[Dream] Help with Levels please ?!

[Mark]

On 7/6/07, willow wisp put forth:
>Hi !      Its Ms. George....
>
>I was hoping that I could get some advice on how to properly level a
>song.  I think I've got the content, timing, etc. where I want it but
>I am adrift when it comes to knowing when the elements are properly
>leveled in the mix.

If you are asking about how "loud" different sounds should be in
relationship to each other, then that is is not a matter of knowing
anything.  It's purely subjective.  It's entirely up to you and how
you want it to sound.

>I've tried to follow guidelines from the web (kick the loudest, around
>-6db for headroom..viewed it with Waves Analyzer, etc.) but the rest
>is down to my as-of-yet-not-that-experienced ear!

Looking at it in an analyzer isn't going to tell you much unless you
are trying to diagnose a specific problem -- the ear has much greater
resolution than the eye.

My advice in mixing any type of music, is to start out with the
master faders potted down because that's where they will be when you
are finished.  Having to bring the master down as you mix, and
potting it up occasionally to check things, is OK, but people who are
new to mixing often start with the master at full volume which is a
sure source of ear fatigue.

If you are using nearfields, it will have the effect of making reverb
sound louder.  Unless you are going for a special effect, try to set
reverb levels so that the reverb is most noticeable in its absence.

If possible, use groups/buses to create submixes.  This way you can
set arrangements of sounds where groups of instruments and their
effects have their levels and panning adjusted in relationship to
each other.  For example, you can group all the synth lines, all the
high line, all the percussion, etc. together as separate submixes
such that their levels are each controlled by one pair of faders.
Doing this can also be a more effective or efficient way to use EQ or
compression.  Some people call this "stem mixing".  That way your
final mix is a matter of tweaking a small handful of levels rather
than trying to consider every individual element all at once.

If you are making psy-trance these days, starting with the kick,
making it as loud as possible, then adding the bass, and doing the
same, is probably good advice as you won't be able to bring them up
later without clipping.  Although if you listen to early psy-trance,
such as the Pleiadians or something, you'll notice that wasn't always
the case.

>Here is the song in question, a critique and opinion of the mix of
>course would rock, but even more authoritative references on how to
>develop an ear for mixing would be welcome...

I would listen to it, but like most people, I don't have a player
that supports FLAC.