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    Thin Mix Cheatsheet: 1. Check For Tonal Balance

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    noor shaheen
    This document provides tips for identifying and addressing thin mixes. It recommends checking for tonal balance using a spectrum analyzer plugin to identify frequency valleys, avoiding overuse of high-pass filters, and reducing unnecessary processing. It also suggests addressing recording issues at the source rather than trying to fix them in the mix, taking breaks to refresh perspective, and using mute automation to find problematic tracks.

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    Thin Mix Cheatsheet: 1. Check For Tonal Balance

    Uploaded by

    noor shaheen
    207 views5 pages
    This document provides tips for identifying and addressing thin mixes. It recommends checking for tonal balance using a spectrum analyzer plugin to identify frequency valleys, avoiding overuse of high-pass filters, and reducing unnecessary processing. It also suggests addressing recording issues at the source rather than trying to fix them in the mix, taking breaks to refresh perspective, and using mute automation to find problematic tracks.

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    thin-mix-cheatsheet

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    This document provides tips for identifying and addressing thin mixes. It recommends checking for tonal balance using a spectrum analyzer plugin to identify frequency valleys, avoiding overuse of high-pass filters, and reducing unnecessary processing. It also suggests addressing recording issues at the source rather than trying to fix them in the mix, taking breaks to refresh perspective, and using mute automation to find problematic tracks.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    207 views5 pages

    Thin Mix Cheatsheet: 1. Check For Tonal Balance

    Uploaded by

    noor shaheen
    This document provides tips for identifying and addressing thin mixes. It recommends checking for tonal balance using a spectrum analyzer plugin to identify frequency valleys, avoiding overuse of high-pass filters, and reducing unnecessary processing. It also suggests addressing recording issues at the source rather than trying to fix them in the mix, taking breaks to refresh perspective, and using mute automation to find problematic tracks.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 5

    Thin Mix Cheatsheet

    1. Check For Tonal Balance


    First, you’ll need to collect some information that can help you diagnose the problem.

    You’re trying to find an area of the frequency spectrum that doesn’t have enough
    energy. Once you determine where this is, you’ll know where to focus your attention.

    Plugin needed: ​Voxengo SPAN​ (it’s free!)

    - First, add SPAN to your mix bus. Click the “Edit” button and copy the settings below:

    - Next, find a part of your song that has a full, dense arrangement (the chorus is usually
    a great spot).

    - Press play and let SPAN listen to your track for 5 - 10 seconds.

    - Press the “Hold” button on SPAN to freeze the display.


    - Observe the display. Ideally, it should be smooth, with no big bumps or valleys (see
    below).

    - If you see a valley, note where it is. If your mix sounds thin, you’ll often find a valley in
    the lower midrange (150 - 400 Hz) or the low end (150 Hz down). This is where you’ll
    want to focus your attention.

    - Once you’ve found a valley, go back to your mix. First, try to turn up tracks that have
    the bulk of their frequency content located where the valley appears. For example, if
    there’s a valley at 200 Hz, you can turn up a synth that has most of its energy located in
    this area of the frequency spectrum.
    - If the step above doesn’t solve the problem, add an EQ to your mix bus and boost the
    area of the frequency spectrum where the dip occurs. (​To learn more about mix bus EQ,
    watch this video.​ )

    2. Back Off On Your Filtering


    High-pass filters can help you achieve a cleaner, tighter low end. But they can also thin
    out tracks and leave you with a tinny, anemic mix.

    For best results, use them with care.

    Filtering is not an excuse to turn off your ears. By all means—remove excess low end if
    it’s getting in the way. But if there’s no problem, there’s no need to fix it. You don’t need
    to high-pass everything by default. Instead, let your ears be the judge.

    Additional Resources:
    ● ​Stop the High-Pass Filter Madness

    3. Avoid Overprocessing
    We often turn on autopilot while mixing. We stop listening to the sound that’s coming out
    of the speakers. We start throwing plugins on things because we think we should.

    This can lead to mixes that sound thin and lifeless.

    Every time you add a new plugin to your mix, ask yourself—why am I doing this? If you
    don’t have a clear answer, you probably shouldn’t be using it.

    The result? You’re going to start processing less. And that will lead to thicker, more
    impressive-sounding mixes.

    4. Start At The Source


    It’s tempting to try to fix problems in the mix. But when you do so, you’re only putting a
    Band-Aid on a problem that should have been fixed while recording.
    Thinness is often the result of problems during the recording process. These can be
    caused by poor mic placement, budget preamps and equipment, or clipping or distortion
    from bad gain staging. Often times, these problems are difficult to fix in the mix—even if
    you’re a pro.

    Instead of trying to fix a thin mix, make sure it doesn’t exist to begin with. Take more
    time during the recording process to get things right. Your mixes will sound a whole lot
    better.

    5. Get Some Perspective


    Mixing is a race against time. With every passing second of playback, you become
    more and more attached to the way your mix sounds.

    Balances that are flat-out wrong will start to sound acceptable. Tonal problems will
    begin to fade from your focus. And over time, even the crappiest mix will start to sound
    like a masterpiece.

    Once this happens, it can be nearly impossible to make the right mixing decisions. And
    if your mix sounds thin, it can be impossible to know how to fix the problem.

    Sometimes the best thing you can do is take a few days off. This way, you can
    approach the mix with fresh ears down the road. Another option is to find a mastering
    engineer who can give you some objective feedback. Either way, don’t keep banging
    your head against the wall if things aren’t working. Know when to step away, or ask for
    help.

    Bonus Tip: Use The Mute Button Method


    The Mute Button Method can sometimes help you identify the
    tracks in your session that are causing thinness. To apply this
    technique, follow these steps:

    - With the mix playing, mute the first track in your session.

    - Listen to the mix. Did the thinness go away? If so, you’ve found the track that’s
    causing the problem.
    - If the thinness is still there, unmute the first track and mute the next track in your
    session.

    - Keep muting and unmuting tracks until the thinness disappears. Once it does, you’ll
    know that the last track you muted is the source of the problem.

    ​ atch this video​.


    To learn more about the Mute Button Method, w

    For more mixing tips, visit ​BehindTheSpeakers.com.​

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