Tips for a beginner mixing using only loops.

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banzailoco
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Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2015 2:26 am

Tips for a beginner mixing using only loops.

Post by banzailoco »

Mr. Bliss tips oriented for a fairly beginner that only uses loops to get him started to mix a song.

*** This is a simplify version of a tutorial found here ***
http://forums.acoustica.com/bbs/viewtop ... =4&t=20300

Recommended plugin: Span Spectrum Analyzer
http://www.voxengo.com/product/span/

0- Start by choosing and setting your loops from the library.(bottom left)

1- Lower the tracks level down to around the 10 to 12 dB on the volume fader(the sliders on the left).
******************************************************** Or/And ******************************************************
***Select multiples loops by holding the left mouse button and dragging. Right click one of the loops, Envelopes, Reduce by 50% or less.(You should wait until you have all your loops setup before doing this)***

1.3 Save your project.

1.5 Open Span on your Master Fx(Beside the volume control, right side)

********************************** IMPORTANT MASTER VOLUME ALWAYS AT 0dB ********************************

1.9 For ease of mixing, turn the loops to mono. Right click, Properties, Channels, Left or Right(choose one).

2- Use an equalizer with a High-pass filter for the bass and kick(drums).
For this, it is better to read the post on page 3.
http://forums.acoustica.com/bbs/viewtop ... 0&start=30

Master EQ ing, for ease of mixing.

EQ SERIES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjN4SgUQdNA

How To Mix Music.
https://heroic.academy/essential-guide- ... damentals/

How to EQ a mix.
https://www.attackmagazine.com/techniqu ... to-eq-mix/

The Ultimate EQ Cheat Sheet for Every Common Instrument.
http://blog.sonicbids.com/the-ultimate- ... instrument

Chart of instruments frequencies.
http://www.audio-issues.com/wp-content/ ... 10x677.jpg

Electric Guitar chart.
https://talkinmusic.com/musicproduction ... Guitar.jpg


3- Of all your instruments, decide who's gonna be the one to lead them all. The one that you want more noisy from.

************************************** MAKE SURE YOU DON'T GO OVER 0dB **************************************

4- Click on Mixer(bottom left) and move the sliders to mix your song.
Mix your tracks keeping an eye on the main bus level at a conservative level for now. I'd suggest peaking at -10 is fine. -6 maximum for now
on Span
If a track level seems too low, it is a good idea to adopt the habit of turning everything else down a little instead of turning that track up a little. :wink:
5-When you are happy with with your mix. Save your project, then File, Mix Down To MP3, Tag Info...(bottom), enter a title(the rest optional), File name, Save.
For a MP3 format, make sure to stays under -1db or you may get distortion on your sound.

Keep in mind this is a simple method just to get you started hassle free on mixing. Giving you enough headroom to make mistakes. Mixing using Fx and plugins it's time consuming. Once you start using a compressor, a limiter it's gonna bring your sound to another level where you have to know how to use this tools.

6- Go to Mixcraft University
http://forums.acoustica.com/bbs/viewtop ... =4&t=10807

More advanced links:

The Process of Mixing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJR_5b2oSAQ

How to use compression
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0G-y9TUVhw

Compression Explained
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOU1BK7dCZ8
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