How to Mix Sub Groups With Joe Carrell - Part 1: Saturation & Compression | Plugin Alliance

There are countless ways to mix a song. Some people get great results by mixing bottom-up from individual tracks to final masters and others prefer top-down mixing. Learn more about Joe Carrell's hybrid approach to saturation and compression in subgroups and on the master buss using some of his favorite tools like the SPL IRON, Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor, Lindell 50 & 80 Series, Black Box HG-2MS, Big Al, and many more.
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[@burninglcd]

I'll say it again, this should be your official spokesperson/demo guy. Joe is great.

[@kjwworldwide]

First time you said "More Gooder" I was right there with you. Awesome tips.

[@j.stribling2565]

Joe, I liked the way you approach this vid - “we’re just talking shop”. Thanks for sharing your tools and techniques - it makes this business “more gooder” in general.

[@dimedrey]

Joe, I don't know that this video could've been any more gooder. Thanks for all the tips! Helps more than I can express.

[@GloveBunniesVideos]

Now I need a shirt that says, "More Gooder." Great video!

[@PluginAllianceTV]

That's a great idea. Thanks for the awesome feedback!

[@allpdmusic]

Every video Joe does is great. Love his style. He's a great teacher. No bull just a straight shooter!

[@PluginAllianceTV]

We wholeheartedly agree!

[@DMMirval]

Same here !

[@DMMirval]

High five for Plugin Alliance and Joe Carrell. Awesome teacher with clear and useful explanations. Really comprehensive materials here. Great video !

[@PluginAllianceTV]

Thank you!

[@JornLavoll]

And such a cool desk/setup

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thanks Jorn. I have since moved to a different room, but I still do have that old Argosy.

[@AnimusInvidious]

Huge fan of mixing with group bussess.

[@vancenichols9490]

I want some of that "mo' gooder" in my mixing that you're talking about! Yeah buddy!!! Thanks!!! 🙂

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thanks for watching Vance!

[@Fateline70]

This is exactly what plugin alliance must do, thank you Joe, you are great.

[@PluginAllianceTV]

Thanks for the great feedback!

[@TonjuwelenDeAgentur]

Great Video. Great information. Joe Carrells Mixes always sound impressive and good.

[@Joshyswing]

Thanks so much, Joe! Love all your insight

[@KapaDeFreitas]

Another great video by Joe Carrel!

[@streetmansam5073]

Big thanks to PA and Joe for doing these videos. As someone who’s new to the mixing game these plugins and tutorials are a god send!! 🙏 ☺️

[@PluginAllianceTV]

We're really happy to hear that and to be part of your journey. Thanks for your support!

[@precisionsoundworksstudio]

Very articulate explanation... awesome! 🔥🔥🔥🙌🏻

[@RobertBMusic]

Great video, looking forward to the second part!

[@KaitavSapreMusic]

Excellent video. Thank you. Great song by the way.

[@user-ix5rz4lc2o]

Thanks for iron presets ☺️

[@samxday]

I like this guy. Looking forward to pt2

[@fidore_PJ]

OMG ❤️ those tips!

[@axelknoxofficial]

This is great thanks for these great info and great plugs! Joe is a LEGEND!!

[@PluginAllianceTV]

We really appreciate your feedback, thank YOU!

[@HasseC]

Great vid, great teaching. I LOVE "my" MEGA bundle, using it EVERY day at work.

[@PluginAllianceTV]

That is really amazing feedback. Thank you so much, and enjoy your sessions!

[@theleviathan89]

Your lessons have helped me take my mixes to a whole nother level. Loving you. Thanks!

[@PluginAllianceTV]

That's great to hear. Thanks for your feedback!

[@RobWhiteDavis]

Nice! Love it!

[@richdewhittaker1746]

The SPL Iron is wonderful...and definitely More Gooder! 🎛🎚☕️🎶✨

[@sgfdancecompany]

great video Joe!!!

[@LightsandMotion]

your plugins have really changed the way I mix. so much good stuff, and by now I have almost bought it all. keep inventing!

[@PluginAllianceTV]

Will do! Thanks for the fantastic feedback!

[@rickdeaguiar-musicreflecti7692]

Excellent insight. Wow!

[@gathobeevens2644]

This man is soo Goodest, that you can feel the passion of sharing and teaching others in him !!Be blessed Sir !!!

[@vertigopulse]

You're really good at this brother! I have all those comps and they're all great! Looking forward to more demos!

[@PluginAllianceTV]

They're coming. Thank you!

[@BlaCkLaBeL2002]

Joe always makes great videos!

[@PluginAllianceTV]

Absolutely!

[@thejacksontwinz]

Thank You So Much, we will try this unique buss style setup, we learn so much from you, your Chanel is the best, thank you so much, The Jackson Twinz.

