Subject:Acid 3.0 not great for mixing?

Posted by: evrclear79

Date:8/13/2002 1:16:15 PM

Ever notice that even with all recorded files at unity gain (about -6db if looked at in soundforge and 0db in Acid), the master fader is always above clipping? If you want unity gain from your master fader, you must turn all tracks down a lot, which means you get a low volume with almost the entire wave form being taken up by wave. Is this because i don't compress? I am using a lot of acid loops, which are the same way. Does everyone here compress? Does acid just mix badly? Please post if you have any insite to this, cause i'm thinking about getting another sequencer program if acid doesn't mix correctly.

Subject:RE: Acid 3.0 not great for mixing?

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:8/13/2002 4:10:26 PM

This is quite typical for ACID. Remember that all your tracks will be added together (at least at any particular point in your project, all tracks that have samples at that point will be added together). What i usually do is multiply the number of tracks by 1.5, then reduce all the track faders by this number of dB to start with. So if i have 8 tracks, i'll start with all the track faders at -12dB. Then i adjust the mix from that level.

Subject:RE: Acid 3.0 not great for mixing?

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:8/13/2002 9:47:42 PM

I definitely apply compression to my final mix via Sound Forge. (After applying compression to each track individually through same program.)

ACID is not alone as far as the mixing problem. It's really not ACID's fault. Trying to get a certain track to sit right in the mix is always an issue no matter what app we're talking about. I see it all the time in another forum with users of other apps asking about how to mix their project better "because it doesn't sound right, it's muddy, etc.".

You might want to check out these great tutorials at Computer Music. There are lots of great tips in there.

HTH,
Iacobus

Subject:RE: Acid 3.0 not great for mixing?

Reply by: xxFT13xx

Date:8/13/2002 10:13:42 PM

i think it actually comes down to what plugins you got...if say you have Waves DX plugins...everything should sound fabu. if you use the C4 on every track.

-Sin

Subject:RE: Acid 3.0 not great for mixing?

Reply by: SHTUNOT

Date:8/13/2002 10:28:32 PM

Stop "looking" and start "listening". All these numbers that your throwing around you don't seem too concerned what your song sounds like with all your tracks at unity gain? What is sounding so wrong? There is soooooooooooooooooooooooo much to cover in terms of getting a good mix that I just don't know where to begin.What plugins do you own? Though I can say that I've had some great success with acid pro but my mixing enviroment is mainly in Vegas. I've had too many pops and crackles using FX in acid that I don't seem to get in Vegas. Where are you running into trouble? Which sounds/instruments/frequencies can't you get to fit in a mix? What style of music?
The way I would mix "rock" would in no way be close to how I would mix "hop hop".

Try starting out with ALL your faders at 0.
Start at the bottom and work your way up.[frequency wise]
Give me a style your looking at mixing and lets see if we can get it sounding right.

Subject:RE: Acid 3.0 not great for mixing?

Reply by: spesimen

Date:8/15/2002 11:53:33 AM

The main issue here is getting the most out of the dynamic range for all your tracks.
I usually mix with my main elements (like a kick drum, prominent clap sounds, whatever) at or near unity, and set the rest of the elements relative to that.

Then, you can just put a good compressor or limiter plugin on the master and leave that fader at unity. THere seems to be plenty of headroom in the internal mixer to run a bunch of sounds together without turning 'em down, it's just important to make sure that final stage doesn't cross the 0 barrier. If it still is clipping, you can just select all tracks and turn them down a dB or two..