By Robert Honablue
1. You didn't book enough studio time.
Artists:
Today it is common to book a "lockout" of
a studio where you have one or a few days in which to accomplish everything.
Invariably the beginning of these sessions are relaxed, but when you realize
that the mixing or editing is going to take longer than you planned it can
make the end of the sessions very stressful. Make sure you consult with an
experienced engineer or producer for the amount of time you need to do your
project without rushing it.
Engineers:
Make sure your artists remember to plan for mixing. Often
this takes longer than the actual tracking. Also, make sure your clients plan
for doing multiple takes during tracking and that they allot time to listen
after each and every take. The recording equipment is never perfect and is
prone to failure. Don't be caught when your pants down because you neglected
to listen back to a take.
2. Lack of preparation
Artists:
Are your arrangements finished? Are your lyrics finished? Did you change your
strings and put on new drum heads? When you are in the studio you are on the
clock. Wouldn't you rather finish writing lyrics for free on your own time
rather than paying the studio?
Engineers:
Are you truly familiar with your client's musical style? They
are going to expect you to know what all their favorite bands sound like. Make
sure that you do.
3. You mixed too soon after your tracking session.
Artists:
Remember that tiny little mistake you obsessed over? Guess what, it probably
doesn't matter. Your producer's job is to keep track of the big picture. You
do have a producer don't you?
Engineers:
At the end of the tracking session your ears are tired. Everything
starts to sound good because you can't really hear it anymore. Was the session
long, or late at night? The next day your ears are still not rested. Mix next
week so you have a fresh perspective on the tracks.
4. You had the wrong input levels.
Artists and Engineers:
This is really the engineer's
responsibility, but we know a lot of you are out there recording yourselves.
This is very simple. Recording digital? Live in the green, touch the yellow,
stay out of the red. Just like traffic lights. Recording analog? Go into
the red always except on high frequency track like cymbals. -10 to 0 is a
good range for those. This is how you get that fat tape sound without bad
distortion.
5. You tried to make your mixes "loud."
Artists:
Remember that mixing is an intermediate
step. It is not about getting the finished product. It is about balancing
all the elements. Think of it like baking. Tracking is gathering the ingredients,
mixing is stirring the batter, and mastering is the actual baking.
Engineers:
Did you put a compressor or limiter on your master bus? Do
you really need that? We strongly recommend leaving this type of processing
to your mastering engineer. If you take all the dynamics out, they he/she will
have nowhere to go with it. Make sure your artists understand the differences
between mixing and mastering.
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