Better mixing as a result of what I learned from Har-Bal
Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:45 pm
As a result of what I've learned from using Har-Bal, my mixes are looking more and more like my intended curve before using Har-Bal!
The significance of this is enormous! The less you need to alter the EQ of your final mix, the better. Obviously, right?
By using my ears and eyes with Har-Bal, I learned to spot problems in my mix and compositions BEFORE going into Har-Bal! Most recently, I started using a spectrograph on my master bus while composing. Now, when I'm adding an instrument or sound, I evaluate the spectrum to make sure it fits.
Basically, Har-Bal helped me to learn about the complex interactions of frequencies in a well-mixed song. Before Har-Bal I'd often have competing parts.. multiple instruments in the same frequency range. This caused a muddy sound. Now I'll literally look at the spectrum even before going into Har-Bal to get it close to what it should be. An example is in a recent track, the low end was a bit midrangy and there were two synth parts that were competing for space. So on my bass synth patch, I literally dialed through presets until i found one that moved into a lower frequency area that happened to be relatively empty. This made my song sound bigger, fuller, and majorly enhanced the clarity of both of the competing instruments.
Then, when I took the song into Har-Bal after mixdown, rather than needing MASSIVE changes, I just had to tweak it a bit to get it perfect.
Sure, the best producer in the world would be able to do this perfectly with only his ears... but Har-Bal trained me to SEE what my fixes will look like even before I mix down!
I'm not sure I explained this well... but let's just say that I believe the knowledge you get by using Har-Bal as a mastering tool carries with you into your compositional skills... particularly if you use a spectrograph on your master bus so you can SEE the effect of your sound choices as you mix, sculpt your sounds with EQ, and in selection of instrument sounds.
The significance of this is enormous! The less you need to alter the EQ of your final mix, the better. Obviously, right?
By using my ears and eyes with Har-Bal, I learned to spot problems in my mix and compositions BEFORE going into Har-Bal! Most recently, I started using a spectrograph on my master bus while composing. Now, when I'm adding an instrument or sound, I evaluate the spectrum to make sure it fits.
Basically, Har-Bal helped me to learn about the complex interactions of frequencies in a well-mixed song. Before Har-Bal I'd often have competing parts.. multiple instruments in the same frequency range. This caused a muddy sound. Now I'll literally look at the spectrum even before going into Har-Bal to get it close to what it should be. An example is in a recent track, the low end was a bit midrangy and there were two synth parts that were competing for space. So on my bass synth patch, I literally dialed through presets until i found one that moved into a lower frequency area that happened to be relatively empty. This made my song sound bigger, fuller, and majorly enhanced the clarity of both of the competing instruments.
Then, when I took the song into Har-Bal after mixdown, rather than needing MASSIVE changes, I just had to tweak it a bit to get it perfect.
Sure, the best producer in the world would be able to do this perfectly with only his ears... but Har-Bal trained me to SEE what my fixes will look like even before I mix down!
I'm not sure I explained this well... but let's just say that I believe the knowledge you get by using Har-Bal as a mastering tool carries with you into your compositional skills... particularly if you use a spectrograph on your master bus so you can SEE the effect of your sound choices as you mix, sculpt your sounds with EQ, and in selection of instrument sounds.