5 Minutes To A Better Mix II: Most Important Instrument - TheRecordingRevolution.com

Part 3 of 31 - When mixing, it's a good idea to start with the most important instrument in the song. The instrument that drives the arrangement. Then bring in the rest of the tracks.

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Category:

Music

Tags:

• mixing
• mix
• tutorial
• tips
• DAW
• pro tools

[TheSoleEscapist]

thank you for this tutorial but quick question. on your blog you talked about not using the solo button, how does this concept (specifically the part about bringing in other instruments one at a time) fit that idea?

[recordingrevolution]

@TheSoleEscapist Yep, the idea is that it's helpful to start with one instrument and then bring the rest in one at a time. As you do, don't solo the other instruments. Just mix them alongside the previous ones.

[romanowskistudios]

Graham, your tutorials are wonderful. You are a very creative and intuitive person and besides that you, my friend, are one heck of a talented individual. What are the names of your bandmates? Their backing could best be described by saying that they are much like a brightly shining sun that burns ever so radiantly after the pure force generated by your vocal line has blown past. Rich Romanowski of Romanowski Studios

[recordingrevolution]

@romanowskistudios The tracks in these videos are primarily clients, not my own band.

[mbaum93]

in your last video you suggested we should start mixing where the song is at its most complex part like the last chorus. So if a song is very piano heavy, but the most important part of the song is the last chorus, how would you jump on it? First mix the piano and then the last chorus, or first the last chorus and then adjust the piano?

thanks a lot for your great tipps. Helps a lot of people out here :)

[recordingrevolution]

@mbaum93 Go the last chorus (in this example) get a rough balance first (see my previous 5 minute tutorials), then focus on the piano and bring in the remaining instruments.

[Garpocalypse]

These are the best mixing videos on youtube. I've learned more in the last few weeks watching these videos than I learned in the last two years reading books. Those books were around 50 bucks a piece by the way! Looking forward to part III after this month is completed!

[siriusisastar]

Another great video. Brings to mind something one of my all time favourite producers/mixers once said (Daniel Lanois): "The most important event in any song is the voice. Get that sounding authentic, and bring everything in around it." Over 100 million albums later, I'd say those are words to live by.

[flipflopsrawesome1]

@TheSoleEscapist I think the solo button concept he was talking about was for EQ'ing. He was saying not to use the solo button when eq'ing. :-)

[McMoney69]

FUCK TAMBOURINES!

[Risenson]

Great advice.

[TheSoleEscapist]

@recordingrevolution Thank you very much. I appreciate you taking time to answer my question.

[MrRidisc]

one question here aswell... what if you're sampling?? and have multiple instruments in one channel?