[@PluginAllianceTV]

We're glad to hear that. Thank you!

[@ronniewibbley]

Great stuff - thanks for making these!

[@PluginAllianceTV]

We appreciate the great feedback. Thank you!

[@hanisiblini]

Great demonstration

[@rafaelhernandez5550]

I have to say this video is so good and so well explained that I will need to comeback a few more times. Thank you for a great tutorial.

[@PluginAllianceTV]

That's really great to hear. Cheers for the great feedback!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Thanks for watching Rafael!

[@notsure1135]

I hate to be a gushing sycophant at 43, but your mix and master bundle is amazing value.

[@PluginAllianceTV]

Thanks for the amazing feedback. We really appreciate it!

[@Hugoknots]

This was a good watch. Thanks!

[@PluginAllianceTV]

We appreciate the nice feedback, thank YOU!

[@peevee605]

I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate this video...! Thank U 🙏.

[@PluginAllianceTV]

We're really happy to hear that. Thank YOU for the nice feedback!

[@peevee605]

@@PluginAllianceTV went straight to the latest mix and applied these techniques. It works.

[@bubbasweetiekilla6494]

Sounds way more gooder 😅 dude big thank you for this video. Can't wait for the next one

[@OverdriveMusic]

Joe is the best!

[@raimundolanas4273]

What a nice guy, thank you for such great info!

[@PluginAllianceTV]

He is. Thanks for the nice feedback!

[@philippgrunert8776]

I had multiple lightbulb moments throughout this video. Thank you

[@PluginAllianceTV]

We're glad to hear it's helping. Thank YOU for the nice feedback!

[@sixstring3639]

Very good presentation! Thanks.

[@PluginAllianceTV]

Thanks for the nice feedback!

[@RabbitintheMoon]

Joe Carrell is amazing talking shop.... thank you for more!

[@KevinStCroix]

Are you the same RITM from the EDM days of the late 90's and beyond? No one sees the rabbit in the moon when I ask them.

[@RabbitintheMoon]

@@KevinStCroix yes

[@orphicstudiotraphiphopbeat9711]

Excellent

[@chrisburkhardt4902]

Scared to use the SPL Iron because of too many controls but totally fine with the Shadow Hill. Lol! This is a great video. Thank you!

[@TheGurner1]

Nice! Tnx Joe

[@cartofgiant]

Sounds good

[@familydiscount-ne5nz]

This is scary because I just designed a template like this based on everything I’ve pieced together so far and I find this video of him saying he starts his busses with a transformer for the EXACT REASON I did it!😂🏁…just put a nice battery in my back💯great Video!

[@PluginAllianceTV]

We're glad to hear you're enjoying it. Thanks for sharing!

[@ambrocado]

You do things easier for us. Thank you

[@PluginAllianceTV]

We're glad it's working for you!

[@michaelwiley1429]

Excellent video. Never even seen SPL IRON and I've been a PA subscriber for a while. Gotta check it out.

[@PluginAllianceTV]

Thanks, and let us know how it goes!

[@BobbyBriscoeBeats]

I've really been enjoying mixing/mastering lately. I suggest the mixing/master bundle to friends all the time. Love PA!

[@PluginAllianceTV]

We're really happy to hear that. Thank you so much!

[@nunyabizfam106]

Don’t you rock with Brodnax?

[@BobbyBriscoeBeats]

@@nunyabizfam106 Yes sir, you got it!

[@nunyabizfam106]

@@BobbyBriscoeBeats good work my guy, I just found him a few weeks ago.

[@BobbyBriscoeBeats]

@@nunyabizfam106 thanks brother, I appreciate it! He's super dope

[@youaintgottheanswerssway1594]

Been thinking about trying y’all it’s great to see and listen to the plugins in action 😁

[@PluginAllianceTV]

You can try all of our plugins for 14 days to see and hear how they work. Just download an installer from our product pages and let us know how it goes! www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products.html

[@youaintgottheanswerssway1594]

@@PluginAllianceTV it’s lit, I’m excited 😁

[@crateinvaderz]

"I've made it more good..." that's what we learn here

[@TobiasLindell1]

I'm digging the prime placement of the 480 =)

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Haha. What’s up Mr Lindell!

[@Achase4u]

Joe Carrell is the bomb! I think Alan Parsons sent all the tracks on DSOTM through bus comp *except* the drums. If I recall... maybe that's the trick...

[@smpmusicstudio77]

Nice video

[@Brutuscomedy]

Totally agree. Just employed compression with ToneBooster's Barricade (v4) limiter in addition to the limiting and set the former at a 1.5:1 ratio I like "fur" and adding saturation and even tape simulation to certain elements but try to keep the low end rather clean and focused. What I want on cymbals is not what I want on kick or bass guitar. Personally, I prefer the VSM-3 plugin on the stereo bus. I'd love to have an analog Black Box though!

