Mastering Mix Balance: Avoid the Loudness Trap

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Mastering Mix Balance: Avoid the Loudness Trap

Рет қаралды 10,173

Күн бұрын

In the world of live audio mixing and music production, finding the perfect balance can be a constant struggle. In this video I talk about concepts and mindsets for live audio mixing and how to avoid a common pitfall that can plague sound mixes.
What happens to the mix after the soundcheck?
Whether you're on the sound team at a church, a student learning the ropes of live production, a musician mixing their own band, or a seasoned audio tech that would like to step back and reassess things: Don't fall into the loudness trap!
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Пікірлер: 53

@AlanHamiltonAudio 11 ай бұрын

Another video standing in front of the camera... ugh... This time talking about a mixing mindset and something that should probably be obvious, but many times is not. I stuck to mix levels here, but the concept of subtractive mixing also applies to EQ cuts as well... making room for something else to set in the mix when they both live in the same general frequency range. 🎤Sweetwater Affiliate Links: Digital Mixers (Midas/Behringer/etc) on Sweetwater- sweetwater.sjv.io/g16Eng PA Systems on Sweetwater- sweetwater.sjv.io/q4mXZ5 "I earn from affiliate link purchases" Items purchased thru affiliate links come at no additional cost to viewers, but these purchases can earn the channel commissions. 🎚✨ Support via Patreon: www.patreon.com/AlanHamiltonAudio ~~~~~~~~ Channel Facebook Page: facebook.com/groups/livesoundproduction Other Channel Videos- A Soundcheck in Action: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oZinmtGBtq_Dmac.html 5 Tips for Mixing Live Vocals: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pbZkpseh0NGymI0.html Building an IEM Rig With the Behringer XR18 or Midas MR18: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rrppmrdzq97aip8.html Direct Boxes - What are they? How to use them? Direct Box 101: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bM-nipiQrsedhZc.html 3 Tips For Aspiring Live Audio Engineers: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qquIZbOj3MzMXZs.html Building a Concert - Production for Trace Adkins: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/o5iUfdVmzLibZ5s.html My 5 Most Used Adapters for Live Sound: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iayqg8tkur-ln3k.html Guitar Amp Micing Tips: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/faiErKmp3bSycnk.html Behringer XR18 Channel Walkthrough: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/rrajhrN8m7ivqok.html Drum Mixing Tutorial Playlist: kzfaq.info/sun/PLWtgwSNlxTjMsX8H1K87UcAP17zYSZqsT

@gregmcveigh9966 11 ай бұрын

It's good to see you. You're not Ken Porter! (I'm the guy that posted saying that your voice sounds like his)

@AlanHamiltonAudio 11 ай бұрын

@@gregmcveigh9966 LOL!

@rickdey5407 22 күн бұрын

When I got to listen to this video Alan I thought you were talking to me, specifically! Lol! Love how you put everything in perspective so the layman gets to what you’re explaining. I’ve fell into this trap more than once. Thanks for reminding me.

@AlanHamiltonAudio 22 күн бұрын

Thanks 👍

@rolandalston542 11 ай бұрын

I mixed a small outdoor show last night, where I fell into the trap... At sound check I followed the same path I always do, set each input level to -18db (one performer at a time to set their maximum volume. Set the faders at unity. Set the stage monitor level for each performer. Then did a soundcheck with the whole band to set the mix from the audience and adjust the mains and subs. Issue is that the guitar players, after the first song, start cranking their backline amps, overpowering the PA into the audience. I then try and boost the vocals to overcome them, soon I'm cranking the drums, keyboards and bass, just like in your example! Between sets I reset the amps to tolerable levels, but they went right back up after the second set started. If you are the sound tech and it's not your band, it's pretty hard to run up on stage and turn amps down - I had the f-bomb dropped on me more than once last night, LOL.

@nanderv 10 ай бұрын

I thought picking a fight with your sound guy was like the worst thing you could do as a band?

@TimmyP1955 11 ай бұрын

I certainly had this issue in my early days, as did many others.

@TheSunbandman 11 ай бұрын

Starts with the stage, I get the stage sound mix first, then monitors, then front of house. The amount t of times you start a show and the guitar player turns up followed by the the keys,drowns the vocals on stage and all hell breaks loose.

@JohnPaulRiger 11 ай бұрын

Absolutely 1000% spot on! Such a rookie mistake of techs and musicians alike. I guess this is why I prefer to conduct sound check from the weakest source first (which is usually the vocals) to the strongest. All other instruments must live up to that at best and preferably fill beneath. Proper EQ, FX and finding the threshold of the weakest instrument sets the standard for all other sources to follow. One of the bands I’m currently working with sound checks drums, then bass, then keys, guitars, percussion … vocals are checked during the first song of the show. It not only drives me insane but I still have no clue what 90% of the lyrics are and I’ve been playing with this band for three years. 🤣🤣🤣 I’m definitely sharing this with them. Hopefully it will make a difference coming from you! Thank you for all your awesome tips Alan!

@KENNETHCOOPER55 11 ай бұрын

It was great to put a face to the voice, great videos, ive learned a lot from you, keep them coming 😊

@AlanHamiltonAudio 11 ай бұрын

Thanks, will do!

@nicothebassdude 11 ай бұрын

I use this same concept when telling people how to mix their IEMs when they are new to it... pretty easy to clip out your headphone amp and/or drivers by getting into a war with yourself.

@AlanHamiltonAudio 11 ай бұрын

Definitely true. And speaking of monitors... Wedges... Gain Before Feedback is a lot of times in limited supply anyway. Especially on smaller stages. A lot of that GBF headroom can get thrown away pretty quickly by chasing volume and constantly rolling out "more" rather than seeing what can be dialed back instead. It doesn't take much and pretty soon there are feedback issues.

@ronicasride9518 10 ай бұрын

Oh man, guilty!! Im not a pro sound tech, but been helping out friends bands FOH (x32 rack via ipad), your channel has been a lifr saver no doubt, thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge!

@AlanHamiltonAudio 10 ай бұрын

Thanks! Glad the channel is helpful! :)

@karmaandkerosene_music 11 ай бұрын

Excellent advice. I finally learned this lesson mixing songs at home. Took me a while to realize why my mix bus ended up clipping after I'd been mixing for a couple hours.

@kojopinkrah154 13 күн бұрын

Very good advice.Thanks a lot

@AlanHamiltonAudio 12 күн бұрын

Thanks!

@LukeLBluegrass 11 ай бұрын

More great advice! Thanks Alan.

@AlanHamiltonAudio 11 ай бұрын

My pleasure!

@TommyC-nj2rt 11 ай бұрын

So helpful. Thx Alan.

@briant2979 5 ай бұрын

Thank you Alan!

@AlanHamiltonAudio 5 ай бұрын

Welcome!

@sound39532 11 ай бұрын

What happens is people being to fill up the room vs when it was empty.

@lanphanh 11 ай бұрын

Thanks, Alan to bring this one up! This is exactly problem I had last time. When the singers sang the excited songs that make me to raise up the volumes. Then when the next songs come, I couldn't manage to turn down the volumes back to previous situations that caused the feedback, and it embarrassed me and make me lost the control :(

@mickeymiguel2726 10 ай бұрын

Great lesson

@AlanHamiltonAudio 10 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@davebassP5 11 ай бұрын

‘Bring the keyboards up…’ did no engineer do……ever 😂

@AlanHamiltonAudio 11 ай бұрын

😀😅 Well, yeah, there is that... 😉

@jameswhite9300 11 ай бұрын

This is not what I expected you to look like, and it’s awesome lol. Love your videos Alan!

@AlanHamiltonAudio 11 ай бұрын

😁

@sbrave 11 ай бұрын

EXACTLY! and exactly why you don't bring the full band in when mixing their demo/album, or it will never stop! Next thing you know, a couple days later...oh hey we need to bring down this & that. Sure bring 1 or 2 ppl max, and we're back on the hourly rate, lol.

