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Josephson_Junction
Advanced Member
United States
512 posts
Joined: Jan, 2012
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 Posted - 2012/08/07 : 01:30:13
I'm talking about volume, compression, limiting, EQing, etc. pertaining to leads.
I think I have the kick and bass down... but how exactly do you mix a lead? It seems like in most hardcore songs (e.g. Realms & Rough Cuts) the lead sounds so integrated and cemented into the mix; it pops and sounds great but doesn't "stick out" as if it were forcefully tacked on. Do you have any pointers?
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Audio Warfare
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
3,047 posts
Joined: Mar, 2009
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Posted - 2012/08/07 : 07:53:02
If you get the sounds right inside the synths you shouldn't really need to do much more. I sometimes add a bit of distortion or some light limiting. I tend to roll off the bottom end to around 150-175 and the high end to around 15k. Lots of reverb and delay too. Sometimes I'll put a dip on the EQ if it interferes with the kick still or vocals or if it sounds a little muddy.
At the end of the day though whatever processing someone else uses might not suite what you are trying to do with your lead sound so following someone else word for word may not help that much... There are many different types of lead sounds and there is no cookie cutter process that fits all unfortunately. It's all about knowing when you need to apply certain things.
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Ranzor
Junior Member
Australia
83 posts
Joined: May, 2012
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Posted - 2012/08/07 : 14:39:40
Instead of me writing a block of text on the settings I use, here's a screenshot in Logic of the settings/plugins used for the lead in this tune (kicks in at 1:19). The limiter's gain reduction is peaking at 1-2 dB
Signal chain is in order from left to right.
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Edited by - Ranzor on 2012/08/07 14:44:55 |
Douglas-HBC
Starting Member
United Kingdom
7 posts
Joined: Jan, 2012
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Posted - 2012/08/07 : 15:04:47
I find bussing my lead layers to a channel with some light overdrive will help gel them together, followed by slight limiting to just keep any rogue peaks in check, low cut, then you can just use the fader on the bus to get the volume to the right level. Play your K+B with the "lead group" fader down to zero and increase til you think it's sounding right.
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Edited by - Douglas-HBC on 2012/08/07 15:05:46 |
Josephson_Junction
Advanced Member
United States
512 posts
Joined: Jan, 2012
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Posted - 2012/08/07 : 18:41:12
Wow, thanks!! So, EQ, binaural pan, limiter, delay, and then reverb, as well as some overdrive tossed in somewhere before the limiter. No wonder parts of my mix sounded muddy, my FX chains were really out of order... this will really come in handy!
It looks like my main obstacle is wrapping my head around the synthesis aspect. I'll keep messing in around in Massive or FM8 until I can get what I want. If anyone is interested, here's a snippet of what I'm trying to shove a lead into: http://www32.zippyshare.com/v/67210228/file.html
Again thanks Audio Warfare, Ranzor, and Douglas!
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