Mixing Metal Guitars: Panning A 3rd Track Up The CENTER? | VQA36

►► Multitrack Download w/ Mixing Cheatsheet & Tutorials → Get FREE access to the Crisp & Clear Heavy Mix Formula HERE: frightboxrecordingacademy.com...
Should you pan a 3rd track up the center when mixing your metal guitars?
Welcome to "Viewer Questions Answered" Episode #36
►► Frightbox MERCH: frightbox-recording.creator-s...
► Website - frightboxrecordingacademy.com/
► Facebook - / frightboxrecording
► Instagram - / frightboxrecording
All music in video mixed and mastered @ www.frightboxrecording.com
00:00 Intro
01:27 Should I pan my overheads in 50%?
02:43 Do you ever track a 3rd rhythm guitar track?
04:20 How much low-mids should I cut in my mixes?
06:21 Is a DI box necessary with amp sims?

[@FrightboxRecording]

►► Multitrack Download w/ Mixing Cheatsheet & Tutorials → Get FREE access to the Crisp & Clear Heavy Mix Formula HERE: frightboxrecordingacademy.com/heavy-mix-formula/

[@keithferris9574]

Tom Lord Alge adds a center guitar that he blends up at a lower level to compliment the sides.

[@bfunkadelicmusic]

As does Bob Rock. At least on the Black Album.

[@JesterMasque]

Using a different amp or cabinet going up the center & knowing when to have in the mix can make things hit more. But I do also find that a full LCR mix of all one amp does seem to suck the life out sometimes.

[@ryand4533]

A lot of people do there are no rules for mixing. Some helpful guidelines maybe but no rules.

[@wesliggett2454]

I just subbed yesterday and am working my way through all the helpful content!

[@philcodeca]

Great video as ever, Bobby. When it comes to guitars and panning. Instead of adding a third central rhythm guitar throughout the mix, try automating your L/R rhy guitars inwards a little bit during the verses and then having them go back 100% wide when the chorus kicks in, this is a great way to avoid adding a central guitar and also gives a great feeling of width during the chorus!

[@pierre-claudemeriot6562]

Warren Huart does ans preaches that a lot. I think that's why the question comes back a lot. But I think Warren does this for rock, but the mixes, the songs and the techniques here are really metal.

[@DeadbyDawn1208]

Totally did the L+R+Middle thing out of ignorance until now. Great video.

[@ParanormalArson]

The only time I found a centre rhythm guitar track worked is when it's fairly low in volume and used more as a support for the bass, and that only really works if the bass and rhythm guitar lines near mimic each other. Otherwise, it's just making the centre way too busy, even at a low volume.

[@micah_noel]

I remember hearing a centered rhythm on a cd I bought over 20 years ago and it solidified the feeling that they were an amateur band because none of the great records I’d heard up until then felt the need to do that. Around that same time I heard a local musician friend saying that he wanted to do it and it soured my feelings for him as a musician I could look up to. Twenty years later and it’s still not common on any decently produced album I’ve heard.

[@Shalloworldmx]

The black album of metallica has a 3rd guitar at the center, I think bob rock has mentioned a couple of times. It was also mentioned by James Hetfield on the classic albums DVD, mentioning they did 3 guitars; left, right and the thickener. Granted it does not sound modern per se, but I don't think it sounds bad.

[@matthewkincaid1240]

Dime did it.

[@bradzillarocks]

I think it was Dave Mustaine's autobiography he said there was always a center rhythm guitar track in the early days. He'd do the main L/R himself since he was the better rhythm player and the other guitarist would be in the middle. Hetfield would do a center track at least some of the time too so I got the impression it was pretty common back then.

[@rawpoweraudio]

Ya, I’m pretty sure Bob Rock used a center guitar on the black album but I could be mistaken

[@80s_kid]

Hi! Maybe a noob question but I'm interested in your answer: I noticed that if I record DI guitar tracks, although the amp sim will compress the sound, there may be a relatively big amplitude difference between the original (DI) sound waves. For example: two mono guitar tracks, panned left and right and I played the same on both. On the track on the right, I played one of the notes a bit harder than the left side therefore the waveform of this particular note is higher and sharper than the shape and volume of the note on the left side. The difference isn’t huge, but when I listening it with headphones (in the mix with amp sims and bus compressor) there’s a slight increase in volume on the right side for a moment, as if I had automated the volume. I was thinking of compressing the DI track and then sending it to the amp sim or Kemper. What is the professional solution? Should I process the gain of that particular note smaller on the right side? Or should I just play & record until it's good? Surely it doesn’t just happen to me. Thanks!

[@needsLITHIUM]

Some bands use a third guitar track up the center doing power chord or chug versions of what the bass is doing during panned harmonized guitar leads. It's a popular thing in "at the gates core" and iron maiden inspired power metal. I know for a fact that Avenged Sevenfold (especially on Waking the Fallen) and Unleash the Archers have used it at one point or another. Some proggy melodic bands will likewise have the vocalist play an acoustic guitar and have that panned center (think Godsmack, Staind, Three Days Grace, and Incubus - mostly proggy/emo adjacent buttrock/post grunge/Nu Metal type bands) and then either have two guitarists, or just double track the one guitarist, and hard pan the takes.

[@Fiveash-Art]

I love the term 'butt rock' 😂

[@Metaldad87]

The scarlett had a bad guitar input issue where it would always clip with the 1st generation. I remember when I got my second gen scarlett solo everyone told me not to buy a 1st gen because of that. I have to have mine on line input still instead of guitar though even on the second gen because if I dont its WAY too hot even with the gain all the way down and Im using stock ibanez/jackson passive pickups.

[@timstrezo358]

Agreed with everything you said. I got the 3rd generation and I still use the di because although it's not clipping, the signal is still hot, even with the pad engaged.

[@jtubef8620]

Uhh, my Scarlett has a pad? lol I still use a DI box, there's a noticeable difference. The signal is much tighter, less flubby. Pretty good pre's, not a fan of their 1/4in inputs, or any interface really.

[@firmans12]

Thanks Bobby. I wonder for live situation for doing direct system. Is DI box still required? The sound engineer always ask for DI box

[@FrightboxRecording]

Usually sound guys will have their own DI boxes at the venue. I'd say it's still good to have one just in case you're playing somewhere smaller.

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

I listen to the tips, and then a thin mix with no bass plays. ???

[@Tormentus_Official]

I think there's a misunderstanding, the primary use of a 3rd guitar panned Center (or just offset center Vox) is supposed to be a clean channel from your amp sim 🤔 obviously lower in the mix than hard panned guitars and blended in till you add resonate definition and more body just like parallel compression does! Kind of... to add I personally can't imagine how terrible and messy all three guitars would be if they were all heavily distorted!! Messy!!

[@Fiveash-Art]

I'm gonna try that.

[@spaceexpireaudio666]

I like boosting low mids if I`m just playing alone but reality is they destroy the mix. Only a small amount of those feels fine

[@AlbertodeVictoria]

I think Bobby talks about center rythm guitars like another take of the same riff. Not fills guitar.

[@Fiveash-Art]

That would make sense .. I hope that's what he means. ... I like putting extra harmonic stuff 50% panned .. synths, clean guitars etc. I'm definitely listening to him about the chuggie stuff though. My mixes tend to sound mushy .. I need to simplify to get the punch/clarity and I think that's going to help , no more quad tracking or centered guitar repeats. Done with that.

[@sainphony]

2:45 song with 5 guitar tracks - quadtracking plus "thickned" guitar (as Hetfield called it) in the center. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJWseKSjosmUhs0