Mixing Heavy Rock / Metal

Introduction

In this tutorial, Kenny goes over what to expect in the following tutorials. Kenny also imports the files into a new session.

Track Re-Naming

Watch as Kenny discusses the benefits of re-naming all the files and tracks to make it easier and quicker to navigate around the session.

Rough Mix

Next, Kenny color codes the tracks, re-orders them to streamline the session and we create a quick rough mix.

Markers & Tempo

Kenny sets up markers for all the song parts and sets up a session tempo to keep the session in line and allow delay plug-ins to line up perfectly.

Re-Ordering & Colors

In this video, Kenny tweaks the colors and the track order and re-visits the track names to speed up work flow and improve efficiency.

Track Clean-Up

Next, Kenny cleans up the audio files to remove silence for greater visibility of the song and part arrangement as only the clips playing audio will actually be seen.

Sub-Mixes

In this tutorial Kenny creates Sub-mixes or VCAs to control tracks as a group to keep an otherwise large and hard to navigate track under control.

Clip Gain

Kenny utilizes Clip Gain to get all the audio clips at a good starting level and at a good visibility waveform default.

Master Buss FX

In this video, Kenny sets up Master Buss FX utilizing dynamic plug-ins at the beginning of the mix so that we can mix into the FX rather than putting them on at the end at risk losing our mix.

Basic Vocal Sound

Next, Kenny combines the vocal tracks together and gets a good basic lead vocal sound to build the mix around.

Basic Drum Sound

Kenny creates a basic drum mix that works with the vocal and will allow further tweaking of each drum track with the whole kit.

Drum Overheads

Now we dig into the Overheads. First to create the spatial sense and overall brightness of the drums. EQ and Compression are used.

Drum Room Mics

Next Kenny adds in the Room mics to create distance and ambiance to the kit. Kenny also introduces the use of the Sonnex Trans Mod to reduce transients.

Kick Drum

In this tutorial Kenny pulls up the close mics starting with the Kick mics and mixes them with the ambient mics. Kenny also introduces adding samples to enhance the Kick sound.

Snare Drum

In this video, Kenny focuses on the Snare mics and adds compression, EQ and add in the Sonnex Trans Mod to enhance the transients to create more snap or thwack. Kenny also adds samples to round out the snare.

Drum Reverb

To increase the size of the kit, Kenny next adds some IR or Impulse Response reverb using samples taken from other great drum rooms.

Drum Buss EQ and Parallel Compression

Next, Kenny busses the drum tracks together and adds some buss EQ & compression and also adds parallel compression to really enhance the ambiance of the kit.

The Bass Sound

Kenny moves on to the Bass tracks and mult the outputs to create a simulated amp track along with a distorted bass track to mix in with the Bass DI and fatten up the overall sound.

Bass Synths

In this video, Kenny adds the Bass Synths that add some sub low end to really bring the track down as deep as possible.

Keyboards

Next, Kenny introduces the Piano, Keys & Synths to add ethereal and space to the song. EQ and Compression is used.

Guitars

In this tutorial, Kenny sets up the guitar tracks to make the song growl and be aggressive as we make them as loud as possible without making the track weak.

Lead Vocals

Kenny pulls up the Lead Vocal again and finalizes the vocal sound to work with all of the other tracks already worked on. Compression and EQ is utilized along with reverb, delay and filtered delay.

Bk Vox

In this tutorial, Kenny blends in the vocal harmonies to thicken up the vocal sound and utilizes a Bk Vox buss and adding Compression and EQ.

De-Essing

As we get the vocals up, we start to notice that the downside of bright vocals and using EQ is that it enhances the Esses as well. In this video, we manually reduce the Esses using Clip Gain and balancing out the top end of the vocals.

Screamo Vocals

Kenny brings up the Screamo vocals to match the female vocals and provide dynamics from section to section.

Automation

One of the most important parts of the mix is using automation to finesse and create interesting moments from section to section. A static mix can be boring and using automation creates many unique moments that feature or hide certain elements to create aural illusions.

Final Mix

Finally, the mix is finished and Kenny bounces it down to 2 tracks to share with the band and the fans and show a track by track visual of what each track is doing.