[@danielsmith5626]

iron was giving a fuzz sound on the vocal track that was fun

[@trevival]

"gooderer" is the correct term

[@meis18mofo77]

This is like an analogue version of the Clip To Zero method used to mix most modern dubstep to absurd LUF values like -3

[@kitmateyawa7829]

I've used Big Al on my drum bus ever since it came out.

[@PluginAllianceTV]

We're glad to hear BIG AL claimed the spot. Thanks for sharing this!

[@peterpeper4837]

Once more great advice from Mr.Carrell. Yes PluginAllinace this is your guy. Please do more. A small tip for Joe about ergonomics. Your monitor is a bit too high and too far from you. Get rid of its stand and replace it with an arm that you can mount on the desk. Bring it as low and forward as the shelf allows while tilting it a bit so your sight is vertical to the screen surface. I'm sure you will feel the improvement right away.

[@xxllx86]

Hey PA, where is that Blog on the SPL Iron Joe was talking about. I own the mega bundle and I really need to dig into it deeper. Great Stuff! Keep it going, you guys rock!

[@PluginAllianceTV]

Thanks for the great support! This is the blog post he is referring to: www.plugin-alliance.com/en/blog/blogpost/items/spl-iron-with-joe-carrell.html

[@ProducerGio]

I love organization

[@Stjerneklang528]

If you want to go old school you can glue all the drum mics together before recording. The downside is, well, it is a very messy process, stuff gets broken and so on.

[@JobThako]

Joe Carrell, this is awesome stuff. but why keep us waiting so long for the rest of the video? i'm dying here. i need the rest of the video Joe. By the way, you rock

[@PluginAllianceTV]

It's coming - just a little more patience, please!

[@BelAnuRa]

@@PluginAllianceTV i am very excited,too. So how long we have to wait for part 2 ???

[@JAMPROSOUND]

I can't watch this without wanting to fix the dust cap on the left Yamaha!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Man I’ve tried!!!!!

[@dontcallmejon]

Joe is like that one teacher you actually enjoyed his class in HS

[@PlottingTheDownfall]

When is part two on the EQ and stereo widening going to be released? Good stuff. I just picked up the Mega Bundle after using pretty much 80% Waves for the past 20+ years and already my mixes are sounding more 3d like. Learning the nuances of the PA stuff, where they perform best etc.

[@PluginAllianceTV]

Thanks for the amazing feedback. We're really glad to hear that. Part two is coming, please have a little more patience with us and enjoy your experiments!

[@andrewreynolds2262]

@@PluginAllianceTV How much patience exactly. :-)

[@57Techboy]

Sounds weightier in the low end and has more upper harmonics push with the plugins.

[@chuck77ify]

Hi Joe, as you are widening on the master mix, would the track get widened again during mastering?

[@1urbanbassman]

Very informative. Looking forward to the next one. Any possibility you could do a tutorial on how to keep "true peaks" to an acceptable level? Does it matter if they go above 0dB?

[@PluginAllianceTV]

Thanks for your feedback! We are currently gathering ideas for more videos. True peaks do matter, if you want to put out your music commercially. Please check out the product page of the Brainworx bx_limiter True Peak and use it as a starting point to find some more videos on this topic. www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/bx_limiter_true_peak.html

[@1urbanbassman]

@@PluginAllianceTV Just looked at Justin's video. That's probably what I need (when it's on offer - lol). I have a specific question about how to use this plugin. What's the best way to ask Justin (or somebody else)?

[@PluginAllianceTV]

@@1urbanbassman For technical questions, please contact our tech support: www.plugin-alliance.com/en/tech-support.html

[@PluginAllianceTV]

Demo all of Plugin Alliance's products for 30 days. Start a free MEGA Bundle trial here: www.pa-megastore.com/mega/?

[@nicksaya]

cool. I have the bRauer template. It is sooooo deep

[@zenmixproductions]

Hey Joe, where is the blog where you talk about the Iron plugin? I looked on the web sight and couldn't find it. Cheers!

[@PluginAllianceTV]

This is the blog post he is referring to: www.plugin-alliance.com/en/blog/blogpost/items/spl-iron-with-joe-carrell.html

[@stevewoodyt]

Why did you flip the video so it’s like you mouse with your left hand?

[@hakangurdol]

All ways it’s much better to use subgroups processing, my choices is same to, it keeps acoustic recording on it’s original, in old times like using Adat recorders i use to process for the dynamic range while in recording session, because we newer had a lot of choices to use after recordings. 😂😂😂, now i have the mix master bundle for monthly subscribers.

[@PluginAllianceTV]

Thanks for your support and sharing your experience!

