A Beginner's Guide to Mixing Metal at Home - Episode 1 pt.1 (Kick & Snare)

[M3G4G0TH]

screw cubase. try out

REAPER

upcoming DAW, its been awwesome for a few years now. and the pricing is... epic. and you get the whole package. ;) google it

[Jamesmsv]

@M3G4G0TH I actually use the free Reaper plugins for my bass tutorial, I think they're great for that. However they do have their own share of problems, the EQ isn't very transparent for example. But that's life, everything has its pros and cons. Cubase plugins used to be rubbish and they've come a long way in recent times.

[gunblade00]

@Jamesmsv dude I'm excited I just finally got enough to buy all the Waves plugins, I know it sounds like a lot for just mixing and mastering plugins but you should really look into them. lol They turned my amateur tracks into masterpieces. Should be putting out something new using them soon if you wanna see the difference.

[Jamesmsv]

@gunblade00 Check out my Episode 5 part 2, which covers using some of Waves plugins. They definitely are the best value for money for home recording. Make sure you record using 24bit 48khz though, I've found that makes even more difference when using quality plugins instead of free ones.

[gunblade00]

@Jamesmsv I'll definitely have to give that a try. Lol these plugins are fantastic but they're definitely a change from the stock plugins is was using before, so many more options now.

[slyppy82]

ok 2 questions, how do get all of the drum instruments to to break down into individual tracks? i saw where you said to hit F11 but it doesn't do anything. Im using steven slate drums and cubase 5 le. is this my problem? i usually have to manually copy my drum parts to different instrument tracks and load the individual instruments from my kit. it would make life a lot easier if i could just make my drums on 1 track and then break them down into separate tracks with the click of a button

[Jamesmsv]

@slyppy82 If you hit F11 in cubase this should bring up your current VST list. I don't use Steven slate so I'm not sure if it has the feature, but there should be a button next to the on/off and freeze buttons that you can hover the mouse over and it;s called "Activate all Outputs". If SSD allows this, you will then get 8-16 channels depending on how it's set up. I would have thought SSD has this as I've heard it's pretty good, although it does use Kontact player which I know can be tricky

[slyppy82]

@Jamesmsv yeah man, i i got written instructions from ssd on how to do it with cubase 5 and from what i can tell after trying several times, i cant do it with the LE version of cubase. i can do all of the procedures except the one for "Activate all outputs". dont know why, but i guess i don't plan on spending several hundred dollars for the full version of cubase just for that feature. Thanks for the input though.

[CongenitalMutation]

Hi james, I'm wondering is grouping the channels into one (like you did with the drums) the same as sending all the seperate drum tracks to a stero out. As I tend to have say 3/4 stereo outputs with drums on one, guitars on another, vocals and then any other instruments on another. Then "bounce" them all out as seperate mixes into another file with one stereo output for the final stereo mix...if that makes any sense?!? Is this unconventional?

[Jamesmsv]

@CongenitalMutation That is a bit unconventional but not really a problem, all you're doing is using Stereo Outputs as Group channels. It would only be a problem if you were exporting them all at the same time as you wouldn't know if you were clipping when they summed up unless they were all routed through one final Stereo Out. I don't think using stereo outs instead of groups restricts you in any way so no need to change unless you find you can't do certain things.

[MegaMixking]

hey james

thanks for the amazing videos. these will certainly go down in the annals of music production videos as as one of the great series of our time. like i said in a previous post, i have produced little metal but the concepts go far and beyond that. cheers mate.

[Jamesmsv]

@MegaMixking Thanks for the comment dude, it's really nice to know the time I'm spending on these is actually being put to some use! Had a mental time since xmas as I got a new pc and it seems windows 7 64-bit is a nightmare with pretty much everything as it turns out. Finally got it sorted so more videos on the way soon!

[MegaMixking]

@Jamesmsv - i have been having good luck with W7-64. the first time i rendered a 64 bit mix was a little like the first time I got a "gig" of memory. I cant wait to see your new videos. Today i am going to experiment with the multi-band eq combination on vocals.

thanks again.

[RSDsj]

im a total newbee

the question is that

i opened the drums vst

now how do i seperate them in diffrent parts where i can tweak them??

