REFERENCE TRACKS in Mixing and Production / Voxengo SPAN Tutorial

[@OldMateMuz]

Yo everyone! Use the VST version, not the VST3 version of SPAN. VST3 has only 2 channels in the input routing, not 8 like in this vid, and the side chain option doesn't come up in the Ableton device window of span. Would rather be making beats, not trouble shooting. This is my good deed of the day, now i can go back to being a jerk and start squishing ants ;) hahah.

[@dilbydj]

Super annoying right?! I wish Ableton would add that sidechain option to VST3 devices.

[@Lucassnydermusic]

THANK YOU

[@mattgolsen5895]

Found this after I found out SPAN plus (also free) has import and export features which accomplish the same. 😅

[@fabianadastra]

Hi! I tried installing Span as Vst by only downloading this option when installing but it did not show at all on Live. Any tips on how to make the sidechain option work ? thanks update!* I fixed by saving the installed span folders on the same folder where Live is looking for vsts and problem solved!

[@riccardozinesi8926]

@@fabianadastra it's work?

[@RobeFlax]

Commenting as I keep coming back to this vid - the most straight-forward explanation of Span. Thanks!

[@buddahcrib]

Interesting and well produced video. Right on Bruder!

[@arthaum7937]

The awesome thing is that this doesn't age! Just used this again to set up SPAN for reference after I got a new pc. Thanks Dilby!

[@dilbydj]

Awesome mate

[@ahucklesby1]

this is such an underrated channel man, appreciate everything you've put out

[@dilbydj]

Thanks mate, much appreciated!

[@ozan2easy780]

absolutely agree with you

[@KrankTacular]

Lovely to hear another Kiwi voice in the production tutorial world. cheers for the hints, I had no Idea you could use Span that way. Saves me a bunch of money buying Reference 2 for the same purpose.

[@dannyfrederixmusic3312]

Top Video, I use reference to do this normally, I didn't realise you could use Span like you have, that plugin just keeps getting better. I'll be sure to implement this into my workflow.

[@RDH.85]

Brilliant tips for referencing, especially on the Span settings most helpful part of the vid to see the visuals after the fact.

[@designzonebeats]

This was great thanks. I like hearing trips from people who are actually releasing music.

[@rizlamusic]

You’re always super informative man 🙏🏻

[@ALifeTheKidd]

this is a FIRE CHANNEL

[@xmazzix]

Thank you once again Dilby!

[@TrinoEpaminondas]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge man!

[@zackatreides8025]

Span has become a good fellow now! Thank you

[@NickBenet_ok]

green tea jajajaj you are the best DILBY

[@alexjofer]

Congrats nice tut! Keep coming

[@LexaJuneD]

Definitely some good tips in here, thank you!

[@oramics]

Content is always great man. Definitely going to become a patreon member

[@kuskimusic]

why don't I have the sidechain option on SPAN when i click the triangle? does anyone know how to get it to show?

[@edhood]

I noticed the same when using the vst3 version - but with the vst2 the sidechain option is there.

[@jvstcass]

@@edhood Thanks.

[@dilbydj]

It's not available in older versions of Ableton. Could be your using an older version. Or make sure to use the vst2 version of Span

[@aethamusic]

@@dilbydj Had the same problem - definitely have to use the VST2 version for sidechain options to appear! Thanks man!

[@paenic-]

@@aethamusic Do you have a link maybe where I can find the VST2 Version for mac? ....I everywhere just find the VST or the VST3

[@mrgibonskc]

cool idea, I didn't know about this useful settings in span plugin:) thanks a lot!

[@bragehofgaard8914]

This is soo good content!🔥🔥🔥

[@anthonyzmoda3106]

This is so extremely critical!!

[@axdx182]

Great tutorial! Where do you download reference tracks? Are you using .wav files?

[@dilbydj]

Buy them from Beatport, Traxsource, Bandcamp, etc. Support the artists who's work you admire. WAV or AIFF is better.

[@Rhekluse]

What are your thoughts on 'Correlation'? I know its best to stay in-phase (+ correlation) but how strict are you with keeping everything completely in-phase according to the meter, especially with synths & fx (reverbs & delays)?

[@dilbydj]

It can be tricky, as some of these stereo effects sound so nice but really screw up your phase correlation. Stereo Savage is particularly bad in this regard. But, in the end my approach tends to be more practical than theoretical (which is how I like to produce). I hit the mono button on my interface and if it still sounds good amd I can hear everything then it works for me.

[@pcon5957]

Another great video, this is such useful information thanks

[@dantelaratapdance]

Quick question Dilby, perhaps I missed it in the video. When comparing tracks, what level do you put the reference track at in ableton? Do you leave it at zero? Do we lower it by 2-6 db? Assuming theirs is going to be louder signed to big label etc. I feel like it’s not a fair comparison unless I lower their tune when bringing it in ableton

[@dilbydj]

@@dantelaratapdance yeah, you're correct. I would always add a limiter to the master and match the loudness (LUFs) of the reference track.

