Short Story Shorter:
Subtractive EQualization
My Most Important Technique in Sound Design and Mixing
Short Story Longer:
Find The Sound that you absolutely hate, then scoop it into as far negative Decibel Levels as you can without ruining the Note(s) of The Track/Clip/Sample.
Repeat.
That’s it.
You’ve saved years of wondering How Mixes Sound So Clear.
Compression & Limiting
The Most Versatile Combination in Volume Control
0.) Somewhat Technical Examples: At a 2:1 Ratio, every 2dB above the Threshold, dB only goes up 1dB above the Threshold. 10:1 Ratio, every 10dB above the Threshold, it will allow 1dB above the Threshold.
1.) With your In-House DAW Compressor Plugin, start with using and learning how 2:1 Ratio responds and reacts to Transients & Dynamics in Volume & Decibel Levels, and don’t try to do anything else with the Compressor.
2.) After hearing how Fast/Slow it interacts with The Sound being Compressed, adjust the Attack Parameter to 1ms/Fastest, and then listen to how it responds and reacts to Dynamics in Transients & Volume & Decibel Levels, and slowly increase the length of The Attack Speed until it sounds how you like it, and don’t try to do anything else with the Compressor.
3.) After hearing how Fast/Slow the sound level goes back to lowest dynamic volume being Compressed, adjust the Release Parameter to the Lowest/Fastest Speed while listening to the sounds being compressed, and then listen to how it responds and is perceived by you in Volume & Decibel Levels, and slowly increase the length of The Release Speed until it sounds how you like it, and don’t try to do anything else with the Compressor.
4.) This is the final step of the Compressor-Limiter Combo. For The Limiter, increase The Input Level, making The Volume Levels seem to have barely limited peaks. Limiting Peaks changes the sound of The Audio, so use it creatively, but enough to increase the volume to the level desired by you.
5.) Repeat this basic system for every Mix Channel and any Signal Chain Path you want to try it on.
Every Tip on This Page is to be persistently experimented with.
Have fun and use The Ears.
Anthony
Founder of Clever Artist Music Company
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