LMMS • Forums

Posted: **Sun Sep 03, 2017 6:54 pm**

So this is the mostly finished product of my song, but I still need to master it, and this is where I need it to shine.

I need a full list of everything doing, and everything I can do to master it, what effects I should add per instrument, what I can do on the main fx mixer, everything. This may be a big ask, but if I'm going to release it on bandcamp for money it needs to be perfect.

Thanks.

Link: https://clyp.it/dggcelvp

Posted: **Mon Sep 04, 2017 4:54 am**

Hello!

The track has grown!

(I wonder if you confuse the notions of mixing and mastering (?))

One thing that caught my attention was the panning of the drums. Nothing prevents you from putting your kick on the left and your snare on the right. But it is better to keep the low frequencies centered (from infrasound to about 250 Hz according to some opinions). The panning of the kick and the snare, from time to time, to give an effect of style, why not. But generally, kick and snare are centered (by cons, the toms are often off-center).

If in your master channel, the signal reaches the top of the red zone, you can start with:
1) assign each instrument to a mixer channel,
2) decrease the fader of each channel (eg set all channels to 60%).

You asked me how to make the drums remain audible, so that they are not masked by other instruments. You can already try several things, for example:
- center kick and snare
- reduce the stereo of the kick and snare (if they are stereo) with the C * Narrower (eg strength> 0.9)
- equalize (with EQ) and / or filter (highpass) instruments that contain low frequencies
- and continue the study of the art of mixing!

Here is a good reference regarding the mix:
http://en.audiofanzine.com/recording-mi ... artie.html

The main part of the mixing is presented in several parts (the link refers to part 1 with generalities, the following parts gradually enter into details).

If it can help.

Posted: **Mon Sep 04, 2017 9:21 am**

First - learn the difference between mix and mastering. Mix is the most important thing, not mastering. First You're composing, then You're mixing and finally You're mastering. And You need work on the mix I think. If You're doing master - You're working only on whole track (master channel), not with instruments. But then maybe it will help you:
https://lmms.io/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=26150

Posted: **Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:03 pm**

slackatraz wrote: ↑
Mon Sep 04, 2017 9:21 am
First - learn the difference between mix and mastering. Mix is the most important thing, not mastering. First You're composing, then You're mixing and finally You're mastering. And You need work on the mix I think. If You're doing master - You're working only on whole track (master channel), not with instruments. But then maybe it will help you:
https://lmms.io/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=26150

I know the difference, I meant both.

I'll look at that link more indepth later though, it looks like it will be a good help. Thanks.
But still; any help with mastering? I'd rather get help here than make a whole new post about it.

Posted: **Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:09 pm**

D.Ipsum wrote: ↑
Mon Sep 04, 2017 4:54 am
Hello!

The track has grown!

(I wonder if you confuse the notions of mixing and mastering (?))

One thing that caught my attention was the panning of the drums. Nothing prevents you from putting your kick on the left and your snare on the right. But it is better to keep the low frequencies centered (from infrasound to about 250 Hz according to some opinions). The panning of the kick and the snare, from time to time, to give an effect of style, why not. But generally, kick and snare are centered (by cons, the toms are often off-center).

If in your master channel, the signal reaches the top of the red zone, you can start with:
1) assign each instrument to a mixer channel,
2) decrease the fader of each channel (eg set all channels to 60%).

You asked me how to make the drums remain audible, so that they are not masked by other instruments. You can already try several things, for example:
- center kick and snare
- reduce the stereo of the kick and snare (if they are stereo) with the C * Narrower (eg strength> 0.9)
- equalize (with EQ) and / or filter (highpass) instruments that contain low frequencies
- and continue the study of the art of mixing!

Here is a good reference regarding the mix:
http://en.audiofanzine.com/recording-mi ... artie.html

The main part of the mixing is presented in several parts (the link refers to part 1 with generalities, the following parts gradually enter into details).

If it can help.

Thanks!

One pretty stupid question; is there any effect that lets you check the frequencies of an instrument?

Posted: **Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:19 pm**

Right, this damn master channel is starting to annoy me. It seems like it's way too sensitive, I've turned down everything and used the spectrum analyser and they're all up to a max -15db, but when everything plays together the master channel goes up to red a lot, not as much, but a lot. I don't want to make it too quiet because who wants their volume always at 100% to listen to one song?

This is what I have setup for volume:
http://imgur.com/a/UGY2f

Posted: **Mon Sep 04, 2017 8:04 pm**

noba wrote: ↑
Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:09 pm
One pretty stupid question; is there any effect that lets you check the frequencies of an instrument?

Yes a graphical spectrum-analyser -like SPAN, but there are several. In lmms you can get a rough idea with spectrum-analyser, but 1.2 will have great default tools for this.

Posted: **Tue Sep 05, 2017 10:35 pm**

noba wrote: ↑
Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:09 pm
One pretty stupid question; is there any effect that lets you check the frequencies of an instrument?

Two tools that I use to visualize my tracks:

- Goniometer and Spectrogram:
http://bedroomproducersblog.com/2014/05 ... l-easyssp/

- Oscilloscope:
http://bram.smartelectronix.com/plugins.php?id=4

The goniometer allows you to focus on pan and stereo width questions.

The spectrograph allows you to see what you are doing with EQ, filters, and everything that affects the frequency spectrum of your synths, and your track.

Among other things, the oscilloscope allows you to parameterize your compressors, limiters, and anything that affects dynamics.

Posted: **Tue Sep 05, 2017 10:40 pm**

noba wrote: ↑
Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:19 pm
Right, this damn master channel is starting to annoy me. It seems like it's way too sensitive, I've turned down everything and used the spectrum analyser and they're all up to a max -15db, but when everything plays together the master channel goes up to red a lot, not as much, but a lot. I don't want to make it too quiet because who wants their volume always at 100% to listen to one song?

This is what I have setup for volume:
http://imgur.com/a/UGY2f

Do all your synths have a channel in the mixer?

Do you know which instrument or group of instruments has the most amplitude?

A general solution: compression, to be applied to an instrument, to a group of instruments, and / or to all instruments.

LMMS • Forums

Need help with mastering!

Need help with mastering!

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