Mixing Reference Material

danjokill

Basic question : What reference material do you listen to before a mix ?
Answer Format (Sytle / Album / Artist)

PaulBrewer

It usually relates to what's being mixed.

It's rare we get to work on something that is actually original so there's always some track or other that has much in common with what you're working on.

Also a Reference doesn't have to be a Template for your mix i.e. you might decide to have your drums or whatever louder/thrashier/reverbier than your ref - but at least you'll know that.

danjokill

PaulBrewer wrote: »

It usually relates to what's being mixed.

It's rare we get to work on something that is actually original so there's always some track or other that has much in common with what you're working on.

Also a Reference doesn't have to be a Template for your mix i.e. you might decide to have your drums or whatever louder/thrashier/reverbier than your ref - but at least you'll know that.

I agree ....... maybe i should have asked the question better .....
For example if i'm doing lets say a new metal type thing ...... i'll have let's say Rage against the machine on in the studio a while before i do the mix ... just because (A) To my hears this sounds well mixed. (B) i'll know in my own brain where things sit in a mix of this style of music. I dont try to copy the mix but i am in a better frame of mind.

I just take this as an example I dont really do metal but if I was this would be my material of choice ....

But agree 100% with what you have said above.

old gregg

spose I'd be in a minority here in that I only mix my own stuff but to answer the question in the preferred format:
Ambient/Substrata/Biosphere

It's the yardstick for me and I usually take a few tracks and listen through them before touching anything.

Then again, an album that I love the mix on and it's a million miles away from any style of music I'd be involved in is Lostprophets - Liberation Transmission which was produced by Bob Rock
.... then my kids have called me a middle aged emo kid

trackmixstudio

There was a big trend a few years ago of Blink182 copycat bands.
The drummers always wanted the "Travis Barker" sound.
Travis Barker is a KILLER drummer and it was hard to explain that most of the sound came from the way he hits rather than tuning or eq or processing.
Same as Niall I will always get a few cds off the band in advance to get an idea but, as always, if the band can't play as well as the reference band it is a struggle to get close to the reference.
Recently a lot of bands coming my way want a "Lamb of God" sound which is HEAVILY edited with the drums on perfect 16s and perfectly synced quad tracked guitars. This takes lots of time to get even if the band are great players and is impossible if they are not.
Some bands are a bit disappointed when their demo doesn't sound like their favourite album but it is very rarely the fault of the engineer.
Rather than reference material I will often listen to "anti reference" material when mixing. For example listen to a Bob Dylan track when mixing metal or to Daft Punk when doing an indie mix to clear my head and get a fresh perspective. Normally works better for me than listening to a similar style track.

studiorat

When I use reference CD's it's usually something I know sounds good and then to hear how the monitoring sounds how the bass sounds in the room an stuff like that. Trying to match a mix is usually pretty futile, I don't like to listen to CD's when I'm mixing either. I just start messing with faders until the song starts to work or it's time to go home!!!

For a good soundiing CD to reference to I usually use Alison Krauss oddly enough. Even if I'm working on a different musical style.

PaulBrewer

studiorat wrote: »

When I use reference CD's it's usually something I know sounds good and then to hear how the monitoring sounds how the bass sounds in the room an stuff like that. Trying to match a mix is usually pretty futile, I don't like to listen to CD's when I'm mixing either. I just start messing with faders until the song starts to work or it's time to go home!!!

For a good soundiing CD to reference to I usually use Alison Krauss oddly enough. Even if I'm working on a different musical style.

Alison is from another more musical planet ....

i57dwun4yb1pt8

i wouldent call travis barker a killer drummer - hes alright , but there is wayyy better out there .

danjokill

DaDumTish wrote: »

i wouldent call travis barker a killer drummer - hes alright , but there is wayyy better out there .

Agree!!!

danjokill

PaulBrewer wrote: »

Alison is from another more musical planet ....

Could not agree more .....

henessjon

studiorat wrote: »

When I use reference CD's it's usually something I know sounds good

For a good soundiing CD to reference to I usually use Alison Krauss oddly enough. Even if I'm working on a different musical style.

so u are a stalker

just joshing