[Jamesmsv]

@RSDsj I assume you're using EZ Drummer, but this should work with most VSTs in Cubase - hit F11 to bring up your list of VSTi - to the left of the name of the VST you'll see 3 or four buttons. One is On/off, one is Freeze, and one is 'Activate all outputs' or something like that. Select that one and it'll create as many channel strips as EZ needs. You will also need to select this option in the EZ drummer mixer window.

[guitarlove100]

Real sorry for the extreme noob question here. But I tend to write my drum patterns using EZdrummers loops As in I use the loops and modify what the bass/snare are doing pattern wise. How do I seperate these from the loop so I can mix them one by one rather than having to mix the wole kit at once >.<. Great guide btw.

[Jamesmsv]

@guitarlove100 I don't use the loops so can't say for sure, but I would have thought you can drag/drop them into your DAW and then just copy/paste the kick + snare parts to a new miditrack for editing? If you mean how to separate each instrument into multi-track instead of stereo, in Cubase, hit F11 to bring up VST instruments, on the left near the on/off button for EZ will be an option to 'show all channels', this will split the signal into each instrument and you can then mix them on their own

[ridiska]

@Jamesmsv This is what I looking for :) Thanks man :)

[johnpagecontraband]

@guitarlove100 im not familiar wit this program but usually if its already a complete loop u cant extract the kick or the hi hats n replace em wit others...however if u wana get rid of the bass drum u can always turn the lower frequency down on the eq just 4the loop then add ur own kick pattern, obvisouly witout the eq cut.same goes 4 the snare sumtimes wit cutting mid frequencies and hats wit cuting higher frequencies

[WayneWiblin]

Use Adictive Drums you cant go wrong with that. It simply sounds amazing

[Jamesmsv]

@WayneWiblin I had considered Addictive as I was looking to upgrade from EZ drummer and take on the challenge of mixing a kit with full ambience and sample editing options - I've actually gone for Superior drummer in the end as I feel it has the most expensive range of options - as for sample quality, I think Addictive,Superior, and Steve Slate are considered to be equally the best. Is that Addictive used on your own stuff? Sounds good.

[IronSight1234]

cheers for the email, i'll definitely give it a go, any advise is better than none.

[IronSight1234]

its just that i'm on a college music course and we have access to near professional studios and equipment, and there are very few real drum mixing techniques on youtube...

[Jamesmsv]

@IronSight1234 I'll send you a pm with some basics that I've learned..... not enough for a tutorial video though.

[jabberwocky1969]

Now your the second guy that I've run into who recommeded EZ DRummer.

[Jamesmsv]

@jabberwocky1969 It's great for the price if you are happy to stick with only a few options. You'll definitely need the DFH plugin if you're dong metal, but that still works out about 1/3 the price of a more 'quality' program like Superior Drummer. If however you want to control every single element from mic position, envelope shaping, and bleed of each instrument then it probably won't do everything you want.

[IronSight1234]

@Jamesmsv is mixing software drums and instruments the same as recording using real instruments and average mics?

[Jamesmsv]

@IronSight1234 I've only been involved with recording real drums in a studio 3 or 4 times, and I can tell you it's a real nightmare from start to finish unless you have someone around who's got a lot of experience. Even if you get the setup correct, you've still got a nightmare on your hands if the drummer isn't very good as mic bleed makes beat correction quite difficult. EZ drummer is a passable substitute, something like Superior is even used by big studios so I guess is a very good sub.

[NikkElektrik]

Up to now, what I have been doing to mix some drums, is writing the drums in Guitar Pro 5 and then exporti a MIDI file, which I load on to Cubase and then activate EZdrummer over it, so it translates the midi it to the corresponding drums sound, since it seemed easier to me. Is there a fault in this method?

[Jamesmsv]

@NikkElektrik Not at all, I used to do a similar thing as I prefer whacking drum pads and then exprting the MIDI to cubase, same kind of thing. As long as it's not causing you any problems then nothing to worry about! There always seems to be 10 ways to do anything when it comes to DAW recording.

