Great tips! It's always hard to get the levels right. I recently learned mixing with pink noise. That's also a great way to get your balance right and is actually faster. I now have a balanced complete mix (volume wise) in about 5 minutes. It still needs other work, but balancing is very easy like that.
I'm jealous! To be honest, I've tried it a couple of times and haven't liked the end result. Maybe I've been doing it wrong. Do you have any tips or insight into how you apply this technique? What I've done is follow the standard advice, for example what can be read here: www.soundonsound.com/techniques/mixing-pink-noise-reference
This is really helpful. I've just been using my peak meters in my DAW to approximate this, but this is much more precise, and probably more accurate. This is sort of how I begin a mix, too: balance kick and snare, add cyms, add bass, add comps and pads, add perc, then add leads and solos, then accents. Usually in that order. So I now have these instructions written directly into the notepad area in Logic Pro, and that will be there for every template, and I will use this every time. Thanks so much.
Really enjoy your content, keep it up ! I only use a VU meter to gain stage my instruments or anything that I will be processing. I usually send all signals into my vst effects at -18 or 0db on the meter. If i'm using a sample, say a kick, it's usually already processed so I can just set the peak to -9 or -6. Every effect I use, rev, delay, comp I always make sure they are -18 going in to the plugin, before and after going into the next effect, only then do I touch the faders to do a static mix
I learned something similar from a process by Jacquire King a while back. Recording Revolution posted a video on it some years ago. Really useful to get your mix level foundation setup right from the beginning. Makes the overall mixing process just so much easier.
That’s right! This can help you get your ears accustomed to a good starting balance of those sounds. Possibly as you gain more experience you won’t need it anymore. But it’s certainly a useful tool
Loved this advice. Will try asap. But I have a question. Isn’t it possible to set your level based on LUF of each element ? Let’s say kick at -20lufs, bass ate -18 lufs and so on ?
@@jefffoucha5883 yes Jeff. I'm slowly but surely getting there! Let me know of any other ideas for tutorials you may have. I appreciate the feedback very much.
Synthwave start to finish is def lacking on YT… although I use Ableton Live… I’ll have to keep looking. But yeah start to finish tutorials are what I’d like to see more of.
Start to finish tutorials are coming soon. What I show applies to any DAW, not specific to mine (Studio One). In any case, stick around cause some good stuff is coming soon
Whats the reasoning behind the VU meter presets? Care to elaborate if you know the science behind it? I usually level my kick to peak at -6 at then adjust everything else by ear.
great question, thanks for asking! Peak -6dB for the kick is an excellent starting point as you already use it. The idea is then to find a scientific and repeatable method to calibrate the kick, snare and bass to the same perceived loudness, if you so desire. The bass is a sustaining sound, and sounds that sustain are better represented with a VU meter since they measure average levels and not peak. If you try to calibrate your kick and bass with a peak meter, you'll hear that matching values doesn't translate to the same perceived loudness. The same story happens with the kick and snare, try to calibrate both with a peak and VU meters and you'll see again that matching values doesn't translate to similar loudness. Enter the LUFS Momentary Loudness meter. Since LUFS meters measure loudness, and Momentary Loudness captures 400ms of a sound, it can represent the loudness of a kick and snare quite accurately. So using three types of meters can get the job done in a scientific manner. Of course if you calibrate by ear after setting your kick at -6dB peak and like your results, then this process wouldn't be of much use to you. But at least you now have this option. Thanks for watching!
@@SynthwaveDojo Thanks alot for the swift reply. I'll try it out in one of my projects to see how far off i am by leveling by ear. Good thing you've going here! I like it.
@@ThomasHeien You're welcome! Consider that setting the kick, snare and bass to the same level is a starting point. From there you can raise your snare or your bass to get the micro balance you're going for. Good luck and do let me know how it goes on your next project!
Great question. If you calibrate, then apply EQ (cutting, boosting or both) as long as you adjust the output of the EQ so the signal stays at the same level going into the EQ, then you don't need to recalibrate. If you know you will EQ and compress, you could add those first and then calibrate afterwards. Hope this helps!
This method is for setting the levels of your kick, snare and bass in a way that sounds good, scientifically. It's meant to be used as a starting point, especially if you sometimes find it hard to balance those elements correctly in your mix. Makes sense?
Great tips! It's always hard to get the levels right.
I recently learned mixing with pink noise. That's also a great way to get your balance right and is actually faster. I now have a balanced complete mix (volume wise) in about 5 minutes. It still needs other work, but balancing is very easy like that.
I'm jealous! To be honest, I've tried it a couple of times and haven't liked the end result. Maybe I've been doing it wrong. Do you have any tips or insight into how you apply this technique? What I've done is follow the standard advice, for example what can be read here: www.soundonsound.com/techniques/mixing-pink-noise-reference
This is really helpful. I've just been using my peak meters in my DAW to approximate this, but this is much more precise, and probably more accurate.
This is sort of how I begin a mix, too: balance kick and snare, add cyms, add bass, add comps and pads, add perc, then add leads and solos, then accents. Usually in that order.
