I hope this is the right forum for this. I'm a Logic user and have been for 10 years.
I've been having decent luck with mixing lately by using my iMac 27" built-in speakers. It seems that if I can get something good on these little speakers, I'm only a few minor tweaks away from a good mix that translates well on multiple devices. Not surprisingly, it's the higher highs and very lows that I need to clean up on real reference monitors in a good room...but it takes very little time.
One key element I've found in getting mixes to sound good on bass-challenged speakers is shifting the spectrum of my program UP such that only a few elements at most occupy below 300hz. Some elements might even be high-passed such that only a drop of their fundamental remain...left mostly with the harmonic fingerprint in tact and some high shelf adjustments for depth placement.
This is the only way I've been able to get even remotely expensive sounding mixes. At least, being able to form an emotional connection with music with my iMac volume set to "5". My question is this:
How many of you do this routinely (i.e. high pass like crazy) and, more importantly, which High Pass filtering tool do you reach for the most? Do you use Logic's EQ high pass with gentle slopes? Third party plugin? Low shelfs? None of the above? Am I crazy, etc...
One valuable thing I learned: Tracking things properly in the first place, taking into full account the instruments destination in the mix while tracking, is critically important. I will never "close-mic" something again for the sole reason of not liking the sound of the room I'm tracking in. My new theory is: find a better room.
I've been having decent luck with mixing lately by using my iMac 27" built-in speakers. It seems that if I can get something good on these little speakers, I'm only a few minor tweaks away from a good mix that translates well on multiple devices. Not surprisingly, it's the higher highs and very lows that I need to clean up on real reference monitors in a good room...but it takes very little time.
One key element I've found in getting mixes to sound good on bass-challenged speakers is shifting the spectrum of my program UP such that only a few elements at most occupy below 300hz. Some elements might even be high-passed such that only a drop of their fundamental remain...left mostly with the harmonic fingerprint in tact and some high shelf adjustments for depth placement.
This is the only way I've been able to get even remotely expensive sounding mixes. At least, being able to form an emotional connection with music with my iMac volume set to "5". My question is this:
How many of you do this routinely (i.e. high pass like crazy) and, more importantly, which High Pass filtering tool do you reach for the most? Do you use Logic's EQ high pass with gentle slopes? Third party plugin? Low shelfs? None of the above? Am I crazy, etc...
One valuable thing I learned: Tracking things properly in the first place, taking into full account the instruments destination in the mix while tracking, is critically important. I will never "close-mic" something again for the sole reason of not liking the sound of the room I'm tracking in. My new theory is: find a better room.