@jerryrichardson5545 11 ай бұрын

The other part of this is hearing fatigue. As the gig goes on, hearing attenuated so…. Turn it up. Trust the meters.

@AlanHamiltonAudio 11 ай бұрын

A very good point. The meters aren't going to lie to you, even if your ears sometimes might.

@ValiantTono 11 ай бұрын

I love your content Alan. Learned so much from you. Greetings from Costa Rica 🦀

@AlanHamiltonAudio 11 ай бұрын

Awesome! Thank you!

@proehm 11 ай бұрын

I went to Deer Creek (tells you how long ago) for a Jazz show that sounded terrible. Walked around to behind the FOH mixer,and realized "OMG, he's doing it on purpose." After intermission, different sound person, good mix...

@SSN706 11 ай бұрын

Make everything louder than everything else - Ian Gillan. Always enjoy your content, just now realized I'm not subscribed. Fixed that!!!

@AlanHamiltonAudio 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for the sub!

@MonteD1 11 ай бұрын

Work with frequencies not faders. Let each instrument live in it's proper space.

@AlanHamiltonAudio 11 ай бұрын

I plan a 2nd video on subtractive mixing and focusing on EQ. I already have some materials on the Patreon site that speaks to EQ. But EQ comes with its own pitfalls (improper EQ/over EQ...) and is more of a deeper dive. Meanwhile, faders are important too, and people who fall into the trap of making everything louder than everything else are generally more focused on their faders and always thinking "up"... and this video is about a mindset change and realizing 'up' is not the only option after soundcheck when the balance seems to fall away. Plus, the advice to not overthink the mix relates to all of this... not getting too caught up in thinking live mixing means constant channel-strip changes... nor that the overall mix isn't already OK versus some outlier moment in time that the tech might've heard... or not... and that has passed anyway. I need to emphasize not getting in the way of the natural dynamics of the music.

@MonteD1 11 ай бұрын

@@AlanHamiltonAudio I hope you understand I wasn't being critical of your video or approach to mixing. It was more of a comment to help others. I think that much of the problem you address in the video can be avoided at soundcheck by letting the instruments have their own space. It's also the tip I give to folks who either mix from the stage or have problems hearing themselves on stage. Your videos are great and it was in no way a criticism of your video. Thanks for the content and comment!

@AlanHamiltonAudio 11 ай бұрын

Yes... I was just agreeing with you that subtractive EQ is another part of the equation to have in the toolkit. :)

@DrnkTheWildAir 11 ай бұрын

Hi 👋🏼 Al. 🙃

@AlanHamiltonAudio 11 ай бұрын

Hey!

@huntercurry 11 ай бұрын

Hi Al!

@AlanHamiltonAudio 11 ай бұрын

Hey Hunter!

@Heywoodj1969 10 ай бұрын

I am probably the anti sound guy... i set and forget it... about 3 songs in, I’m doing effects on and off (for the most part), I definitely am not a fiddler...

@AlanHamiltonAudio 10 ай бұрын

There's something to be said for a less is more approach many times. People forget, in many ways, the band is mixing themselves (at least the good bands with lots of experience are) as far as their vocal blending, lead levels for keys and guitars in just the way they are playing onstage. They are listening to their monitors and blending via mic technique and playing technique. Even with their overall approach to the dynamics of the material. So once you have the relative instrument and vocal balance in place, and the EQ where it needs to be, some things naturally take care of themselves. You don't have to be fiddling around with things unless something really changes. Obviously, that's all on a case by case basis. Some bands not only change who might be the lead singer on a song by song basis, but even have multiple lead singers who might revolve in and out of the stage. Or have such a wide variety of music styles, that it's impossible to not need to address volume and balance when they go from one genre to the next. Of course if Thor is playing drums with ball bats on a 16x8 stage in a 30x30 room... all bets are off! ;)