Low End Mixing Tip by Serban Ghenea, Manny Marroquin

Summary

In this video, the discussion focuses on how to manage the powerful impact of 808s in music production, particularly when they distort vocals. The speaker emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balanced gain structure and avoiding interference between the 808 and vocals. Key strategies include clearing unnecessary low-end frequencies, adjusting EQ and compression, and ensuring clean space for the primary elements in the mix. The overall goal is to make space for prominent sounds while preventing conflicting low-end elements from overwhelming the track, ultimately achieving a cleaner, more balanced mix.

Takeaways

• 😀 Proper gain structure is crucial when working with 808s to avoid distortion in vocals.
• 😀 808s can take up a lot of space in the mix, potentially causing vocal distortion if not handled correctly.
• 😀 Rather than adding to the 808, it's better to focus on 'coloring' around it to maintain clarity.
• 😀 In mix situations where the vocal is competing with the 808, they won't coexist well without careful adjustment.
• 😀 It's important to clean up unnecessary low-end frequencies to make room for the focal elements in the mix.
• 😀 Some low-end frequencies, often subharmonics, may be unintentionally taking up space and need to be cleared out.
• 😀 The gain of the entire mix may be too high, causing distortion or conflict between elements.
• 😀 Sometimes low-end issues are caused by conflicting frequencies in other tracks, such as bass or synths.
• 😀 Clearing low-end content from tracks like snares (with DC) can help reduce unwanted pops or distortions.
• 😀 Understanding what's taking up space in a mix and identifying unnecessary elements is key to achieving clarity and balance.
• 😀 After addressing problematic frequencies, adjusting the overall gain structure will help improve the mix clarity.

Q & A

What is the primary issue when 808s distort the vocals in a mix?

The main issue is that the 808 occupies too much space in the low-end frequency range, which can interfere with the clarity of other elements like vocals. This causes distortion when the 808 and vocals are competing for the same frequency space.

How can you prevent the 808 from distorting the vocals?

One approach is to avoid messing with the 808 sound itself. Instead, focus on 'coloring around' the 808, ensuring that other elements in the mix do not compete with it. This often involves adjusting the gain structure and clearing unnecessary low-end frequencies from other tracks.

Why is gain structure important when working with 808s and vocals?

The gain structure is crucial because if the mix is too hot (too high in overall volume), it can cause distortion and muddiness, particularly when elements like the 808 and vocals are clashing. Properly adjusting the gain ensures there is enough space for each element to coexist cleanly.

What does 'coloring around the 808' mean in mixing?

'Coloring around the 808' means adjusting and shaping the sounds of other elements in the mix to complement the 808 rather than competing with it. This approach allows the 808 to maintain its prominence while ensuring the other elements still fit cohesively within the mix.

What role do low-end frequencies play in the mix, and how can they cause issues?

Low-end frequencies, particularly subharmonics, take up significant space in the mix and can lead to issues such as muddiness or distortion when they are present in unnecessary tracks. Cleaning up excess low-end from elements that don't need it can make room for more important sounds, like vocals or melodic instruments.

What is intermodulation distortion, and how does it affect the mix?

Intermodulation distortion occurs when low-frequency elements interfere with higher frequencies, causing them to sound muddy or distorted. Even if the low frequencies are not immediately noticeable, they can still affect the clarity of the upper frequencies in the mix.

What might be causing conflicting sounds in a mix involving 808s and vocals?

Conflicting sounds are often caused by unnecessary low-end frequencies present in tracks that don't need them, such as bass, synths, or even snare drums. These elements take up space in the frequency range, leading to distortion or lack of clarity in the mix.

How can you identify which tracks are causing problems with the 808 and vocals?

You can identify problematic tracks by carefully listening for low-end frequencies that may be interfering with the vocals or 808. Analyzing each track for unnecessary low-end content and using EQ or filtering to remove it can help clarify the mix.

Why is it important to clear up low-end frequencies on non-essential tracks?

Clearing low-end frequencies on non-essential tracks helps free up space for the elements that need to stand out, such as the vocals or the 808. This ensures that these important elements aren't competing for bandwidth, resulting in a cleaner and more balanced mix.

When might lowering the overall gain of a mix be necessary?

Lowering the overall gain of a mix may be necessary when the mix is too hot, leading to distortion or muddiness. Reducing the overall volume can help ensure that each element has enough space to sit properly in the mix without causing conflicts.