Korg Forums

tpantano · Platinum Member Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 1384

It seems that the moment I get 3 instruments into a song (say, Drums, Bass and Lead) I enter distortion zone; I always push 6.0 DB (the 'red zone' in Logic). Whenever I try things like limiting, though, it always ruins the song and max the part I am limiting not stick out. If I limit the whole track, it turns to shite.

So, anybody have tips on properly EQing, Mixing, Compressing, Limiting etc. a track so you can make all your sounds have their proper place without pushing distortion areas?
_________________
Current: MS-20 Mini, Minilogue, SY77
Past: Korg R3, Volca Bass, X50, Mg Slim Phatty, Rld Gaia SH-01, Yamaha TX81Z
Have my freebie granular plug-in: https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=192886

ozy · Guest

X-Trade · Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 9:44 pm Post subject:

Ignoring the slightly condescending tone, Ozy's advice is sound (if you'll excuse the pun).

Quite simply if you are peaking at +6 then you are pushing it too far. Turn your instruments down. Turn your speakers up if you have to.

I do often apply a master limiter at 0dB but I aim to have everything mixed at -3dB

A few useful things to remember about dBs:
- zero is 'unity', meaning no change at all. If your mixer level is at zero dB for a track, then you're hearing it at the same level it was recorded
- a change of 3dB is a doubling or halfing of actual linear value. So if 0dB is -1 to +1 amplitude, then -3dB is -0.5 to +0.5. Similarlt +3dB would be -2 to +2. Not vastly important for the creative side of mixing, but handy to know what you're doing technically.

When applying EQ it tends to help to go above and below the zero line in equal amounts. Some of Logic's EQs have a shift or gain for the whole effect. This is handy if you get the right shape but you are coming out with a net gain. I'm not sure about the version you are using but when I was working with it I think it could even tell you the net gain or loss in dB.

EQ can be very important to making a mix fit together, but a good arrangement shouldn't need too much of it because the instruments should be written in the right octaves as to not clash. It really depends on your type of music.
_________________
Current Gear: Kronos 61, RADIAS-R, Volca Bass, ESX-1, microKorg, MS2000B, R3, Kaossilator Pro +, MiniKP, AX3000B, nanoKontrol, nanoPad MK II,
Other Mfgrs: Moog Sub37, Roland Boutique JX03, Novation MiniNova, Akai APC40, MOTU MIDI TimePiece 2, ART Pro VLA, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40.
Past Gear: Korg Karma, TR61, Poly800, EA-1, ER-1, ES-1, Kawai K1, Novation ReMote37SL, Boss GT-6B
Software: NI Komplete 10 Ultimate, Arturia V Collection, Ableton Live 9. Apple OSX El Capitan on 15" MacBook Pro

cynkh · Posted: Fri Jul 01, 2011 4:30 am Post subject:

Another thing that might help in Logic is to use the analyzer on the channel EQ for the channel(s) in question and/or the master channel. I've found it helpful to see where exactly the mix is spiking and pin-point the culprit. I usually end up discovering that that last kick I sampled had a bit much low-end going on that I didn't hear when it was all by its lonesome but stacked up with a nice fat bass: boom!- red zone time!
Don't be afraid to "cheat" and use the filters built-in to your soft synths to help taper and tame some of those frequencies. A nice bit of high-pass on a kick or bass does wonders and saves you a separate trip to the channel EQ.

Cheers and happy producing!
_________________
- cynkh -

Hardware:
Kronos 61, microKORG, MoPho, Rogue, Aira System-1, Aira TB-3, Aira TR-8, MC-202, TB-303, (KMS-30), Juno 6, Alpha-Juno 1 (PG-300), SH-201, MC-09, Virus TI Snow, K2000, MPC-1000, X-Station 25, MultiMix-16FW, Ableton Live Push

Software:
Logic Pro 9, Korg Legacy Collection, Komplete 8, vCollection 3, Sylenth1, microTonic