I actually think finding the right reference has always been the most difficult & frustrating part in mixing. It’s not common for a mix to have such a clear and obvious reference as your example in the video. I mean, those two songs sound like they’re from the same band in the same era. After over a decadent producing and mixing (quite eclectic artists who use exotic instruments), I’m usually needing to use 3 or 4 references to get me kinda close to the ballpark and, to me, they’re still very unsatisfactory. Perhaps others don’t find this because their music is straight forward. That being said, this top down style technique you’re showing is a great method to begin mixes with. 👍🏾
Thanks, I've watched loads of different videos on this subject and can say, this is the first time I've understood how to use a reference track & match EQ in logic X the best way.
Yours is an interesting method. I'll have to try it. What I've been doing is mixing the individual tracks and then leaving the "mix bus" alone . . . usually. Sometimes I'll add light touches.
You don't actually need Step 4 for FL studio users as you can separate the Reference track from the Mix bus processing by selecting its own output and cutting its routing from the Mixbus/Master. Regardless, this actually opened my mind to use Mixbus EQ more often as I didn't pay much heed to top down mixing in general and just used mixbus Eq as a sort of fine tuning, rather than using it to create a great foundation for the mix. Great stuff!
Love the 80s sound of your original track! Just for fun, you should compare it to an Eddie Money track from the 80s. The style of your song sounds very much like that. I do wonder why you just didn’t use the match EQ function of pro q? That would save a step. I think it’s awesome to see what logic‘s plug-in shows you and then copy it to some degree into pro Q. But, why rebuild it in pro q when you could’ve done the matching in pro q and tweak the results? These are great tutorial videos and I support you in keeping making them!
It felt like on your track the guitar was slightly masking your vocal. Maybe if you cut little bit more lows from it and compressed your vocals tiny bit more it would sit in your mix a little bit more with clarity like the reference. That’s just my ears though. 😅
Hey Dylan. Thank you for such a clear tutorial. If you do this at the beginning of the mixing, how do you proceed from this on? What is the process? For example, as next you would go to, let’s say to the main vocals, do whatever is needed and then go back to the mixbus eq to readjust it? Then then next track/submix, readjust and so on... and at the end the pre mix bus eq becomes your final mix eq? Or would the process be different? Thank you.
so wait...after you do the Loudness metering on the Reference track to get it around -18, are you then going to your track and trying to get it around -18 as well?
How do you ensure consistency of level when making adjustments on individual tracks? Do you have a loudness meter on each track and then gainstage after each move? Also, do you use a WAV file as a reference is MP3 good enough?
Is that what Gullfoss essentially does for you automatically? Although with Gullfoss you can’t select your “reference”, and you just have to go with the EQ curve that Gullfoss uses under its hood.
"Gain staging" I think you're referring to something else. Is it possible you meant something like "gain matching"? Gain staging it is my understanding that has to do with connections of different circuits in series, and to make sure that each point of that signal is properly set to the best signal to noise ratio with minimal distortion in each stage of those different circuits (or plugins/buses/groups in a DAW).
"gain staging" is technically that, yes. But in the audio world, it's used as jargon for the process of making sure the input level of a channel or plugin is the same as the output channel or plugin.
Is it ok to balance volume and then apply some effects, sidechains and then came back to adjust the volume again? Because sometimes I feel like the effects can change the way I think volume balance should be done.
Are LUFS meters preferable to VU plugin meters for this kind of thing? I get confused, but I thought both measured relative loudness. Like would getting your reference to bounce around 0 vu, be roughly the same idea?
Sure, it sounds better right now, but If every decision you make from here on out gets that crazy EQ curve applied to it are you even sure what your individual track EQ is doing? It's like mixing in an untreated room on purpose. Is that a good decision?
I'm confused... Is this technique meant to be done before you begin mixing OR when you are done mixing and are ready to master? If done before mixing begins, wouldn't you need to then go apply EQ to the individual tracks?
You do it right after you balance volumes of all tracks and before you mix them individually. It's to set your average EQ you're going for based on your reference track. You put it on the MIX Bus from the start and then mix your entire mix into it, making all decisions on each individual track to further refine the mix. Starting with the general EQ just gets you closer from the start. As he said, there's still tons to do once it's set. You wouldn't want to do this after you already EQ'd individual tracks, because it would alter too much of the work you've done and likely wouldn't help much.