So I now have these instructions written directly into the notepad area in Logic Pro, and that will be there for every template, and I will use this every time.
Thanks so much.
Starting a mix with with kick, snare and quickly the bass is a very good strategy. Glad you liked the video and found it helpful. Thanks for watching!
ITS WORKING! nice job dude
Glad I could help!
Really enjoy your content, keep it up ! I only use a VU meter to gain stage my instruments or anything that I will be processing. I usually send all signals into my vst effects at -18 or 0db on the meter. If i'm using a sample, say a kick, it's usually already processed so I can just set the peak to -9 or -6. Every effect I use, rev, delay, comp I always make sure they are -18 going in to the plugin, before and after going into the next effect, only then do I touch the faders to do a static mix
That's a great way to do it!
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I learned something similar from a process by Jacquire King a while back. Recording Revolution posted a video on it some years ago. Really useful to get your mix level foundation setup right from the beginning. Makes the overall mixing process just so much easier.
That’s right! This can help you get your ears accustomed to a good starting balance of those sounds. Possibly as you gain more experience you won’t need it anymore. But it’s certainly a useful tool
This is what all of us need, keep up the good work my friend! :)
Thanks!
Very useful tips and PDF guide, great content on this channel. Thank you very much!
I'm happy to help out. If you ever have any questions, I'm here for you!
@@SynthwaveDojo Thanks again!
Super useful video, keep up the great work man!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching
love your videos!!
I'm so glad!
Loved this advice. Will try asap. But I have a question. Isn’t it possible to set your level based on LUF of each element ? Let’s say kick at -20lufs, bass ate -18 lufs and so on ?
using loudness (LUFS) at least in my opinion is more for mastering than mixing. But do try it out and let me know how it goes!
Looking forward to questions or comments!
Do you have any plans to go over sythwave chord progressions, arps, and leads to extend the Sythwave basic's series?
@@jefffoucha5883 yes Jeff. I'm slowly but surely getting there! Let me know of any other ideas for tutorials you may have. I appreciate the feedback very much.
where to download pdf file???
Get the Calibration Guide by signing up for a FREE account at Synthwave Dojo: synthwavedojo.com/?ref=yt&refcntID=6. Then head over to the Dojo area.
Hey, thanks for the guide! Would you recommend doing this with a compressor already on the drumbus or not?
No, first set your levels without a compressor and then engage it. 😊
@@SynthwaveDojo tx!
Synthwave start to finish is def lacking on YT… although I use Ableton Live… I’ll have to keep looking. But yeah start to finish tutorials are what I’d like to see more of.
Start to finish tutorials are coming soon. What I show applies to any DAW, not specific to mine (Studio One). In any case, stick around cause some good stuff is coming soon
@@SynthwaveDojo how long?
@@hertz_me I will make one video about it in the next 2 weeks. Then continue onwards from there
Whats the reasoning behind the VU meter presets? Care to elaborate if you know the science behind it? I usually level my kick to peak at -6 at then adjust everything else by ear.
great question, thanks for asking! Peak -6dB for the kick is an excellent starting point as you already use it. The idea is then to find a scientific and repeatable method to calibrate the kick, snare and bass to the same perceived loudness, if you so desire. The bass is a sustaining sound, and sounds that sustain are better represented with a VU meter since they measure average levels and not peak. If you try to calibrate your kick and bass with a peak meter, you'll hear that matching values doesn't translate to the same perceived loudness. The same story happens with the kick and snare, try to calibrate both with a peak and VU meters and you'll see again that matching values doesn't translate to similar loudness. Enter the LUFS Momentary Loudness meter. Since LUFS meters measure loudness, and Momentary Loudness captures 400ms of a sound, it can represent the loudness of a kick and snare quite accurately. So using three types of meters can get the job done in a scientific manner. Of course if you calibrate by ear after setting your kick at -6dB peak and like your results, then this process wouldn't be of much use to you. But at least you now have this option. Thanks for watching!
@@SynthwaveDojo Thanks alot for the swift reply. I'll try it out in one of my projects to see how far off i am by leveling by ear. Good thing you've going here! I like it.
@@ThomasHeien You're welcome! Consider that setting the kick, snare and bass to the same level is a starting point. From there you can raise your snare or your bass to get the micro balance you're going for. Good luck and do let me know how it goes on your next project!
if im using a sidechain on the bass do i need to have that active while calibrating the bass?
It’s easier if you have it disabled. Deactivate the side chain, then calibrate, then activate it.
@@SynthwaveDojo what about EQ on the kick? should i be calibrating with no eq or after i add eq?
Great question. If you calibrate, then apply EQ (cutting, boosting or both) as long as you adjust the output of the EQ so the signal stays at the same level going into the EQ, then you don't need to recalibrate. If you know you will EQ and compress, you could add those first and then calibrate afterwards. Hope this helps!
It works with electronic music. Not acoustic music.
Thanks!
Im pretty confused as to whats going on here
This method is for setting the levels of your kick, snare and bass in a way that sounds good, scientifically. It's meant to be used as a starting point, especially if you sometimes find it hard to balance those elements correctly in your mix. Makes sense?