[@zenoalteamusic]

You're amazing sir, thank you for sharing all of this knowledge!

[@ant-ohh]

Thank you so much...this is so helpful.

[@dilbydj]

Glad it was helpful!

[@vecstercreatives346]

Thanx a lot for this video!!!

[@LazayLada]

Great video!!!

[@SoneczKnote]

Does a high crest factor equal to a loud mix?

[@dilbydj]

I would recommend using a loudness meter to determine that. There is a descent free one from Youlean Audio

[@SoneczKnote]

@@dilbydj gotcha 👌

[@lifelesun]

Extremely good video.

[@dilbydj]

Thanks mate ✌️

[@p.b2505]

Nice one man big thanks !! 👍👍

[@HumanMotives]

Fantastisc video, appeciate it 🤘

[@JurassicTrance]

Awesome content mate. Very well presented and super helpful. liked + subbed. Cheers

[@fellasboyz1272]

I don’t have the same routing view as yours. Is it maybe yours is span plus, the paid version? i don’t have the second analyser spectrum option.

[@dilbydj]

Mine is the free version

[@BingBoing652]

Sort of random but what was that circle chart behind you in the beginning of the video?

[@dilbydj]

It's based on a music theory called the circle of fifths. This version is from Mixed In Key and is called the Camelot Wheel.

[@abelmartinezdj]

Thank you for sharing this tutorial. Would be great a tutorial about why you do the kind of busses you do 🙌🏻

[@dilbydj]

All explained here bro kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmfWnmSvfLynis0

[@mauricegee77]

any advice on how to fix low energy in the low-mid & mid range compared to the reference track?

[@philippdoublep5041]

Thank you, it's great!!

[@alterego161]

superb! thanks for this one. subscribed :)

[@dilbydj]

Nice one ✌️

[@rarara-c7l]

Thank you!!

[@victorarrudadj]

Nice video!

[@paulwelding]

If you have Sonarworks on your master bus, does routing the reference tracks to ext out bypass the correction?

[@dilbydj]

Put Sonarworks last and you will be fine. I do it this way as a sonarworks user.

[@jamalyannicguzmansierra7996]

He Dilby! THX for sharing your Content Would be very nice if you can share a full Mixdown Tutorial. And how do you add some nice side signal to your overall mix? in which combination/variation do you use EQ's and Compressors? first compression and than EQ or in the opposite way? Have a nice weekend!

[@dilbydj]

Will have a think about how I can incorporate some of this into a video.

[@RobeFlax]

Nice 1, thank you

[@dilbydj]

No problem 👍

[@alexcoastmusic]

Excelente info, gracias! :)

[@dilbydj]

You're welcome bro ✌️

[@ShivasInSingularity]

The actual Span is on the master channel right? When you choose the routing how do you see that input 3 and 4 represent the reference track? My Span has letters instead and when I choose C and D I get the signal into Span but I don’t understand how to know that the reference track is on C and D?

[@Spek7]

My reference track was "Dilby - No more love" before watching this video. (Talk about weird coincidence)

[@sebastianzborowski9499]

Thanks a lot ! 🎉🎉🎉

[@jasmineperez5695]

Impressive Video 💗

[@dilbydj]

Hey, thanks Jasmine 👏

[@tunerterror]

il never can get to -8 lufs, how i achieve that. always max 9,5 lufs. and my track in span stays frozen while the ref track is moving ? thanks for your help man

[@Justin-pd4vb]

Hey Dilby thanks for sharing this! Really helpful. With your LUFS levels being so similar straight away, just wanted to ask if you had any mastering chain or other processing on your master bus at this stage? Cheers

[@dilbydj]

Good question bro. I just use a limiter to bring up the loudness to a comparative level. My actual mastering chain would have more, but if I'm just loudness matching for comparison I do it quickly using only a limiter

[@samuelsonder5712]

Did you mix into a master chain before doing this?

[@brianhamiltonsf]

Metric ab sometimes goes on sale, it is currently only $29

[@dilbydj]

Nice one 👍

[@tunerterror]

jup its best

[@cameronthornber5103]

can anyone help on how to do this in FL Studio. struggling to do the sidechain part so that it shows master and ref at same time. cheers

[@brianbiggs1637]

does anyone know why when you lower the track volume (highlighted light blue button in ableton) the Loudness Meter LUFS does not change? I'll lower the reference track's volume so low I can't even hear it anymore but the Loudness Meter stays the same.

[@dilbydj]

That volume fader is after the track contents. To do what you are trying to do you should lower the clip gain of the audio file or put a utility before the loudness meter. But, why would you want to do that? What are you trying to compare there?