Yeah that's why this particular mixing strategy is known as 'Top Down Mixing', due to it's somewhat inherently counterintuitive methodology that involves starting the mixing process from the output/buss stages, all the way down to mixing each individual track! The inclusion of using a reference track to yield a very solid trajectory towards determining how the MixBuss is to be equalized definitely exhibits a more novel and holistic way of conquering a mix!
You can use it if you'd like! I like using match EQ as a loose guide, rather than a specific frequency curve. So I add the match EQ separate from my regular mix bus EQ, and then turn it off when I'm done.
I actually think finding the right reference has always been the most difficult & frustrating part in mixing.
It’s not common for a mix to have such a clear and obvious reference as your example in the video. I mean, those two songs sound like they’re from the same band in the same era.
After over a decadent producing and mixing (quite eclectic artists who use exotic instruments), I’m usually needing to use 3 or 4 references to get me kinda close to the ballpark and, to me, they’re still very unsatisfactory.
Perhaps others don’t find this because their music is straight forward.
That being said, this top down style technique you’re showing is a great method to begin mixes with. 👍🏾
Thanks, I've watched loads of different videos on this subject and can say, this is the first time I've understood how to use a reference track & match EQ in logic X the best way.
I use Metric AB for the referencing step.. got it on sale amazing plugin
Yours is an interesting method. I'll have to try it. What I've been doing is mixing the individual tracks and then leaving the "mix bus" alone . . . usually. Sometimes I'll add light touches.
My friend , I think that you've got the best RUclips channel that exists out there!
Thanks for your time and help.
Cheers.
This is really good! I usually don’t do much on my master but I will try it. 🤙🏽
I felt how he instinctively wanted to select gulfoss 😂😂😂 best Plugin ever
You don't actually need Step 4 for FL studio users as you can separate the Reference track from the Mix bus processing by selecting its own output and cutting its routing from the Mixbus/Master. Regardless, this actually opened my mind to use Mixbus EQ more often as I didn't pay much heed to top down mixing in general and just used mixbus Eq as a sort of fine tuning, rather than using it to create a great foundation for the mix. Great stuff!
So helpful, thanks a lot guys!
Great !
Covid is going to allow me the time to watch everyone of your videos and dramatically add a much needed dimension that I need. TY
Love the 80s sound of your original track! Just for fun, you should compare it to an Eddie Money track from the 80s. The style of your song sounds very much like that. I do wonder why you just didn’t use the match EQ function of pro q? That would save a step. I think it’s awesome to see what logic‘s plug-in shows you and then copy it to some degree into pro Q. But, why rebuild it in pro q when you could’ve done the matching in pro q and tweak the results? These are great tutorial videos and I support you in keeping making them!
thanks, it will improve my mixes.
Learned a ton from this thanks for doing it.
Nice one
sooo goood. ill apply it for sure
It felt like on your track the guitar was slightly masking your vocal. Maybe if you cut little bit more lows from it and compressed your vocals tiny bit more it would sit in your mix a little bit more with clarity like the reference. That’s just my ears though. 😅
Absolutely awesome!!!
To be fair, before I eq anything there always seems to be too much low mids, not enough bass or highs...
Great video. Thanks!
And another slam dunk video 🤘
Hey Dylan. Thank you for such a clear tutorial.
If you do this at the beginning of the mixing, how do you proceed from this on? What is the process?
For example, as next you would go to, let’s say to the main vocals, do whatever is needed and then go back to the mixbus eq to readjust it? Then then next track/submix, readjust and so on... and at the end the pre mix bus eq becomes your final mix eq?
Or would the process be different? Thank you.
GOD LOVES YOU ALL SO MUCH ALWAYS WITH ABUNDANT LOVES❤
NO HE DOESN'T
SURE HE DOES LOVES YOU MY BROTHER❤
so wait...after you do the Loudness metering on the Reference track to get it around -18, are you then going to your track and trying to get it around -18 as well?
That's it
How do you ensure consistency of level when making adjustments on individual tracks? Do you have a loudness meter on each track and then gainstage after each move? Also, do you use a WAV file as a reference is MP3 good enough?
