Audio Mixing Tips
I have received a good amount of feedback recently asking for more audio mixing tips. It seems appropriate that I take several posts, and maybe even a podcast, to cover this vast area of the home music studio.
If you have any specific questions about mixing, please add them to the comments section. You can also send in your questions via the contact page. I'll include my best answers to any further questions throughout this series.
My personal preference is to group the process of mixing into 3 main categories. For this first post, I'm simply going to define what these categories are. As this series unfolds, I will cover each area in more detail.
Most every project I mix has 3 distinct areas; the rhythm, the lead, and the fill section. Though there are a few exceptions to this way of thinking, in general I have found this to be true across most styles of music. Let me define each category and how they relate to one another.
Mixing the Rhythm Section
The rhythm section of a song is the instrumentation that drives the overall feel. It establishes the timing and tempo. The rhythm section also provides the pocket by which everything else falls into. A rhythm section can consist of several instruments like guitar, bass, drums and percussion. It can also simply be one acoustic guitar or piano.
Making this mental observation is extremely helpful in building a successful mix. One of the best audio mixing tips I can give is to build everything out from and upon the rhythm section.
Consider the make up of many songs. The tempo and time signature are often determined by a drum kit. The overall feel of the song is expressed when the bass and drums mix together. This I call the grove or pocket. When a rhythm section plays well together the rest of the song can easily fall into place. This is also true when you're mixing a song.
If you're mixing R&B, Hip Hop, Techno or something similar, the concept is still the same. You may have more of a programmed kit sound and your bass guitar may even be a synth. In either case the two mixed together are the beginnings of the rhythm section.
When you're mixing the rhythm you want the lead section to sit on top of it without being disconnected from it. The fill section is really a support to the entire song and surrounds the rhythm in a mix.
Mixing the Lead Section
The lead section of a song is that which should take the center of the mix. This can be lead vocals or even an instrument in some styles and certain parts of a song. Lead sections can also consist of backing vocals intended to be out in front of the mix. Backing vocals are really a sub section of the lead and should be treated accordingly.
The lead sections are supported both by the rhythm and fill sections of a song. In relation to audio mixing tips, just know that your lead section should not be covered (in most styles) by any other section of the song. What tracks occupy the lead can also change throughout the song like during a guitar solo.
The lead section must be mixed, panned, and EQ'd to be heard clearly. That clarity should not be at the expense of any other section but in conjunction with it. Again, each section has it's place and they should all fit together as one unit in the final mix.
Mixing the Fill Section
The fill section of a song is anything that doesn't establish timing or tempo. Fill sections do not typically sit in the center or forefront of a mix. A fill section is there to establish depth and fatness to the rhythm and overall song. It also provides inspiration and deeper expression for the lead.
Instrumentally the fill section of a song can really be any type of instrument. The difference is often in the way it is played or programmed. Fill parts are typically panned hard left or right of the stereo field in a mix. They don't usually last the entire song but only in specific spots that need filled. Fill sections are often very subtle tracks that would be noticeable most if they were gone.
Style Matters
Style matters greatly when it comes to audio mixing tips. There are many relative aspects of mixing. It is very helpful to listen to a professionally mixed and mastered album in the same style as your project. I've covered this thought in a past podcast episode. You can listen to that here.
Later this week I will be dealing more with each of the categories I've outlined above. Be on the lookout for that content. Please add your thoughts and comments to the section below.
I have been a hone project engineer for quite some time but the one problem I always seem to have is mixing the lead vox. Should I use a stereo track and pan slight left and slight right, OR should I be using a mono track and leaving it dead center?
