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I'm mixing a project that has been recorded on and off for about a year and a half. The problem is everything has been done on systems and with mics of varying qualities. The band can't quite remember all the details but it seems I have guitars and drums recorded with ProTools 6.4 for PC and a Digi 001, using mostly sm57s on the drums & guitar cabs (single 57 on the snare). The drums were a 9 piece Ayote kit w/ new heads. For guitars: Les Pauls, Epiphones, SGs, a Telecaster, a hollow body electric, and a twelve string electric.

Then I have tracks recorded recently such as bass, overdubs, and vocals on a G5 and Digi002, a U-67 was used on both the main and backing vocals.

The difference in quality is apparent but I have been trying my best to get a balanced mix. Whenever I get a great mix in my monitors I will make a cd and and go listen on different speaker systems and it always sounds dead. I can still hear the EQing I've done but its way weaker than it should be. I'll go back and make what seem to be necessary EQ and FX adjustments and get the same or worse results.

The band isn't expecting a miracle just something balanced. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Mate you could write a book just replying to that question. Which part mixing would you like to start talking about first.

Firstly forget what the material has been recorded with, through or on because you not going to be able to change it that much. It's all in the past. I mean is good to know a little bit about how it was recorded, mic setup wise, where and all that but in the end it's not going to make a big difference to your mix.

It's what you do with the material that makes the difference.

Hears some tricks you can do you improve your mix.

Get a few types of monitors in your studio and switch between them while mixing. Make sure you can switch between mono and stereo. And don't have to many as you'll confuse yourself. This can help balancing greatly. Try it you'll see what I mean when you hear it.

Mind games.

Take all you plugins off, pull down all your faders.

Choose 4 or 5 components in the mix that you really like. Ie the things that you think are the strongest instruments or performances. They could be anything. Vocal, Bass, a kick drum a cowbell whatever.

Start with one of these instruments and build the others around them. If something doesn't feel right once you bring it up then take it out and bring something else in. Think of it as a huge jigsaw puzzle. A HUGE ONE

Do this quickly and do it without too much thought. Use you gut so too speak. Don't dwell on it too much.

Do 3 or 4 quick mixes starting with one of the four or five components that you've choosen. Each mix should start with something different.
Eg: Mix 1 Start with the vocal then add the Kick drums, then Bass then Cowbell. Then start blending in other instruments around them.

Mix 2 Start with Cowbell then Bass then Vocal then kick drum, blah blah blah blah!

Don't use any eq or compression or FX.

Just faders and panning.

Print them off and go have a listen to them in your car, home stereo or studio and choose the one that you like best. The one that feels the best it the best starting point.

2.

Don't start slamming eq and compression and adding FX YET!

This could sound a little cheesy. But start thinking of some images when you listen to the chosen mix. It could be what you think the bands film clip could look like. Maybe they are one stage at a out door festival. In a basketball hall. Under water. In space, Tripping out on drugs and seeing huge monsters eating babies. You name it!

What ever you imagine see that image between your speakers and mix the music to that.

Try it It's kinda handy when you have this picture. The image in you head will help dictate what kinda FX, eq and compression you use. Really!

Everything else is just practice.

Good luck

I agree with the previous post. Use your ears, don't try to be technical. You have to feel the mix and when it gels, you'll know!!!

QUOTE:
Whenever I get a great mix in my monitors I will make a cd and and go listen on different speaker systems and it always sounds dead. I can still hear the EQing I've done but its way weaker than it should be. I'll go back and make what seem to be necessary EQ and FX adjustments and get the same or worse results.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...acoustically treating a room can do WONDERS for your mixes. When you've listened to or mixed a song in a room that's been treated you'll never want to listen/mix anywhere else again.

+1 on the acoustic treatment.

People will spend all kinds of money on all sorts of audio toys, but never consider acoustic treatment, which can improve their sound/mixes more than anything else.

I'm in the same band as the original poster and the advise we got was very useful. We've gotten much better mixes up to this point. SWEET.