THIS Mistake Kills All Your Mixes

[@ideez_]

The results I see in the comments are super interesting! Everybody's choosing B (which is the most complex processing) and some of yall are wondering then what's the point of this video. Well, the point of this video is just to show you that even with a super simplistic processing, you can compete with a pro vocal chain. A definitely doesn't sound as powerful as B, but that doesn't make A a bad processing. The message is: understand what you do before you do it. And don't add cool plugins just to sound like the pros, cause you might get trapped!

[@timothythomasmusic777]

I thought "B" sounded better. It had more clarity but I'm listening from my phone's speakers and not headphones. But great information

[@aleatoriac7356]

same

[@P_TheEngineer]

I actually chose B because it seemed to have less reverb on the vocals. It seemed as if the reverb was sidechained to the vocals

[@ideez_]

The amount of effects (reverb and delay) is actually the same in both tracks! But the fact that B is way more compressed may give this feeling of parallel compression

[@vitaliy_belo]

I liked “B”. It had a bit more presence and thickness/density to it)

[@MrSine-lu5fv]

Definetly A. Sounds a lot more musical to me

[@ideez_]

Interesting! Thanks for the feedback!

[@YungstarProd]

B is better. It’s best to use the tools as necessary. The goal isn’t to be minimalistic. It’s about getting the exact tone/shape you want.

[@ideez_]

Exactly!

[@MoeThermodynamics]

Sure, B sounds more "modern". But A isn't bad at all. Natural vocals aren't bad vocals, and that's the point of the whole video. In real life you don't have a 20-something year old singing with perfectly sharp and controlled dynamics to your eardrums in a live performance. If mixing gives vocals (and everything else) character, imagine what it does to one's creativity if they always try to just make everything sound "flawless" and aim for the same feeling every time.

[@ideez_]

That's the EXACT point of this video! A can definitely compete with B despite the few plugins used. Thanks for the feedback!

[@1tigercat2]

I say B but damn! its close

[@1tigercat2]

I listened to the whole video and your point was keep it simple with few plug-ins. But clip B had many plug ins and A had few yet the 3 responses (so far) all chose B as the better clip. Oops did you shoot yourself in the foot?

[@ideez_]

Hahah maybe! It was just for the experience! There was no right answer here. I juste wanted to highlight the fact that even with a very simplistic processing (3 plugins), you can compete with a "pro" vocal chain

[@BAWHEELER]

B. not kidding

[@arvindbeeharry8214]

B sounded great. So what's your point here?

[@ideez_]

I wanted to know if people would enjoy A (the "basic" processing) as much as B, just for the experience. But it seems that B's better tho!

[@arvindbeeharry8214]

Ok. Makes sense. I've often wondered if my mixes were better with less processing and you are right. Back in the day they didn't rely on too much processing. But also back in the day, mixes sounded great because everything was recorded onto Tape. Which already added a slight saturation, compression and roundness. Not to mention, the consoles, preamps, etc etc. So perhaps with the right balance of Plugins a good mix will always be a 'good mix' regardless if plugins were used or not. Great playing, arrangement and performance play a great role. You have great content. Keep it up! @@ideez_

[@ideez_]

@@arvindbeeharry8214 100% agree with you man! I wanted to show that complex is not always better and that a very simplistic processing can sound (nearly) as good as a "pro" one!

[@tompenalva]

A is more natural and expressive.

[@ideez_]

Interesting, thanks!

[@MADIXOMAHA]

Less processing used to be needed when people were recording in the greatest acoustically treated environments available. Hundreds of thousands of dollars (likely in the millions after all the pro gear was added) was invested for those places to get the greatest sound at the source. You know why studios like that are closing all over the world? Because of technology making those environments less important. Because we can discover how to make a bedroom recording take sound very professional with the right pair of ears and knowledge/experience with numerous plugins in a chain. Each plugin might be making a 2-3% improvement, but this process is how we took the industry power back from wild hourly rates at million dollar facilities. This is how mixing engineers are making full-time incomes off of people who record their own albums at home. By doing the literal OPPOSITE of what you are trying to say in this video. Welcome to 2023 bruh.

[@ideez_]

Interesting analysis bro. But I agree, the richness of the millions dollars recording studios' getting lost because of technology. But we (sound engineers, producers,...) need to move on with this technology to litterally survive! That's the sad reality

[@firstnamesurname6550]

None of them

[@ideez_]

Ok bro😂

[@firstnamesurname6550]

@@ideez_ but not by the plugin treatment, just the performance B-/