Mixing In Reason 2.5

[LMNO]

Any suggestions on mixing with only Reason 2.5? How do you set it up? What is your work flow like?

[Sacred One]

mixing is nothing really, get the levels how u want them and thats it, add a couple of effects so that it won't sound all dry, I always add the RV700, Chorus/Flanger, Phaser, and Compressor, and thats basically it.

[Nnxt]

Any suggestions on mixing with only Reason 2.5? How do you set it up? What is your work flow like?

ehh Im not gonna Post How my Reason Template looks or tell you whats in it :) But um all im gonna Say is make sure you know the Ins and Outs of Everything Unit in Reason.. Because there are some Amazing Routing teqniques you can Do to Get Damn good Quality In Reason Alone.. Granted that you Start with Tweak. Quality Sounds.


Another thing you gonna Wanna Do.. Listen to a Few of your Favorite Cd's while you Mix.. so if you making a West Coast banger.. pop in Some "battleCat" Some "Dre" Etc Listen to how them instruments Blend and how Each instrument has its Own Little Pocket things like that.

[Jay George]

I got this from an EMusician article:

Start by setting the master fader on the 14:2 to the maximum. Solo the first channel of the mixer and set its fader to the maximum also. Keep your eye on the Clip Indicator. If the Clip is lit, go to the module on that mixer channeland adjust its output level until it no longer lights up. If the Clip Indicator is not lit, crank up the module's output level until the Clip does light up, then back the modules output gain down again until the light goes out. Now bring the channel fader on the mixer down between 90 and 100.

Repeat this for all the active channels on the mixer. When you finish, bring the master fadr on the mixer down to around 100. The input gain for each track is now optimized, and you can achieve maximum levels before clipping. By setting the channel and master faders to between 90 and 100, you've given yourself rooom to compensate for inserts and EQs.

[Shonsteez]

THats a different aproach Jay, i hadent heard that one before.

[wavez]

i start pretty basically usally...attached my standard to this post so u could check it out if u want.

[LMNO]

Ok, I have everything composed. Before I would attach EQ units, compressor, and reverb to each channel off of the NNXT straight to the mixer.

How would you go about EQing, say a bass drum that needs it? Use the mixer's EQ? The Parametric EQ? Vocoder? Or just EQ everything in one vocoder? Need some ideas, thanks.

I'll check out the attachment, thanks waves.

[Shonsteez]

I usually route my fx to my mixers aux sends....then i simply apply tha needed amount of effect to each channel i want...
If u want to do that with a specific drum channel, u have a variety of choices...I would either start another mixer for each channel off yer redrum, or if u dont feel like doin that - then go ahead and simply route tha chosen effect straight to tha redrum send and then u would apply tha amount on that send tha same way u would if it were on yer mixer by adjusting that little aux dial on tha redrum drum channel.
That might help a bit.

[Copenhagen]

You can also find some default mixing and mastering setup .rns files on I think Reasonstation.net.

[LMNO]

That is awesome. I'll have to try the AUX on redrum. I've never really payed attention to them. Reasonstation.net, good call.

[LMNO]

What if I need to EQ each individual drum? What exactly does sending a Parametric EQ unit to the AUX send do? Each drum needs different EQ settings.

[Nnxt]

^^^ then Put it like this... make 3 Eq's maybe 4 for like a lo mid or hi mid

1. Lo
2. Mid
3. Hi

Now put those in the Aux this way u can Controll the lo mid nd hi of Each Element.. Via Kick Snare.. hat.. shaker.. sample.. instruments.. Etc

make a Diff Mixer for everything man

Drum Kits = Its own Mixer

Instruments = its own Mixer

Synths= it own Mixer

and a master Mixer


so thats 4 Mixers Feel me see where im getting at? thats just a basic Setup but it can get Much Much More complicated than that depending on ur mixing Style

[Shonsteez]

Yeah, like NN said, thats how i do it too....See, yer aux sends are literally EFFECT SENDS to tha MIXER or even tha REDRUM(since it allows this)...THen, you have a pre-fader(that aux dial that u see on tha top of yer mixer channels or yer redrum channels....This actually allows u to cater just enough of that chosen effect to that send/instrument/channel.

So, if u want to EQ say yer kick, snare and hats, like NN described - you would wire up an EQ, or even two EQ's to one aux send(you can do this by chaining them together before they go tha send, i often do that cuz tha parametric only gives u to paremeters to adjust)....Then do tha same for tha last three sends in tha back of yer mixer for connected to yer redrum.

