Mixing in DP

Kubi · Post by **Kubi** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 11:16 am

musicdragon wrote:
PS what is everyone using for burners & software? Toast? External CD burner or will the apple supadrive work just as good and just as compatible with players??????

I use Jam 6 & Toast 6 Lite (or even just OSX for simple stuff) with the Apple Superdrive. Works fine, no external burner needed.

Archer · Post by **Archer** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 6:11 am

Toast Titanium is recommended by some mastering engineers for file preparation.

mcevilley · Post by **mcevilley** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:16 pm

Compressors are a matter of taste. Totally. Everybody likes different stuff. Meters don't mean anything here. Follow your ears.

I was actually responding to the guy who said "but this is not a matter of taste, the UAD-1 quality is definitely higher"

Sometimes, what we think we hear and what we are actually hearing are two different things (like in the case of the above comment). A compressor, besides coloring the sound, is basically suppose to "compress" . I always use my ears to start out, and then, if I'm wondering why I can't seem to get, for example, the vocals to the right volume (they either sound too loud or too soft), I sometimes double check what I'm hearing, utilizing meters, to make sure my ears aren't playing tricks on me.

I'd say it's pretty important to have a compressor in your arsenal that will do an adequate job of "compressing." If we're talking about compressors for the sake of coloring, okay maybe. I've got a rack mount tube-tech compressor that colors the sound and actually does a great job of compressing. I've got limited experience using the real versons of LA2A's, Fairchilds etc. but I'd be willing to bet they work much better than the UAD versions.

So, if we're going to discuss how well a compressor compresses, I think using meters can be a helpful tool in analyzing the performance of a particular compressor based on the fact that sound is so subjective.

Timeline · Post by **Timeline** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:24 pm

mcevilley wrote:
I just got a UAD-1 Ultra Pack and compared it to the demo of the RenMaxx plugs. I am so glad I went for the UAD-1 because the Waves plugs aren't that good compared to the UAD-1 1176 and LA2A. Waves is too overpriced and the quality is average.
Hey, don't be fooled by the cool retro look of the UAD plugs. Try taking a vocal performance with a wide dynamic range and copying it onto two tracks. Put a waves ren compressor on one and either an LA2A or an 1176 on the other,and then watch your meters. The ren compressor will even it out nicely and actually make it sound bigger. The UAD's will not do a very good job evening the vocals out, and, the more you compress them, the smaller they will start to sound.

Do you mean the resaissance compressor:

http://www.waves.com/content.asp?id=123

mcevilley · Post by **mcevilley** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 6:20 pm

Do you mean the resaissance compressor:

Yeah, sorry, the renaissance compressor. I really do think it's great for nuts and bolts kind of stuff like pop vocals and even guitars and other intstruments.

I actually would love to hear some examples of cool stuff people have done with their UAD-1's because I do own it and would like to use it but don't have much luck with it (except for the Pultec Pro EQ which I kind of like).

Timeline · Post by **Timeline** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 7:30 pm

That musician bundle seems a good deal. Might have to go for it although I already have the vocal plugin.

I love the 1176's but the black original takes up allot of CPU. If you really smash them they sound great.

I also like the Pultecs. Eveything in it's place you know...

musicdragon · Post by **musicdragon** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 5:03 am

Very Cool, Thanx Kubi

Yes, I needed to know about the levels during mixing before the bounce to 2 track stereo... Nice to know that I don't have to run them too hot, so I have headroom for the master, yea!

Again thanx, that helped me out alot about the toast & superdrive dealio

I have a friend that is mixing on an analog desk & said that he runs the final mix to an external burner that has a volume on it & he gets a better burn????

That's why I was questioning it....

Also appreciate the tips on Vox/ timeline & mcevilley. I have tried to use the MW Comp in dp/ it's ok, and can't wait till I have both Waves & the UAD so I can A&B them

What Comp works best for drums???? Should I bus 1 comp to all the drums or would you suggest a comp for each track & adjust accordingly?
My Bass drum's sounds like mudd, lol....

My chain is as follows

Gate, MW Comp & MW EQ/ it sounds ok but still missing the ballzz it needs!

Donnie
www.musicdragon.com