Drum Mixing Ideas

[dawman]

After a few days of trying EQ's and different FX I have decided to pick a device that gives me fast precise results.

Mixing in Scope is a new experience for me and I love it. Live mixes are different for me than the recording mixes I am striving for now.

I tried EQ's and found them to be good for tailoring a final stereo track which originally was 13 stereo tracks of Larry Seyers Acoustic Drums. But for individual channels I decided to use the HiFiBoom's BDX 01 S.

I started by using the on/off switch and getting his device to sound exactly like the original sample, then create a preset i.e., Kick Drum 01. This then allows me to change the Bandwidth, Low, Mid, and High frequencies. Then add the L,M and H Drive values, then the separate L,M, and H gain values. This has many, many more options of control and is more precise for me than trying to use Q values on a Parametric where when you decrease or increase the Q factor, it can change the sound that I have already set in another part of the curve.

I listen back to the other VDAT tracks ( I've learned how to do more than stereo !! ) and can adjust the individual faders, 13 stereo pairs, tweak the BDX 01 S on each channel, and then send them out BUS 1 where I have a mastering EQ. I have many EQ's but for an overall mastering of the frequencies I have come to really like Wolf's awesome 8 Channel Parametric EQ. More channels means less interferrence on the curve when I try to zero in w/ the Q factors.

I can listen to the other tracks and add the tweaks, while placing the pans, etc. everywhere I like them.

I am interested in hearing any other ideas from anyone who has similar ways of mixing, and would gladly accept any advice.

My friend here in LV said I should check out the ISON? I never heard of it, but supposedly it can use extremely radical curves, etc.

Maybe this is a better approach. 13 instances of BDX 01 S are used simultaneously and they are light on the DSP. I am happy doing it this way, and have some nice sounding kits now, that can be adjusted with each new recording. 13 instances of anything is impressive.

I am up for other suggestions.



Thanks In Advance.


JV

[Music Manic]

Hey Jimmy.

I've asked Mehdi to produce a mono mixer just for drums.
He said he'll show it after Messe.

[nightscope]

ISON?

ISON = http://www.deviceplug-ins.com/eq2.htm

I use this a lot. Hugely capable precision EQ, better than the UAD Cambridge I think for me. But then it runs thro sharc infested Scope.

I put my kits thro a spacey drums dedicated FB5 Fattie. Kick, snare, hats, individual perc, on mono tracks. Overhead, toms, room through the stereo channels, stereo perc if needed. Activate and tweak Fats to taste. EQ, compress(not a lot), transient design(snare usually), whatever tracks need it. I try to avoid EQ'ing or adjusting any FX soloed. Generally use filters to shave a bit of the room bottom off if there's too much kick bottom. Use stereo expanders to adjust the width of the stereo tracks if needed, narrow them usually. Plate on snare. 9ms-ish mono sometimes for short. Masterverb or Warp69 Room, tweaked, on rest except room. Sometimes room is enough on it's own. Sometimes I prefer the verb and leave the room out or very, very low.

I put a comp, Simon's SlimJim at the moment, on FAT Mixer out buss, to add cohesion to taste. Not a lot. I add the buss comp at start and mix into it rather than slapping it on as a last measure . FAT Drums Mixer goes into the FP6/10 kit channel. Get kit mix sorted & leave it. Adjust later if required.

But this is all for poppy and/or kuntry stuff where kick and snare are biggish. I occasionally duck the room with the snare. So horses for courses.

ns

[dawman]

It's nice to know we have Mehdi acting as our eyes and ears.

I couldn't think of a more competent observer for that.

If I were going to be there, I would get a nice Hotel Suite w/ 2 of those fine Fraulein St. Pauli Busty girls and have a kegger party w/ everyone from Soniccore.

Then have the girls pump the men for vital information. An excellent KGB / CIA kinda trick.

Brotha' Man Nightscope,

You must post a drum mix in the threads or send me a link. Another option is a small area I have now for sharing ideas. You can PM me for access.