Now u come to tha part where yer actually gonna apply tha desired amount of effect to each channel...
To do so - simply start tweakin yer aux dials for tha effect u want and yer straight....
(keep in mind that u have to make sure yer not usin tha same EQ for all tha drum parts - Like, u dont want tha rounded bass boost on yer hats for example)...this simply means ur not even gonna touch aux 1 , and instead yer gonna turn aux 3, or 4, depending on what send u sent that EQ to.

STEEZ

[LMNO]

Ok, I'm following along nicely. So how should I shape the lo, mid, and hi parametric EQs? Do I just draw a bump to the max at the appropriate freqs. for each one? Then control with the AUX how much I want?

[Shonsteez]

Yeah, u basically got tha picture....maybe also read up a bit on what those appropriate freq's are...that will help....Or jus use yer ear if u kno how u want that kick, snare, etc...to sound.

Good Luck...


STEEZ

[Jay George]

Another trick I picked up is for like mixing air tight strings. Say you're using a NN19, turn its level al the way up in the AMP section. Attach a UN-16 Unison. Set the Voice count to 8 (16 gets kind of phase-ish, but if you like the effect do you), set the detune to zero and set the dry/wet to 100. then on the Main Mixer just cut you lows and you should have a nice stereo spread for the strings. Throw some reverb and enjoy the mix.

[wavez]

i would not use reason eq or compressor...i think its better to solo all instruments and export them...and then mix them in nuendo, cubase, cool edit..or in programs like those.

[Nnxt]

i would not use reason eq or compressor...i think its better to solo all instruments and export them...and then mix them in nuendo, cubase, cool edit..or in programs like those.


Bv512 is a Great Eq.. Screams Can be used as GREAT compressors

[Jay George]

Bv512 is a Great Eq.. Screams Can be used as GREAT compressors

Still no comparable to any Wave's bundle clearly, but they do give you a good reference to how your mix will sound if tracked properly.

[Shonsteez]

Good info Jay George, im likin' you already bro....I appreciate tha fact that other newcomers to tha site are willing to help other people and build instead of get all heady and try to fight about childish shit....(this isnt a reference to anyone else, jus sayin cuz another members input on a subject that requires more than a "yeah i got that on lock answer, i dont see what tha problem is answer" aint gonna help kno one, and thats what this sites for - to help other cats build and feed off each others expertiese and info.

anyways - Good shit.

STEEZO

[Nnxt]

Still no comparable to any Wave's bundle clearly, but they do give you a good reference to how your mix will sound if tracked properly.


Waves is the Shiat

[Frictionbeats]

Waves is the shat!!! I love Reason though!! Reason with my Pro tools works seamlessly!!

But in the end its all on your ears and technique!

Keep bangin out those Beats!!

-Fric

[Ominous]

I use Reason rewired to Logic 6 and I have an illegal copy of a Waves bundle.

In my Reason workflow, in my default template, I just have a Redrum split into the first two channels and a Dr. Rex split into Channels three and four.

When I don't feel creative, I just go in and slice loops up in Recycle. Then, when I start feeling creative I will laydown a basic drum pattern and started searching for loops to mesh into the beat or the other way around. I might start with a loop and program a drum pattern to the loop.

I got like 40 accapellas so when I ain't really creating beats, I'll launch an accapella up in Logic and start opening beats I made in Reason to see if it sounds good with that accapella. Right now I am finishing up a remix of Blackmoon, KRs-1 and a Beatnuts track. The Beatnuts track is from scratch instead of just trying to find a beat I already did and trying to match it up so I am pretty pround of that one.

I only use 2 of the 4 effects sends plugged into the main mixer. Usually a basic Reverb and Delay. I might throw a Unison and a Chrous Flanger in for sh*ts and giggles but I never really use them. I have about 15 songs uploaded to the propellerheads sight where you can see me trying out some of the things from the tutorials before I got into using it the same way everytime.

[Holly Scott]

I got this from an EMusician article:

Start by setting the master fader on the 14:2 to the maximum. Solo the first channel of the mixer and set its fader to the maximum also. Keep your eye on the Clip Indicator. If the Clip is lit, go to the module on that mixer channeland adjust its output level until it no longer lights up. If the Clip Indicator is not lit, crank up the module's output level until the Clip does light up, then back the modules output gain down again until the light goes out. Now bring the channel fader on the mixer down between 90 and 100.

Repeat this for all the active channels on the mixer. When you finish, bring the master fadr on the mixer down to around 100. The input gain for each track is now optimized, and you can achieve maximum levels before clipping. By setting the channel and master faders to between 90 and 100, you've given yourself rooom to compensate for inserts and EQs.

damn good advice thanks

[Burna]

Dammmmmmmmn i jus learned massive shit.. thanks!