[@KevinStCroix]

I do not know how the algorithm of a transformer can sound amazing. Does it know what content you are putting into it to then affect the sound of it? I do not think so, but correct me if I am wrong.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Does an analog transformer know the content that has been put into it and then know how to affect the sound? I think I’m probably very much misunderstanding the question. All I can tell you from my perspective is that I do love tubes and I do love transformers and use them heavily in the hardware world. And just as I like the real thing I find that I like the software in relations that accurately do the same thing. I like them because I can hear the difference. If you can’t hear the difference or do not like them definitely do not use them. Make your own years happy and have a good weekend.

[@kagaro99]

Yup yes yup

[@aviatedviewssound4798]

beware guys only use the opto section when your working with bass or synth as it cuts a lot of the high starting at 12 khz so only use the vca section on your master that sounds incredible.

[@todddammit4628]

Are these preamps new? I own the SSLs and don't have those as options.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Hey Todd thanks for watching. If you have mega bundle there are a handful of options in your library. The Lindale 80 series and 50 series both have a preamp plug included. Also the Neold. Use them!! The accumulation of those various tubes, transformers, op amps, do make my mixes better than they would be without them.

[@lesterhein1]

Anyone know the name of the fader bank he is using to control the DAW?

[@andrewauten7415]

Its either an avid artist mix or an S1

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

The avid artist. I just need something for volume rides. Pretty much the only thing I do with it.

[@spn7594]

I think this technique could apply to "proper" recorded sound, like little bit consistent tone and gain. What about, if we only have 2 channels entry level audio interface, we have to do something before touch the groups/buss, right?

[@PluginAllianceTV]

You can try each of our plugins for 14 days, so you can hear how they will work on your setup and if they are enough for your needs. Channel strips still make sense if you record your stereo input on different tracks and then add a bx_console plugin on each. TMT can be extremely helpful to create a "proper" recorded sound in such a case, as it will give you the variations between the channels of a real console instead of just hearing the same stereo interface on every channel.

[@spn7594]

@@PluginAllianceTV I have bx_console 4000 G, SHMC class A and separately lindell channel X already, they are amazing 😁

[@PluginAllianceTV]

@@spn7594 We're really glad to hear that. Thanks for sharing!

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Your interface won’t hamper you in this situation. It’s all in the box processing during the mix. Best wishes and thanks for watching!!

[@devarni]

Interesting approach! A bit more compression/color on the groups and less on the master (e.g. with a FET... the Elysia Alpha would surely be a possibility as it is also very transparent?) The Blackbox I do not like so much, but instead of that the Vertigo VSM-3 would also be an option?

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Yes indeed. The Elysia is a great tool. Definitely one of them that you should consider for this type of approach. The vertigo as well. Any flavor of saturation that you enjoy is the right answer.

[@precisionsoundworksstudio]

Nothing to do with with mixing plugs which are awesome and I love my PA plugs.... I am wondering what lav mic was used? Joe’s voice sounds great.

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Haha. Thanks! I honestly have no idea what the camera guy had. Thanks for watching!

[@filtafacta]

👍🏻 100

[@cartofgiant]

Save you soo much time

[@neorubi]

נחמד

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Where is the link to part 2?

[@PluginAllianceTV]

It's not out yet. Please subscribe to our newsletter to get notified: www.plugin-alliance.com/en/blog.html#newsletter-subscribe

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

@@PluginAllianceTV ahhh.... Thanks. Also, more insights from Joe Carrell please. :-D

[@tonyhudspeth3861]

cool... however "plenty of room " down the line ...if you have a pc from NASA lol cool video as always .. thank you

[@parkerstroh6586]

To my ears the low end sounded much more free beforehand, if you duplicated/channeled that low end around the compression you’d have the ultimate mix

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

Watch part 2 👊🏼👊🏼💥💥✌🏼✌🏼

[@parkerstroh6586]

Joe Carrell 🕺🕺🕺🏽🕺🏽

[@cartofgiant]

Dude you need to try atc monitor s

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

I love ATC monitors. Just a $9,000 short at the moment. 😂. Have a good weekend

[@coreystopperan9555]

No top down, no bottom up, middle out mixing??

[@massivebeatzz]

gotta let the comparison run longer and loop it - otherwise it' snot comparing same part of song , bypassed and active.

[@Proudtobe404notfound]

these stems are already mixed

[@InTheMixJoeCarrell]

I actually do the vast majority of all individual channel processing after the techniques you see have been applied.

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

Black Box squashed the sound a bit.

[@ProducerGio]

I love the mix but I dislike the lack of explanation. He says the plugin has a "different" sound or treats the audio "in a special way" but fails to be descriptive.

[@PluginAllianceTV]

We like a hands-on approach. You can try each of our plugins for 14 days to see how they sound and work for you.

[@sigmundklaus]

There is some rythmic (one every measure) click in the right channel, but sounds like an artifact of some sorts, really distracting :) ...