[LeonidFrog]

this is silly but in cubase drum editor, how do you get the notes looking all big, I just have tiny dots

[Jamesmsv]

@LeonidFrog You can set the view in one of the menus, I think it's the MIDI menu, you can choose to view MIDI as either Drum notes or one other option (I think Expression, I forget). I do a lot of sequencing for orchestration so usually just leave it set on that so I can decide note duration, To be honest you're better off with the drum notes for percussion as you rarely need to set note length. Of course, the other option is that you're just zoomed out too much!

[LYTHBAND]

Great videos...

[AceFire117]

Hey man, i've shared your videos on facebook (If ever you want to add me : James Chancé).

You already helped me with some minor problems but now i'm having some trouble giving some power to the kick without making it too loud. I got the sound that i like thanks to you but it's still not what i'm aiming for. And by the way i like adding some reverb on the snare but with the guitars playing, you can't hear the reverb. Any advice to help me out please ?

[Jamesmsv]

@AceFire117 That's interesting about the snare - I find the same thing. But don't worry, unless you want that 80s Phil Collins power snare sound, it's probably not a bad thing. Try mixing without reverb and you'll see how weak the snare sounds - it's one of those things you won't miss until it's not there. As for the kick, you could try doubling like with the snare, don't add much reverb but do EQ and compress a lot and mix the result with the other sound. that should help!

[Jamesmsv]

Oh, and as for Facebook , if you see below you're not the first to ask, I'm afraid I'm not on Facebook! But I really appreciate people sharing my stuff on there, it can only be a good thing for me! Cheers dude.

[AceFire117]

@Jamesmsv thanks for your answers man !

you'll be hearing from me quite a lot because the demo my band and I recorded was mixed and mastered by a sound engineer and it turned out to be crap or at least wasn't at all what we had in mind which i feared (at least the guy did it for free !). So we've decided to redo everything ourselves ! We will certainly learn a lot from this ;)

[mghecea]

In regards to FB...Smart man...I use FB as a tool on my music profile...The only reason why I'm there...It maximizes some reach and links can be added from youtube. I have not yet observed the 100 pcn. benefit of being on there...I prefer myspace as I'm sure most musicians would agree! Likewise youtube has been the better way to go for music vid, tutorials and practical use...keep em' coming!

[AceFire117]

@mghecea totally agree, but myspace's main problem is that you're just a drop in the ocean...

[mghecea]

Add me on facebook: Damnatul Azazel ( I have added the links to all your vids on my page) Hope to see you on there soon... ;)

[Jamesmsv]

@mghecea Sorry dude, I'm not on facebook! I know, it's a rarity these days, but I just don't have time in my life for it, what with the job, music, and youtube I've had enough of the PC by the end of the day!. I appreciate you linking to my stuff though, that'll really help other people find my page. Thank you.

[mghecea]

Absolutely, already did! Such valuable info there in that section! I wrote down by hand everysingle link! I also rewinded the video multiple times and listened to your your instructions! You're very methodical...love it! :) I dig your production style too...Wouldn't mind seeing how you mastered, etc. Hopefully you'll make a vid on that soon...Can't wait!

[AceFire117]

@mghecea i'm not the only one learning and working with his videos like i should do in school xD Would love a video about vocals aswell ! (Oh SHIT just saw there is one :O )

[mghecea]

I learn somethig new everyday! So true, especially in mixing! I particularly enjoyed that one piece where you were talking about the multiple guitar cabs! That was a new one for me...I have the waves GTR3.5 and I am anxious to use those free plugins you were talking about...There is always a gem somewhere that tweaks your sound a bit differently...What do you recommend for warming up the sound a bit? Tape saturation type plugins? How do you feel about Wave's doubler? Use it much ?

[Jamesmsv]

@mghecea Check out my Top 10 Free VSTS for guitars episode, sounds like that'll give you some pointers in the right direcfion! It's in a different playlist to the beginner's guide though, under one called Music Production. There is some amazing free stuff out there for guitarists, it's the one area where free stuff is as good as the commercial ones.

[mghecea]

Agreed...People don't like them because 1) They are expensive, 2) They require an ILock 3) The learning curve is steeper and does require some knowledge of frequency bands and how settings affect the spectrum of sound. What I always do is start with a preset and use my ears. Tweak things slightly and perhaps add more than one plugin into the bus and turn it on or off to hear other settings of the same or different plugin! Hundreds of producers worldwide would approve! lol

[mghecea]

An amazing book that you and subscribers should check out is: Mixing and Mastering with Waves! The stuff there is phenomenal and perhaps the only other thing one may need to know if you are a very serious mixer and wish to step up in addition to these valuable episodes Jamesmsv has put together! I honestly think its the best book out on recording with plugins and they give you the sample files too + waves presets! I highly recommend this material. Good mixing is tough, but waves makes it better!