[@brianbiggs1637]

@@dilbydj thanks for getting back! I'm trying to match the volume of the reference track by ear and visually confirming with youlean to my track. My confusion is why the volume fader is brought down -2db for the reference if it has no affect on Youlean loudness meter? Seems like lowers volume for my ears, but then creates a misrepresentation in youlean because the -2b reduction is not registered. Sorry mate I'm sure this is simple and I'm missing something.

[@mookymookymooo]

this is dope as, churr

[@aslan0697]

Dilby just i dont understand something that true peak is going to peak both of them so that lufs about make dynamic our track and is that make for gain staging? So like preparing gaing staging ? My mind confused about that true peak and lufs.

[@aslan0697]

İf we turn up db master channel our then if we dont make mix about like kick bass mix then that mad frequancys are they gives damage for the wrong lufs ?

[@dilbydj]

Hey mate, I am really struggling to understand your question. But in vey simple terms, peak volume is the volume of the loudest point of the track. If ignores dynamics and only tells you the value of the highest peak. LUFS is measuring the loudness of the track over time, a less dynamic track with a high peak volume will have a lower LUFS which means it is louder. True Peak is used to explain something that happens during audio conversion (especially when encoding mp3s) where the output of the file goes above 0db even though the peak of the source file was not louder than 0db. The increase is a byproduct of the conversion process. I know this, but I may not be explaining it in the most articulate way. I would suggest you try to find something that explains it in your native language. It may be much easier to get an understanding.

[@aslan0697]

@@dilbydj Yes ı know them your all say it :) As ı turkish then its really hard a find deep nice things. actually my english not enough for explain my counfused mind. so ı tryed then thanks a lot your feedback. :)

[@aslan0697]

also ı get everything now :) ı've just watched your diffrend video 3 AMAZING MIXING HACKS for faster and easier mixdowns! then in the span your reference track show more lows and you said then when ı make mixing and balance with kick and bass wiht eq's comp's or something then my low side gonna be match. so ı understand everything now :) so what i mean. i tried asking that problem

[@vinylmastersgr1036]

I have tried it but I think it makes something like reduce the volume for one second around 5-6 times in a song, I can't understand why.

[@dilbydj]

It sounds like you are using Span Plus in demo mode.

[@vinylmastersgr1036]

​@@dilbydj No one friend of mine has bought it. But the reason of reduction is that I used it for balancing a full mastered song from vinyl!, it doesn't shut up the volume for second. Just in some parts of the song it's some reduction of volume. Maybe all these plugins are not for vinyl restoration, some friends who are musicians this have told me. They are for separate stems kick, bass, vocals, guitar etc. They have told me that by using these plugins, many basic frequencies are removed, even when de-crackling the vinyls in a soft way.

[@dilbydj]

But span is just a spectrum analyser. It doesn't do anything to the sound.

[@vinylmastersgr1036]

@@dilbydj ok thanks!thought by putting a reference track changes something

[@RobeFlax]

Back again to relearn reference tracks settings. I think at this point I'm just trying to set my algorithm up to pull this video up when I start youtube. 😆

[@dilbydj]

🤣

[@neovincibeats]

How do u route refeence track into SPAN

[@dilbydj]

I show you in the video

[@neovincibeats]

@@dilbydj yes it's different for reason studios you have to route the reference track into the back of the plug in but thanks

[@dilbydj]

@@neovincibeats Ah, ok. I hope you figure it out. I have no idea. FYI, It would have been much clearer what you wanted to know if you mentioned Reason Studio in your question.

[@juna8796]

Thanks for the vid, but can you explain how to setup the side chain with Span & ref tracks in Logic pro? As usual Logic makes a meal out of it...

[@dilbydj]

Nope, I can't mate

[@juna8796]

@@dilbydj No worries. I asked Aleksy from voxengo for advice and he says its not even possible without the paid version? Not sure about that whether they took the feature away- i have version 3 (free version) and dont see the same options as you in the video when routing.

[@dilbydj]

@@juna8796 no idea mate. I have the free version. Would be kind of dumb if they made if worse on and update 😂. I don't use Logic and never have so I can't offer any advice on it .

[@juna8796]

@@dilbydj No sweat mate, thanks for the reply. I managed to figure out a work around :)

[@GalaxiaDeFavio]

How to get the tracks thought?

[@Juline1221]

Make sure y'all save it as a present too so u don't gotta do all everytime 🙂 🙃

[@LazayLada]

I felt your pain at 19:00 lol 😂 fucking tinkering

[@vinylmastersgr1036]

I have tried but sometimes reduces the volume in one song.

[@dilbydj]

See my other comment

[@BrysonPrice]

13:35 👌🏼

[@Bor0d1n.]

👏

[@priyanshupriyadarshi12]

i see you're gating the vocals here but the noise level is way too high and slightly distracting

[@MrSimpotic]

Your Hi-freq sound is higher than 20K - Why didn't you show what you can see there on EQ? This is not very good and understandable - why don't you look there - this is not clear, not obvious. Where do you have the red line on the right on EQ?

[@dilbydj]

I really don't understand what you're asking mate.