Great question Peter, that’s a common issue for a lot of people too. The simple answer is to use a stereo track but to keep the lead panned in the center of the mix (not a hard rule but one I use most every time). The reason you’ll want a stereo track is for adding stereo FX to the center lead vocal. I address the process I typically use for creating a good lead and backing mix in a few past episodes of the show. I think they may help to answer a lot of your questions. Here are the links to those 2 episodes. https://homemusicstudio1.com/lead-backing-and-vocal-separation-episode-9/ https://homemusicstudio1.com/lead-backing-and-vocal-separation-part-2-episode-10/
Let me know if I can answer any more questions for you Peter,
Have a good week!
I mix instrumentals a lot where a piano is the lead. Often times, I keep the piano wide in the stereo field using pitch-shift delays and reverbs. It does leave my center a bit lacking because most everything in the mix is wide except for bass and kick drum.
Just wondering what your thoughts are on this.
Good question Dan. Instrumental music is one type that does have some exceptions to a certain degree. Typically for classical or specifically piano driven lead it’s recorded in stereo. Your trying to mimic the live stereo field of a piano. Most stereo outputs of keyboards get this right as well. The higher the note the more to right side of the stereo field it will be. The lower the note the more to the left (this could be reversed if you panning for the listener perspective).
Personally I would use a stereo feed to create this field and set my pans left and right just enough to make the highest note feel about 2-3 o’clock. Do the opposite with the left mix and make the lowest note hit around 10-9 o’clock. This setup will allow some notes to come out in the center of the field around middle C or so. It will leave room for your drums and bass.
I personally would not try to create this effect with delay or pitch shifting. Some light stereo reverb for depth yes, But that’s just me. I did a quick search on Youtube and here is an example of what I am talking about.
Hope that helps and thanks for your questions. Feel free to come back at me with any more thoughts.
Great video, lol. I like the ending where he sits on the piano keys!
Sometimes I let the piano pan across the stereo spectrum like you said, but other times the piano needs to sound more distant rather than from the piano player’s position. Here’s an example of a piano and violin using lots of width, but I don’t think the piano is panned as you described.
Video Link
I haven’t been able to match that level of ambience in my own mixes without washing everything out. Not that it comes up often, but I would love to have that trick in my toolbox.
That’s a cool track. The piano is set close to what I’ve described. Its just a little tighter on the panning is all. Much of that may have to do with were the musician is playing octive wise. If it were higher it would be more outside of center on the right and the same on the low. The piano also has a stereo reverb that is fully panned left/right. Thats where a lot of the depth is coming from in my opinion. It also sounds like the track may have been mastered? The mastering process brings in a bigger than life stereo field.
Its late for me now but in the morning I’d like to track a few minutes of improvising piano in my setup. I’ll upload the track and let you listen to what I’m talking about. I’d also like to see if I can duplicate the sound that is similar to your video without the violin that is (since I don’t actually place one ;) ).
I’ll keep you posted.
Yep, that song is mastered. It’s from an anime series called DotHack Sign. Lots of good background music in that show.
Hey Dan, I didn’t have as much time as I’d hoped to put into this so its a very quick cut. At any rate here is a track I recorded showing you one way that I would personally pan/record a piano in a lead spot. This is based off the video you’ve posted keeping in mind there is no violin. Also keep in mind that this is an mp3 so there are some artifacts that can be heard in the file. Also its not mastered (just ran out of time).
I tracked this in Sonar LE. Its audio not midi. I used my Korg SP-170s. I track it with two tracks one pulling from the left channel the other from the right. The track is me doing a quick mimic (just improvised to get the general feel) of the video you last listed just for demo purposes. Given where I played it the left channel is panned out at 40%. The right is panned completely out a 100% I recorded it dry than added a Grand Hall reverb in post. I also did a light compression to help bal the over mix. I did a quick listen and EQ but don’t hold me to close to the fire there as I didnt have much time.
Love to hear your thoughts.
Piano Demo for Panning and Effects
Very nice improv. That’s a tough song to learn, trust me. Nice sound you got too.
I have always recorded my pianos in stereo (one track), so I am going to try your two track approach next time and play with the panning. Thanks!
Thanks Dan, glad I could inspire you! ;)