Stupid Question

Me&MyOneManArmy · Post by **Me&MyOneManArmy** » 1/20/2005, 2:32 pm

This may prove I have no knowledge of the music industry, but when Jeremy Taggart discussed the album on the 89x interview, and he said they were in the mixing stage, what does that mean, are they polishing the record up? changing tracklisting?, and how long is this process usually take?

Flea21212 · Post by **Flea21212** » 1/20/2005, 2:43 pm

I could be wrong, but mixing usually entitles, adjust track volumes so that the guitars, vocals, and drums are at the perferred volume level, so that all the instruments are heard equally i.e. the guitars don't drown out the vocals. It also involves making sure each song flows into the next and arranging the songs on the album. For example if you think a song is a bit weak you might put it towards the end. I always like to make sure the first and last track of a CD are really good, that way once the CD ends, if it's on repeat, you wont want to pull it out and put something new in.

At this point you might also add in a couple of effects like reverb and delays.

I'm sure there's more too this, but thats all I can think of.

clumsychild_ · Post by **clumsychild_** » 1/20/2005, 3:08 pm

When I was young I thought mixing was choosing the track order on the cd.

I decided I wanted to do that for a living. :lol:

[/useless]

Joe Cooler · Post by **Joe Cooler** » 1/20/2005, 3:16 pm

I think Matt Good described it somewhat like this.

You record a record on a million dollar sound system and it sounds perfect the way it is because you can hear every high and low perfectly. However when you move it onto a pair of 30 dollar headphones it will sound like absolute crap. However through mixing the record can sound decent on just about any sound system out there.

I'm sure someone could find the quote i'm thinking of, but that was the basic idea.

Random Name · Post by **Random Name** » 1/20/2005, 3:51 pm

Mixing = editing so it sounds good.

Tattooed Angels · Post by **Tattooed Angels** » 1/20/2005, 4:58 pm

Random Name wrote:Mixing = editing so it sounds good.

you know some people willsay then why does the cd sound bad then.. :lol:

I have no clue what mixing means... I always thought it was they took the recorded tracks and fixed them up to sound decent on cd or whatever.. or if something didn;t sound right they re-record it..

Hope · Post by **Hope** » 1/20/2005, 10:19 pm

i thought mixing was like taking all the recorded parts (i.e. lead guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, vocals, bass, and other percussion) and then putting it together and find the best combination of sounds. they might find that some parts they recorded sounds out of place when put together in the song, etc. and then do the volume thing so nothing is drowned out by something else.

thirdhour · Post by **thirdhour** » 1/21/2005, 3:00 pm

I always thought producing was doing that.

I think mixing more technology based, not artistic, eh.

Hope · Post by **Hope** » 1/21/2005, 10:15 pm

I thought producers came up with the ideas for the parts. ie. a bit of echoes during verse, a triangle sound, acoustic parts, 2 voices (higher + lower) singing same words, etc.

Me&MyOneManArmy · Post by **Me&MyOneManArmy** » 1/21/2005, 10:58 pm

damn, after all this discussion it makes me realize how much work goes into these damn cd's..

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 1/21/2005, 11:09 pm

its not an easy process

bovine · Post by **bovine** » 1/27/2005, 9:33 am

Joe Cooler wrote:You record a record on a million dollar sound system and it sounds perfect the way it is because you can hear every high and low perfectly. However when you move it onto a pair of 30 dollar headphones it will sound like absolute crap. However through mixing the record can sound decent on just about any sound system out there.

The wall outlet that I use for my fairly high-quality stereo system went dead and I was forced to listen to my CDs from my computer speakers for a few days. Believe me, a well produced album does NOT sound good on any sound system. As soon as you turned it up over half way (which really isn't all that loud at all) it distorted REALLY badly. I'm glad I have my stereo back up and running!

:::troy:::

Dr. Hobo · Post by **Dr. Hobo** » 1/27/2005, 11:51 pm

in the sense that matt meant (which is what taylor was quoting) if one were to play the music at a (relatively) normal volume and compare the sound to the same thing played at the same volume level on a different machine, the sound should (in theory) remain the same (essentially)
obviously a shitty ass comp speaker isnt going to be able to compete
but theres more to it then just the speakers in your case
you have to take into account the amp involved (which in the case of comp speakers is nothing major) and THAT would make more of a difference then anything and that would be why you heard a diff and why it distorted

Random Name · Post by **Random Name** » 1/28/2005, 5:26 pm

Ever hear the term "remix"

...yeah.

That involves re-mixing a song, if you will.

That is if you ignore the people who record a different song, feature a rap artist, and use the title of the original song in the chorus and call it a remix.

Dr. Hobo · Post by **Dr. Hobo** » 1/28/2005, 6:26 pm

yeah i have
sprite did a killer one

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 1/28/2005, 7:33 pm

I mixed a bowl up punch once.

reza · Post by **reza** » 2/2/2005, 12:11 am

just adjusting an existing song, sometimes includes re-recording.

mix that in there with the definitions others gave