This is our first out of many yet to come posts on how to enhance your mixing technique when you feel that you didn't quite reach your final phase (ready for mastering) with the banger you are working at.
Either if you use modular, or just playing around with VSTs or sticking to just Ableton (or any other DAW) instruments there are a few things you should consider while preparing a track for the final mixdown.
Feel free to apply this in your chosen DAW, and don't forget to keep your ears in the game as number one point of reference.
Track Structure and automation:
Make sure that every time you quantize the sections you are joggling with. If there's a need to refer to music theory, don't forget that information is out there, ready to be discovered. In cases were patterns can be applied, don't forget to use them, even if at some point may sound boring. You can always go back and try to re-structure things to get that unique sound you are looking for
Refer to other music you're familiar with, and make sure you are getting your tracks analyzed waveform wise. It’s better to have a point of reference, when you try to get a similar sound, even if we are talking about a particular range of predominant frequency.
Organize and categorize your outstanding tracks, make sure that you make a volume hierarchy instruments/tracks, in order to get your desired presence.
Master Channel:
When you think that you are ready to send your mix for mastering, consider detaching anything that you used on your Master Channel. Also keep in mind volumes are critical for mastering engineers, wherefore you must ensure that you don't outstrip 0db with the main volume, and your signal doesn't exceed the same limit.
There are different opinions when it comes to what the sent volume should be, but in theory anything between -6 db and 0 should make a mix ready. Might be not reaching your edgy expectation as of now, but it will definitely allow the mastering engineer more ground to work with.
EQ-ing channels:
You can make use of any kind of EQ, as long as you don't forget to use your ear.
There are so many techniques that can be used to encompass how you can play around with different frequencies, therefore we would strongly suggest to document yourselves in how to use subtractive equalization.
The objective would be to avoid heighten frequencies, so that you can get louder, but to take remove (take away) unwanted frequencies, individually.
In this case we can use a classic EQ to first intercept unwanted sounds on tracks, then slowly cut or remove them one by one.
If you're looking for kick and bass, make sure you apply something like this:
If you're after boosting your mid-range material, try:
And sure, for percussion and some secondary leads:
Or
And the High end:
