Psychoacoustic Secrets For Mixing Music: Learn How To Hear What's Really There!

Learning the psychoacoustic principles behind the way we hear sound will improve your mixes and critical listening skills! To learn more, check out Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernhard Seeber's video series here: geni.us/mbwlC
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[@RexLabsproduction]

This level of knowledge for free?? Im absolutely in debt of Audio university. Nothing but gratitude

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad to help, Rex Labs! Thanks for watching.

[@OjanMusic]

Yeah why not he’s getting paid for the ads

[@RexLabsproduction]

@@OjanMusic that knowledge is expensive my friend, admoney might worth only pennies in comparison.

[@mrNCSUman]

@@AudioUniversity literally I go to school for audio and felt like I was in a class lol

[@gravity00x]

😂😂😂😂😂 paid actor

[@devp3039]

This is not only helpful for mixing/post-production, but is also extremely helpful for songwriting/pre-production. For example, if either the melody guitar or the rhythm guitar was played one octave higher, the masking effects would likely diminish greatly. Or, if that's not an option for the song, using a different guitar/mic/mic placement to help accentuate higher frequencies on one of the tracks. Great video!

[@nzyme]

I really appreciate the level of clarity and simplicity you use to approach these kinds of topics. I think was intuitively aware of masking effects but now I have something concrete I can use.

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks, Nzyme!

[@zekebeukes7380]

This video needs to watch a few times. There is so many valuable information that can change your perspective of equalizing. AU never dissappoints with their content

[@MikeS-1969]

Knowing something is one thing but being able to transmit that to an audience in an easy to understand way is a different skill altogether. That is what we experience here and that is why these videos are so good. Thanks!

[@AudioUniversity]

Thank you, Mike!

[@simonlinser8286]

Dude you really remind me of a good friend, when we were younger, he's no longer around unfortunately. You look really similar to him. He got killed by some jerk trying to rob him of a small amount of cash. Rock on bro thanks for all you do. You do excellent work.

[@JSRF420]

I seriously love how informative you are. Exact sciences paired with terminologies, that are overall used without subjective misinterpretation.

[@laine1967]

This was very well demonstrated! Even a "fuck around and find out" type of producer like me understood and I will definitely put this info to use! Thank you

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad to hear that, Laine! Thank you for watching!

[@SFS440Hertz]

Fantastic channel! I appreciate that you hype up your sources in the videos. Thanks so much organizing and presenting this information!

[@aisharpproductions1351]

Subscribed. This level of expertise deserves it. Thank you for sharing!

[@zacharyburnham5131]

Fantastic video! Please keep making content like this!

[@sasamarjanovic2242]

This channel is pure gold...

[@donrich3927]

its crazy because you recommended the best video i could find on masking and also made one of the best ones ive seen

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching, Don!

[@nartkelmendi6675]

First time I saw a video from this channel. First time of many many more because this is quality production and information, amazing.

[@MsMerllin]

High quality content! Rare to see here these times. Appreciate it!

[@tomgleason5546]

This is amazing! I never thought i'd even begin to understand the science of this kind of thing!

[@Lasantha.]

This kind of content always brings me back here. Thank you very very much for this.!!

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching, Lasantha!

[@search.for.simplicity]

Have learned so so soooo much in this channel 👍👍👍👍👍 Thanks a million

[@faz0482]

Priceless. Congratulations for your channel! Subscribed!

[@capohd28]

Great info. I've always noticed in my acoustic band that cutting low mids always made things clearer. Now I understand why better! Thanks!

[@jerialice]

Thanks and Merry Christmas 🎄

[@stripedelicstudios]

Absolutely amazing video!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@zbytpewny]

Thank you for the "Upward Spread Of Masking"! Very helpful detail for details. 👏

[@mccarthysam]

Such a great video. I’d love to see/hear more examples of how masking works in a mix with multiple instruments e.g guitars/bass/drums.

[@caseymcbridemusic8321]

Excellent.

[@MatDuJardin]

very interesting, much love

[@zoefenton-]

You just blew my mind. 🙏

[@SavedPulley]

Absolutely amazing!!! God bless you my brother 🙏

[@atomicpoorboy]

Subbed for sure, thanks a lot. I've been having a bit of a hard time with the mastering process, You really made it friendly for people with a low level of music theory knowledge.

[@318h7]

very useful info, thank you so much! 🙏

[@viewoftheaskew]

That's mixing gold right there, thank you! Liked & Subscribed.

[@guywithacoolcivic]

This was amazing. Thank you for this video

[@davidkennedy3154]

Great video.

[@jobaecker9752]

Another superbly done video, with clear, concise information. I know as a drummer that my hi-hat often competes with a strummed acoustic guitar (with a stiff pick) in studio recordings. Most of the time we've just left the hi-hat buried because the strumming carries the time quite well on its own. But perhaps this opens up some new sonic doors...

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks, Jo, for this excellent example! And thanks for your kind words…

[@Promethalus]

either dynamic eq them or, if you can record them separately with not too much bleed, you might want to pan them away from the strumming guitar

[@EnricoCupellini]

Maybe the best video on masking I have seen on KZbin

[@sheeepman]

wwwoooahhh what a great great summary, thanks for sharing!

[@necroticpoison]

Amazing vid, super helpful

[@GloveBunniesVideos]

Great lesson. Thanks so much!

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you liked it!

[@WesMott1994]

How come I am just now finding this channel. All of the "5 easy tips to make your mix pop" from Recording Revolution are neat and all, but Audio University explains it perfectly, gives examples and provides sources. A++ Liked, Favorited, subscribed.

[@TraxtasyMedia]

very awesome video and yes, what I do in any project I work on at first: EQ with a Lowcut at 30Hz anytime. That mostly avoids rumbling and masking in the audiospectrum.

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

Dang it! This is - hands down! - the _best_ video I have ever seen about masking. I wish I had known this when I produced my first album.

[@clicks59]

Excellent Kyle. Thanks for sharing.

[@AudioUniversity]

Thank you, TB Player!

[@juanchis.investigadorsonoro]

Thx for the extra link. ❣️

[@vacidized5434]

Big thanks bro!

[@AeGeR97]

Thank you!

[@emiel333]

Hello Kyle. Again, I’m impressed by your knowledge! Great ❤ video and keep up the good work my friend. Stay safe and healthy.

[@cloud9savagehenry]

Very helpful.

[@philippgrunert8776]

I had no idea making is that complex. It explains my results though very likely. I will keep this in mind next time. Thank you so much for this content

[@robynelarsonthesaxchick8277]

Awesome I am learning as I am going

[@molkoko8]

THIS IS GOLD. i am so thankful for your work, Audio University. We live in the most weird and at the same time the most amazing time. Can’t believe content of such level is provided for free. Instant sub. Cheers from Kyiv Ukraine ❤

[@briansumanofficial]

This topic is new to me and a very important one to learn to apply it to my mixes. Super informative.

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad it’s helpful, Create66!

[@Kurasoubeats]

Jfc this is the best explanation ever Man, you really went off!!

[@nedim_guitar]

Excellent stuff! There's not as much of this information on KZbin compared to "this is how you mix".

[@dongarcez]

Great job! 👌🏻

[@martheunen]

I often check out these videos for quick tips and tricks and for refreshing my knowledge on audio related stuff... Good stuff in a nice short quick format... Also, I get a huge 'poly bridge' vibe from the guitar track in this video :)

[@LeopardBull5trik3]

This was a very helpful, excellent video about masking. Thank you

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you liked it! Thanks!

[@profitnadeem]

This is a great tool I use on vox recordings when I layer tracks. Nice video!!

[@ofcl.faculty]

Trackspacer, Soothe2, Pro-Q3 or KirchhoffEQ sidechaining goes BRRRR

[@Lorichs]

Wow. Although I knew about this topic this video is by far the best explanation. Thanks

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks, Peter!

[@zimouspero]

Thata great.. o will study and apply into my studio

[@RecordingStudio9]

Thanks. Keep up the good work.

[@AudioUniversity]

Thank you!

[@animeshg9]

This is the best education channel for sound engineers..

[@AudioUniversity]

Thank you!

[@sake161]

Well deserved subscription

[@dewaadrian]

Thanks Kyle, very helpful for me

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad it’s helpful, Dewa! Thanks for watching!

[@IdovShai]

Great Video! Thank you

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching!

[@Tantacrul]

Nice video! Thanks :)

[@teashea1]

quite excellent and useful

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks, Thomas!

[@loganwelty7094]

Brilliant

[@dananskidolf]

A demonstration with such clarity that I feel it must have gone through a demasking process itself... :)

[@BeatsAndMeats]

Killer video!

[@JJUmusic]

Decrease lower frequencies to unmask high frequencies? It's like Lightning McQueen's turn left to go right. Counter intuitive but it works wonders in the right circumstances. Really learnt alot from this channel!

[@Migesteban]

Que buenos videos, son muy útiles.

[@omniburn]

sheesh, what an underrated channel!!!

[@CamariMusic]

Wonderful explanation

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad you think so! Thank you, Cleon!

[@ramanahaldekarr]

Details information 👌

[@amanat7861]

Woww i am so Glad that i subscribed this Channel quality Content for Free Wowww 🔥

[@leeuca]

Super interesting topic. I always remembered this effect by telling myself, that there is only so much energy a signal can transfer and I as a mixer decide which balance I choose. If I decide to keep more of the low end, e.g. for a bass, that energy is not available for the higher frequency spectrum. And as I already learned that lower frequencies carry a lot more energy than higher ones (just look at that impulse a bass monitor has), that explains, why cutting out the lows makes so much more room for the highs and why its better than boosting the highs.

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks, Andreas! In addition to the headroom problem, there is also a psychoacoustic problem. So even if the gear perfectly reproduced the audio, we would still perceive masking!

[@loredanamassini9484]

Theres lot of way u can boost shit breaking this law its Just a perception ...the same bass can sound 200000 times different ....idk

[@georgechadwick8642]

youTube really needs more lecture based series with less memes etc lol. Absolutely fantastic video mate, incredibly informative yet simple

[@richarddavis5542]

Great videos, this information is invaluable. I'm assuming these tests are for a mono mix. I would be interested to see these tests repeated with the noise in one ear (channel) and the tone in the other. Is the masking effect the same or how is it different? Is the masking effect reduced when there is more separation between L & R.

[@jimpemberton]

I do this when I'm playing background music for banquets or other events. People like to have background music and they also like to hear each other without yelling. I've long understood that background music can mask conversations. So I carve out space in the frequencies of the background music for people to talk to each other.

[@atk05003]

This is an interesting point. I'm curious, which frequencies do you most commonly reduce to avoid masking conversation? (Based on the information in the video my instinct is to guess lows and mids. Probably between 100 Hz - 2000 Hz. I just know that theory and practice don't always perfectly align and speech has a lot of nuance.)

[@jimpemberton]

@@atk05003 That's a good range to drop and you can even narrow it to a top end of 1000. At least that's my experience. If I'm in a new room where I'm doing this, I'll give it a go ahead of time if I can, crank the background music and try to have a conversation with someone. If I can hear them, I'm in the right area. The real test will be the kind of resonance a whole room full of people will have. Also, some masking of the din is good, but you want people right next to each other to hear each other. So you don't want to cut too much. So when the group gets in and I have the chance to talk to someone, I can hear how much of the din is being masked and how well I can still have a conversation. So I might make further adjustments after the event starts.

[@lucascameron5230]

Utterly wild that the high pass at 100ish hz just opened up all the mid and high frequencies! I've never seen this discussed anywhere else, but it's so simple, crazy that it seems overlooked in the gen pop knowledge of things.

[@zsteinkamp]

Fabfilter Pro-Q 3 also shows masking in a similar way. Just use sidechain to supply the "other" sound.

[@ThemisGeorgoudis]

Very useful and interesting information - nicely explained! Great work!

[@CrowkeeperStudios]

Hopefully this gets pinned, because there is another somewhat easy solution when dealing with this problem. Whenever you're dubbing over 1 guitar over another, or one cello over another or anything similar, it benefits you greatly to use different guitar when dubbing the lead. The reason being is that every particular instrument has a fingerprint of resonances and dips in its frequency response. A guitar that resonates at 250hz and dips at 290 will do that no matter what pitch you're playing on it. If you choose another guitar then its fingerprint will not match the first instrument and it will automatically largely improve the masking effect. Using the same guitar, or amp, or cabinet, or other instrument ontop of each other is the worst thing you can do and you're going to have to resort to mixing tricks to fight a problem, and even then it won't be as big of an improvement as will changing the fundamental tone on the dubbed track.

[@billpodolak7754]

Great video! Have you tried the new unmasking module in Neutron 4? How effective is it?

[@yogeshrajkumar490]

please make a video on setting levels while mixing

[@captain_crunk]

OK. Well. Huh. I'm not sure I've seen a more concise and easy-to-follow explanation of any audio concept as laid out in this masterpiece. It's basic stuff, I know, but the clarity and understandability is next level. _takes deep breath_ Welp, I guess I'll be exploring this channel like I'm binge watching something on Netflix, in hopes that the other videos are also this good. Thank you, and keep up the great work.

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks, Morgan! Hope you enjoy the other videos!

[@captain_crunk]

@@AudioUniversity It's good. It's really good. What I appreciate is that you explain fundamental concepts (extremely well) rather than wasting time on 'tips and tricks' / 'do this, do that' style of content found on a lot of other channels. With a fundamental understanding of the concepts I'll figure out the tips and tricks on my own. Teach a man to fish, as it were.

[@AudioUniversity]

Exactly! Learn the basics, everything else follows!

[@Wetwallz_45OT]

I think I just listened to a video that described frequency eq’ing and pannning in longer word form

[@leeow3n]

5:45 no wonder my 80s space effects have been challenging to mix

[@delicrux]

I have used this trick for years, Wouldn't it make more sense to use pink noise which is supposed to be shaped to match human hearing?

[@codgerfiasco]

Instead of eqing out the problem frequency could you instead pan only those specific frequencies (somehow) left and right? Or would that sound weird. Could you phase shift only one selected bit of the frequency spectrum by 70 degrees? Or is that not possible? Or if it is would that sound weird?

[@yogeshrajkumar490]

King

[@alsteooaai]

Hi, I would like to ask you something, I do PC production for passion, I use the PC while improvising or to make bases and mini pieces using an electric guitar with pedal and a mini keyboard, as headphones I have AKG K702 + amp, now for what I do would be essential a dedicated sound card? The goal is not to do things professionally and to the millimeter, but more to enjoy the sound in the headphones, in the end I do it for fun

[@dmitrypetrouk8924]

Just like lower passions cloud higher qualities in a person. And cloud itself is a useful metaphor here - water from below fills the sky, makes it less bright and makes Sun less distinct.

[@northwiebesick7136]

I'd love to have more information on individual instruments, such as hybrid acoustic/electric guitars and electric keyboards which is what our church uses... Technically, we use drums as well, but we don't have a big enough church to feel mic'ing up our drums is really necessary, so I don't include that in my question, although it would be cool to know that in the future I think... Also, while I did understand the information in the video, for the most part,(something about different EQ'd channels not having lines or frequencies, crossing, if I'm not mistaken? It can be high or low, just not both?)I wonder how one could apply this to a setup similar to the graphing software used, but mixer based. I mean, really, the x32 mixer graph looks really similar to that, except for the fact that as far as I'm aware, you can only see one instrument/voice EQ at a time, and it uses bars instead of waveforms but still the same theory applies I'll bet... I mean, would you just select each one individually, I reckon, and approximate based on that, then alternate between the EQ pages to compare? I wonder if it would be possible to have 2 EQ pages active at once to compare, to make it easier? Of course, if a PC based EQ system, like the one shown, could edit the mixer values that would be cool, but IDK enough about digital mixers, aside from "I can use one... Barely..." So yeah... More (detailed) content like this, about proper EQ of voices and instruments would be appreciated... Also, just thought of this, would voice EQ work the same as instrument EQ, for instance, lowering the EQ of a certain point for a person to separate the voice from another person or instrument??? I'm definitely going to have to try and see if anything is "hiding" or whatever it's called, in our mixer's EQ, for the commonly used instrument and voice EQ channels

[@xrabbz2010]

I love finding people that geek out on engineering as much as me 🎵 My biggest tip for masking (I make electronic dance music) is get a plug-in called trackspacer. I use it mid side mode on every buss excluding my drum buss and route the vocal into, it dips out only the mid frequencies that the vocal occupies, it’s like magic. However don’t use it as a crutch, us it as an enhancement very subtlety

[@rogcustom_2017]

Plugin called what? 😮

[@xrabbz2010]

@@rogcustom_2017 my bad hahahah, it’s called trackspacer

[@yelpo6388]

10/10

[@davidraper5286]

A eq question, do you have a basic setting you use for eq then adjust from there?

[@Quadr44t]

Edit: Oh, forgot to mention, but thank you so much for the upload! It wasn't enough, so I am already consuming the full lectures as I write this 🤣 4:12 So, was the reason that they didn't go lower than 100 Hz here, because they didn't wanna damage their playback devices, or...? (I imagine some wild interference going on, forcing the woofers to do weird abruptly changing motion instead of smooth sinusoidal ones. To explain my comment 😅)

[@Saberguy13]

Is this only applicable to recording or is this concept also at work in live mixing?