original post by n.phect and dysplay on
www.neurocode.de1.) Every single sound/instrument needs space in the Hz-Spectrum. Splitting up the sounds into buses and giving them a focus on a certain frequency allows you to make every single sound as loud and present as you need it.
2.) Lowering ugly frequencies is more effective than raising comfortable ones.
3.) Every Sound has to have a function. Don’t select many samples just to have 50+ sounds in your tune, if you only really NEED 25 sounds. Working essentially avoids a muddy final mix.
4.) Take your time to work with high end samples. To make dirty rough sounds out of clean sounds is easy, the other way round is just impossible.
5.) Process your sounds individual. Plugins help your sound to be outstanding in a mix.
6.) Resampling your synths and fucking them up to the bitter end is the secret. There is no limit of processing.
7.) Train your ears: if you listen to music, pay some attention to the single instruments concerning volumes, eq, filter use, etc. It sounds shallow, but it is not: If you understand the way of a musical function, you are blessed with an absolute advantage in producing.
8.) If you do, work fast. It might be easier to finish on a project if you work in one/a few pours. Otherwise it might be a dearly purchased victory including wasted hours and damaged motivation.
9.) Try to finish on one sound before doing the next, use your concentration on one theme and don’t jump around between them, after switching between themes you won’t discover mistakes anymore. Focus on your idea.
10.) It is effective to give some projects a rest and rework them with fresh ideas, but only do so, if you completely like your work so far. Produce by doing babysteps, but finish them.
11.) Don’t produce on high volumes. Your ears get tired very fast and won’t be able to tell you the truth about ideas. Work on one constant volume level per session.
12.) Don’t do detailed work on arrangement or equing under influences of X.
13.) Some certain elements have to be mono’ed (kick, snare, bass), 90% of Club Systems are mono, so be sure that your drum and bass is loud on every speaker.
14.) Spektral analysis helps. Human beings by genes are amateurs in working with ears but professionals with using our eyes. You see, what you can’t hear.
15.) Safety goes first. 50+ project files are standard. Before and after every important edit, safe your work