A meter on the stereo output will give you reading for individual tracks if solo'd from there you can tone your mix to taste...
I have protools. Does anyone know what plug in can I get that can do match eq?
So after this I have to individually eq every track isn't it............. Is there any plugins in your tracks??
Is that what Gullfoss essentially does for you automatically? Although with Gullfoss you can’t select your “reference”, and you just have to go with the EQ curve that Gullfoss uses under its hood.
How do you get your colors 2 tone?
Can you activate Auto subtitle for this video?, thanks
a cheap FFQ3 or Logic Stock EQ on master buss...why not - doesn't always have to be the 399 dollar luxury boutique EQ IMO...
"Gain staging" I think you're referring to something else. Is it possible you meant something like "gain matching"? Gain staging it is my understanding that has to do with connections of different circuits in series, and to make sure that each point of that signal is properly set to the best signal to noise ratio with minimal distortion in each stage of those different circuits (or plugins/buses/groups in a DAW).
"gain staging" is technically that, yes. But in the audio world, it's used as jargon for the process of making sure the input level of a channel or plugin is the same as the output channel or plugin.
Is it ok to balance volume and then apply some effects, sidechains and then came back to adjust the volume again? Because sometimes I feel like the effects can change the way I think volume balance should be done.
Are LUFS meters preferable to VU plugin meters for this kind of thing? I get confused, but I thought both measured relative loudness. Like would getting your reference to bounce around 0 vu, be roughly the same idea?
Doing this at the end of your mixing process makes more sense, no?
Sure, it sounds better right now, but If every decision you make from here on out gets that crazy EQ curve applied to it are you even sure what your individual track EQ is doing? It's like mixing in an untreated room on purpose. Is that a good decision?
I've tried Match EQ twice, and the result sounds like Crap 🤣
O M G
Why I haven't heard of that technic before ????????? I feel like I lost 15 years of my life...
You'll be OK
@@GetSongsDone Thank you bro. Now let's Get Songs Done !
I'm confused... Is this technique meant to be done before you begin mixing OR when you are done mixing and are ready to master? If done before mixing begins, wouldn't you need to then go apply EQ to the individual tracks?
You do it right after you balance volumes of all tracks and before you mix them individually. It's to set your average EQ you're going for based on your reference track. You put it on the MIX Bus from the start and then mix your entire mix into it, making all decisions on each individual track to further refine the mix. Starting with the general EQ just gets you closer from the start. As he said, there's still tons to do once it's set. You wouldn't want to do this after you already EQ'd individual tracks, because it would alter too much of the work you've done and likely wouldn't help much.
@@toddmichaelbradt624 thanks! Makes sense
Yeah that's why this particular mixing strategy is known as 'Top Down Mixing', due to it's somewhat inherently counterintuitive methodology that involves starting the mixing process from the output/buss stages, all the way down to mixing each individual track! The inclusion of using a reference track to yield a very solid trajectory towards determining how the MixBuss is to be equalized definitely exhibits a more novel and holistic way of conquering a mix!
Dumb questions but... Any recommendations for where can I find reference tracks to download? :)
i would just rip them from youtube
You can record Spotify/Tidal etc. with Audacity (use loopback) to get better quality reference tracks. I usually use Tidal
It doesn't sound like the levels were matched for the before and after comparison
Man this guy is a snack. If I were into dudes I'd have him with a cool glass of skim milk.
why didn't you use pro Q's E Q match?
Definitely night and day...
Crazy, right?
Why is there a translation in this video?
Why you don't make the match iq only with the fabfilter?
You can use it if you'd like! I like using match EQ as a loose guide, rather than a specific frequency curve. So I add the match EQ separate from my regular mix bus EQ, and then turn it off when I'm done.
@@masteringcom thx
How do you drag professional tracks into Logic, though? I’ve never been able to do it. It rejects the tracks.
Where are you dragging it to? Just drag it into the arrange window area.
@@illestofdemall13 it doesn’t let me. I don’t get the green plus sign or anything.
@@cbrooks0905 What format is the song that you are trying to import?
@@illestofdemall13, couldn’t tell you. What are the different formats it could be? I’m just trying to pull songs from Apple Music into Logic.
@@cbrooks0905 .mp3, .wav, .aiff. Those professional tracks could be protected, though.
You made it louder ☹️