Best mixes

[pumadrum]

I have heard that the best mixes involve just throwing the faders up and adding some verb to the vocal.

If you use this technique... how do you get a high RMS? Thanks.

[A.David.MacKinnon]

The best mixes involve doing everything and anything to make the best mix. Sometimes that involves very little. Sometimes you have to throw everything you've got at it.

[mjau]

The best mixes involve doing everything and anything to make the best mix. Sometimes that involves very little. Sometimes you have to throw everything you've got at it.

Yup. And sometimes the best mixes don't have insane RMS, too.

[decocco]

I have heard that the best mixes involve just throwing the faders up and adding some verb to the vocal.

If you are mixing a really awesome, balanced, and dynamic band who were recorded mostly live by an equally awesome engineer, then yes, that will work. The resulting mixes will sound like they're straight out of 1970.

If you use this technique... how do you get a high RMS? Thanks.

You will not achieve a high RMS that maintains clarity without all kinds of juicy compression at multiple stages and fader rides. A high RMS mix is the opposite of the "throw up the faders" mix.

To pull off either approach requires a great deal of skill and experience from the engineers.

[tweeksound]

I have heard that the best mixes involve just throwing the faders up and adding some verb to the vocal.

If you use this technique... how do you get a high RMS? Thanks.

Before you throw the faders up, you throw EQ, compression, automation, etc... on the tracks.

Or like was mentioned already, you have the best possible musicians, room, mic choice, mic placement, preamps and converters.

Then, yes, maybe a little verb and you're there.

Bob Katz could tell you more. Check out the Chesky collection. One or two mics, some patience and careful positioning. Voila.

BTW, I'll bet a non-engineer, musician told you the above, am I right.
Those silly musicians :0)

[Ryan Silva]

You know, I noticed that as I have improved my front end, and mic placement technique, my mixes involve much less EQing, and subsequent processing. Therefore my mixes are becoming much more of an ?Raise the faders, and mix?.

Is that what you meant?

[MoreSpaceEcho]

I noticed that as I have improved my front end, and mic placement technique, my mixes involve much less EQing, and subsequent processing. Therefore my mixes are becoming much more of an ?Raise the faders, and mix?.

same here.

[pumadrum]

right.

i had a sneaking suspicion that loud masters come from loud mixes.

thanks for the replies.