once you’re already familiar with how your tracks should sound, begin mixing quietly towards loudness. This means up your tracks from one file to the next, starting from the less aggressive ones to the loudest.
Use Distortion to Make Something Sound Cleaner
At this stage, it is also important to consider using distortion to make something sound cleaner. As oppose to the common idea, distortion can be useful for track parts which don’t make sense in the whole mixing process. Adding mid-range for bigger bass could also help out in most cases.
Proper Use of Equalizer
The last tip that I would like to point out in this short article is the proper use of the equaliser. Sure there are a lot of downsides whenever you are not familiar with the software you are using.
Apply EQ to Getting Clarity
It is important to watch a lot of tutorials first before going into the real thing. In the world of music mixing, using EQ is very important. Try to check on free online mixing software options that let you see exactly how every sound on your track affects the whole mix. Try out V-EQ4 Vintage Equalizing Software as this free option offers a lot of equalising techniques which you can play to make your mix better.
Get a Great Static Mix
The last and most crucial part of the process is able to get a great static mix which is one of the widely used techniques in the art of music mixing. By great static mix, we simply mean putting all of your adjustments like the equaliser, distortions and all adjustments you can make out of your EQ Software at the same level. If you want the best experience for your first mix, try using FabFilter EQ which you can also download for free online. This offers a wide array of adjustments which is very easy to play with. You may upgrade to the pro version of it for advanced controls, but the free version is already a good option.
So here you go folks, follow these tips and make your first mix a one of a kind.
By Liyana Perry