Whether you have dreams of making it big in the music industry or love making music, you cannot downplay the importance of having perfect mixes from your home recording studio. After setting the right goals for your music and getting hold of the best home studio recording equipment, you should be able to put together great sounding recordings to work with. However, this is easier said than done for so many amateur music producers and directors out there. So, are you looking for creative ways to mix tracks and produce unique beats and sounds? Then check out the following tips.
1. Prepare before recording
One of the top secrets to having a great mix lies in proper preparation before recording. An excellent recording session will almost always produce great music. So, make sure that everything is adequately prepared before you start recording a single note. For example, if you are recording with a band, then make sure that they have rehearsed as many times as needed to be in top form. You can also ensure that you print your notes, mix ideas, and lyrics or have them on your laptops and smartphones. Set up your studio with the right amps, mics, etc. just the way to want them, and know the suitable machines to use. For example, know the difference between the best drum machine for live performance and studio recordings.
2. Use the best performances for your final mix
This point might sound obvious, but always use the best performances for the final mix. Many multitrack recording software will make options available to take several passes of the same musical instrument. You can create an alternate recording pass of the same song at different timeline points of your recording software. The big idea is that you can record the same guitar solo many times and select your final mixed track’s best performance. You can also create a solo from each take and stitch together your favorite parts.
3. Pay attention to the arrangement before mixing
With digital recording, it can be complicated to find out what you need if more or less in certain parts of the song you’re recording. You can do this by ensuring that you edit your arrangement in the software before you start getting down to your mix. Do not hesitate to try things like dropping the bass and allowing the drums and singers to roll. Take time to consider the arrangement before mixing. You may find that editing or muting tracks in certain areas will provide your song with the kind of impact you may be looking for.
4. Listen critically before adding effects
Before you add some effects or even touch the equalizer button, take enough to listen critically to your recording. Several recording software out there comes with effects processing and equalizers – often referred to as plugins. As cool as most of these plugins are, you might not even need them, especially after going through the tips mentioned in this article. Therefore, it is vital to listen carefully to your recording before yielding to the temptation to start using your plugins to edit. Also, some plugins add volume grains to your track, which will make your track louder.
