HOW TO MIX EFFICIENTLY AND WELL IN LARGE QUANTITIES

[♔Chello]

HOW TO MIX EFFICIENTLY AND WELL IN LARGE QUANTITIES

Many people make the mistake of working for a long time with a single sound or style, or whatever.
This is a method that is very unfortunate, and unproductive.
Why is that ?

Because our abilities in all areas are never static – they vary from day to day, often in cycles.

The secret to mixing well and effectively lies in finding an basic model that delivers stable results and is just good enough for you to do it every day, no matter how you feel.
I've learned from looking at professionals, and how they use a mixing desk – it's done very quickly, and they make rough adjustments in all areas right then and there.

This way, you get a lot of work done every day, which is of a quality that is fully acceptable.
Finer adjustments can be made retrospectively, when you feel you are having a particularly good day.

[⚖musicalmemoriesuk]

Exactly some days something sounds amazing and you thing it’s the best sound you’ve created then listen back to it a few days and yoi dont like it’s at all. 

It tend to fall in that trap when creating an arrangement for a song spending ages on it getting everything to sound great and then using that arrangement at a gig of something and it feels / sounds wrong.

But I guess what you’re saying is to find a middle ground first before fine tuning.

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But then it’s also finding that basic model in the first place.

[♔Chello]

@Musical Memories

Gigs will always be able to provide many different layouts, because the premises vary in size and acoustic nature.
In addition, other factors play a role, such as the number of people and your location in the room.
The most important and influential aspect is the acoustics of the room.

This is usually (much) higher than what it is in your living room and studio, which in turn requires that the use of DSP must be greatly reduced or used with great care.

It is always best to create several different setups where the degree of DSP (acoustic effects) varies.

At the same time, the requirement for amplifier power will vary with the size of the room, and the need for increased bass with a certain punch as well.

By listing settings for each room you've had a Gig in, you can create a set of setups, and by also noting the space of the room, you can to some extent predict which setup will work best.

The larger the room and the less acoustics it has, the greater the demands placed on amp power and the need for increased bass.

[⚖musicalmemoriesuk]

As you saying you should have different regulations for different setups. In terms of the effects they use?

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Ie A Big Band Registration for different venues ?

[♔Chello]

@Musical Memories
As you say you should have different regulations for different setups. In terms of the effects they use?
Ie A Big Band Registration for different venues ?


Precise.
The most important of all factors is the room's acoustics, and there are hardly 2 venues that have similar acoustics.

[⚖musicalmemoriesuk]

At the moment although focusing on the mid range frequencies I have different setups for the master Eq, ie headphones, speakers etc. 

Having a different set of sounds and styles that should fit different types of venues is the way to go ?

So as a starting point it’s it best to have a set where everything if flat,and a dry sound?

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It’s great to have a forum that you can bounce your ideas and thoughts to, which to me is just as important as sitting down and playing. People my think why spend so much time tweaking sounds and setups rather than actually playing music,for me personally it’s an important part of the learning process.

[⚅Graham UK]

I have mentioned before, an important point overlooked is when your listeners arrive they will absorb VOLUME and FREQUENCIES depending on numbers.

It's an advantage if you have the experience of playing in a room before.

[♔Chello]

@Musical Memories
Having a different set of sounds and styles that should fit different types of venues is the way to go ?
Absolute, yes.

So as a starting point it's it best to have a set where everything if flat,and a dry sound?
Precisely, plus several with moderate to high DSP.

It's great to have a forum that you can bounce your ideas and thoughts to, which to me is just as important as sitting down and playing. People my think why spend so much time tweaking sounds and setups rather than actually playing music,for me personally it's an important part of the learning process.
Thanks for that.
I'm also like you, and spend a lot of time trying to achieve the best possible sound, which gives me the best possible experience when I choose to play the keyboard.



@Graham
I have mentioned before, an important point overlooked is when your listeners arrive they will absorb VOLUME and FREQUENCIES depending on numbers.

It's an advantage if you have the experience of playing in a room before.


Thanks for your reminded comment, which is of great importance.
I remember well my experiences from the time I was 17-22 years old - I played almost every weekend in the same venue, and practiced a lot before the audience arrived. There was a big difference between the sound WITHOUT the audience and WITH the audience.

This is very important to pay attention to, because people are absorbents and dampen the acoustics.

[⚖musicalmemoriesuk]

Yes to trying to achieve the best sound possible, but sometimes it’s like a dog chasing its tail

[♔Chello]

@Musical Memories
Yes to trying to achieve the best sound possible, but sometimes it's like a dog chasing its tail


Then we are digregated back to the essence of the article:
It's a matter of taking advantage of good days by creating different layouts that can be used in different situations – then you'll be able to use a setup that works even when you're chasing the tail.