I am so use to using VDAT and Wolf's 16 right now that I hadn't tried the new toys from Mehdi yet. This I will do.

The 16 stereo channels enabled me to loop my live tracks w/ the recorded ones, having 8 for tracks listening, and 8 for drum takes. I should try learning the MB4 II w/ the FB5 , and take advantage of those built in filters and FAT BASTARDS he put there for us !!??

I still would love to hear a drum mix from you using these SpaceF goodies and ISON. It looks like a great mastering EQ w/ a very radical approach. I doubt hardware EQ's could emulate it's possibilities.


Thank Guys.

[Music Manic]

Have you tried Wolf's Speqtrum EQ nightscope?

He says it can mimic any type of EQ.

How does it compare to ISON's.

Thanks

[nightscope]

Brotha' Man Nightscope,

You must post a drum mix in the threads or send me a link. Another option is a small area I have now for sharing ideas. You can PM me for access.

I am so use to using VDAT and Wolf's 16 right now that I hadn't tried the new toys from Mehdi yet. This I will do.

The 16 stereo channels enabled me to loop my live tracks w/ the recorded ones, having 8 for tracks listening, and 8 for drum takes. I should try learning the MB4 II w/ the FB5 , and take advantage of those built in filters and FAT BASTARDS he put there for us !!??

I still would love to hear a drum mix from you using these SpaceF goodies and ISON. It looks like a great mastering EQ w/ a very radical approach. I doubt hardware EQ's could emulate it's possibilities.

Jimmy,

I guess one advantage I see in using the FB5 Fattie is, well, the FATs, which I like a lot, on drums and the neatness of having a dedicated drum buss which I can adjust in the main track as one channel. Wolfie's alone may well be the ticket for you or a FB5 into a Wolfie or anywhichway. If it sounds good it is however we do it. Many ways to skin the possum. ISON is only the EQ I've come to use myself. I've wanted to use VDat for ages but never got stuck in to it for biggish things. I'd like to get it synced up to Reaper. Vdat sounds great on acoustic stuff.

When I get something shipshape I'll let you have a listen, all I do is hack around till I like what I hear. I'm out of fashion by a good few decades.

Have you tried Wolf's Speqtrum EQ nightscope?

He says it can mimic any type of EQ.

How does it compare to ISON's.

Thanks

I have not got Wolfie's SpectumEQ. It is excellent as are all his devices. It does a lot and has the Spectrum display built in which is good if you like that. I prefer to see as little info on a screen as possible. I demoed it but don't need both ISON and Spectrum EQ. You can try them both out as demos to see which you like. Wolf's is cheaper but not necessarily any better or worse IMHO. Just has different features to use and sound to my cloth ears.

ns

[voidar]

I am sure you know, but REAPER syncs to ASIO2 now. The other way around is not possible as always.

[FrancisHarmany]

maybe you can try putting shroomz HPLP in the first insert-slot of all channels ? I get dramatic results very quickly with all the low's I use... I have 4 seperate kick-drum channels because I want lots of variation there. Also its great to have differnt ACD's on the kickdrums.....

Because you can control at which step/count the ACD will start delaying you
can do cool stuff. you trigger the ACD live, then it takes a beat or two before the delay kicks in, then you wait a beat, then you switch it off again! tada..... instant
variation in your sequence..... and you dont have to program it.

I have 2 ACD's on each of the 8 FB5 mono channels


@Music Manic: aaah..... I also heard rumors about a 16 channel mono mixer

edit: ISON looks great!

[nightscope]

I am sure you know, but REAPER syncs to ASIO2 now. The other way around is not possible as always.

Hi voidar,

I did know that. But I haven't had a go at it yet. I know you route the VDat thro the ASIO2 Outs to reaper.

Is it the VDat or the VRC-S that I need to use as Master for Reaper? Which output on VRC-S? I have no idea what to do at the Reaper end of things?

Please help a dog learn new syncs.

ns

[dawman]

http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=16

This w/ VRC-S is what I ahve been playing w/ lately.

Just opened FP106B.

Damn, this thing is sweet.