[Jamesmsv]

@mghecea I whole-heartedly agree. In fact I will be covering some Waves plugins later on - when I have bought anything, it's been Waves. I know some people don't like them, but it's undeniable that they've innovated some of the best plugins for home users. Free VSTS will unfortunately always sound that little bit 'worse' than commercial ones unfortunately, although DAWs like Cubase have caught up a bit in recent years.

[mghecea]

I can send you the Q10 preset or image of the curve if you wish...I swear, if blended correctly, your drums will sound like arena sound! The other thing that must be done is to send each drum channel to a compression auxiliary bus, with a Waves API or SSL compressor on it! Then your drum tracks will shine beyond belief. I used to do drums wrong for a long time, till I learned that aux sends with parallel compression will make your drums destroy! So does additive/subtractive EQ busses! Try it!

[Jamesmsv]

@mghecea Ok, thanks, I will give that a go (I have the Q10 and an SSL compressor, I'll also be covering that later as well!) - it just goes to show that there's always another way to do things, always more to learn!

[mghecea]

James, hope this clears some doubt in your mind! Your drums will sound fuller, I used to think the same as you, till I learned what to do with it! Excerpt:

Room track adds ambience to the already existing drum tracks and creates a stereo drum sound. All the lows are knocked off the room track with a Q10 at 279 Hz. This removes alot of the mud and rumble coming from the kick and helps keep the kick in its own space without being washed out with the addition of bassy reverb from the room track...

[mghecea]

James, a few things worth mentioning are parallel compression and also compressing/EQing your so called drum room sound...The reason most VST drums sound so weak is because there is no room sound mixed in parallel to the other elements, most importantly snare and kick...There is a way, to create a fake room sound but if you don't have it, take your kick and snare, dub them both onto one track and compress at around a 4:1 compression ratio! You will get much better results! Hope this helps...

[Jamesmsv]

@mghecea EZ drummer does have a couple of 'room' tracks but I have had trouble fully integrating them into the final mix, it tends to add mud. I have a feeling that it is probably one of the downfalls of the 'cheaper' plugins like this, their room mics probably aren't as good as in something like DHF superior, which would do it much better! As for paralletl compression, isn't it unnecessary on the snare when I've already doubled it with an aux track with comp/eq/reverb? surely the same result?

[ibl33d]

hey ive seen a lot of people using parallel compression for the kick and snare together! it beefs it up even more :D

try it it sounds awesome

just the snare is good but doing it for the kick as well makes it great! thx for the nice tutorial!

[darkstonecastle]

Very informative! Thanks!

[mcufre]

very nice, thanks for the great work

[mwstakyle]

hey dude, thoroughly enjoyed these videos, informative, and also it's refreshing to see someone showing you how to get a good sound rather than what is essentially a sales pitch about how you can throw a bucket load of expensive plugins at something to get a somewhat decent sound, keep up the good work!

[Jamesmsv]

@mwstakyle Thanks for the feedback, it's it's nice to know I'm on the right track at least for some people!

[Metallsau]

very nice due, thank you very much

[iamhirro]

thank you very much! i've been searching high and low for drum mixing for metal! thank you so much!

- hirro from manila

[mikkwik]

Excellent tutorial, i've watched this one a few times and it really helped me out.

I was trying way too hard.

Props.

[Jamesmsv]

@mikkwik Nice one dude, thanks for the comment I appreciate it.

[KykvPL]

it's helpful and mixing metal guitars at home would be helpful as well ;] żywiec is a good beer, try also TYSKIE and LECH ;) enjoy!

[Jamesmsv]

@KykvPL I'm preparing that episode at the moment, it'll be up soon - keep an eye out!

[KykvPL]

nice channel! subscribed

[Jamesmsv]

@KykvPL dziękuję, I hope it's been of some help! (I'm afraid that's the extent of my Polish, other than the best word there is, Żywiec!