Whats Making Your Mixdown Muddy?

[@ZenWorld]

Got this out in time! Time to sleep!!!

[@itsexxra]

Night😴

[@jb123abc]

Nighty night sleepy sleepy

[@architectofathanasia]

I think the lead sounds nice at the higher octave in the whole mix, doesn't sound cheesy to me. If you have Pro-Q3 you can do the same thing as you did with the neutron EQ but use the sidechain feature and make the eq cuts dynamic, that way the leads would still cut through and make for a clean mix without always having the mids (or whatever frequency) of your pads (or whatever sounds) cut all the time. Not sure if Neutron has a sidechain feature but if it does it's quite a powerful tool. Thanks for video man!

[@HumanBeingWithFeelings]

Neutron does have sidechain dynamic EQ. it's great!

[@deanlopez1978]

Man your knowledge is superb, 👌 world is a better place for having a Zen in the world, piece ninja 👌💚

[@KonJonnorMusic]

Thanks Zen , this is actually something I run into often that I don't pay enough attention to. Usually do fix it but its good to get another perspective.

[@nihaomao3063]

Waiting for the track to drop! Really good arp melody!

[@aaronhedgesmusic]

Some of the simplest ways to solve for masking is simply moving the octave of parts around. People often work too much by solo’ing parts and you might be surprised how something sounds if you just pumped up that arp an octave. Using a “V” shaped philosophy to production and mixing helps. Bottom of the V is low end, only one element plays there at a time and should be in mono. As you move into higher frequencies you can have more stereo width and information.

[@muncheez2553]

Very interesting point thank you!

[@ZenWorld]

Yes!!! I never knew of the philosophy of the V but always thought why not have this be a higher octave etc. just trying my best to not make it sound cheeesssssyyy.

[@Skrenja]

@@ZenWorld I struggle getting a "V" with the low end on the spectrum analyzer like I see on so many professional tracks. When I analyze many phat sounding dance and trap songs, the subbass and sustain of the kick around 20-30hz is the tallest part and has a nice, cohesive, even shaped and long decay. I can _never_ achieve that with my songs. My low end is always "rounder" and uneven. It slopes/tapers down towards the lower frequencies -- no matter how much I raise the volume of the sub, lower the other instruments, eq, saturate, compress, limit (or don't compress) the sub frequencies. Drives me absolutley crazy and I've been struggling with it for YEARS. Please help. 😔

[@AFRoSHEENT3ARCMICHAEL69]

This is actually why I don't use the peace hand sign. Peace is Pieces. V is separation. Opposite to Christ's hand symbol which means union of polar opposites. lol

[@anjinbeats]

Thank you for this, I had no idea I could use Neutron 3 in this way. Super helpful!!

[@emiel333]

Great video, Zen. Also nice sounding drums in the track.

[@aminchavez]

Zen, would love to see a vid on how to use fletcher munsen for mixing. I may be wrong, but I don’t think you have anything on your channel about this. P.s. hair looks good in the one bro 👍👍

[@nerdexproject]

Thank you for covering this! The guy who mentioned multiband sidechaining is right but sometimes it can also be an overkill. It's always good to know how to mitigate mud using an EQ. :)

[@ZenWorld]

My fear is always overthinking it! Multiband Sidechain sounds swell but with everyone talking about phase issues being presented with that it makes you just try to keep it simple. Always good to compare and go with what sounds best!

[@moremsht4237]

i watch your videos probably evry day! Great stuff man :)

[@goldenmushrooms48]

love u thanks for the tips my friend 🕺🤠❤️

[@mikeamoz]

You could use Fab Filter Pro MB . Run the EXT for sidechain compression, use the arp to trigger . Fast attack short release. Or to taste. Doing that and panning a bit of both pads might make some room for everything as well.

[@jakebrown3697]

dynamic eq too !

[@ZenWorld]

I’ve done stuff like this before but my only fear is hearing the *sidechain* on the sound. I’ll give this a go and compare!

[@ZenWorld]

@@jakebrown3697 I love dynamic EQ have it on the kick in this one to duck for the low mid frequencies of the SNARE

[@KonJonnorMusic]

FF Pro MB is my go-to, excellent plugin.

[@jakebrown3697]

@@ZenWorld I do that as well ! Sometimes If I have a clubby track that's sub heavy, I'll also put a dynamic eq on the kick covering like 50-70hz which helps the balance a lot.

[@leslienambo9818]

Your videos teach me a ton! Thank you. I also just got Deceiver 4. Super pumped to work with it.

[@hydralicious9315]

Great video. Thank you.

[@izlo7377]

Thanks Zen!

[@ko-jaxxedm9643]

I think layering up and cutting the frequencies is the way to go then you fill the full frequency spectrum up and wont lose the emphasis of the arp and have a bigger main lead too complainanting the arp focus of the track. So lead high low and mid with accurate eq then what you lose in the mids will be supported by the extra high and low just like you do with a chorus of vocals. Just a suggestion that how i try and dealwith mid frequency masking but its practice practice practice train your ears and make sure you have a open clear sound not muffled that what the ears finds most pleasant.

[@ko-jaxxedm9643]

Please leave feedback i appreciate it 🙏.

[@HercDeeman]

Keep it up bro, i have learned a lot from you all these years :)

[@zanderryz]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@PCKNS]

“We have this section in the track where we kinda go a little synthwavey” lol - is the whole track not synthwavey?? Excellent work. I really love the grind on the EXPLR Syncer as it pitches down at the end. Goosebumps.

[@ZenWorld]

You know at first I was like this be!! Lane 8 Progressive a house ! But you might be right. The elements just didn’t sound great without that vibe!

[@LP-ug9rv]

Got neutron and ozone on Black Friday, unreal plug-ins

[@We_Run_Up_Hills]

this song is a banger! will you ever release it?

[@AFRoSHEENT3ARCMICHAEL69]

What about using panning to separate those low mids? Would panning then slightly left and right work or would you still need to EQ?

[@simenga4414]

Less is more. Perfect example, also a way to create space is using different octaves for the instruments obviously. So you have different frequencies covered.

[@frostmor8069]

Thy Zen. Important video.

[@KellyZarzycki]

is the version of neutron needed for this the suite version or can it be the basic one called elements?

[@tanakaus]

The track sounds amazing mate!!...Are you going to finish it??

[@cjfromgtasanadreas]

Lovely track, I have something similar mix wise that needs solving, basically the same actually, this video helps thx

[@Kioselis]

THANK YOU!

[@rola8597]

Do you think it would be better to do this with pro-q 3 dynamic eq sidechained to the melody that is fighting for the same frequencies instead of eq cut? or use something like trackspacer instead?

[@flyoverfredusa]

Dynamic eq would be a far better way of dealing with it once you've identified the problematic freqs - cool vid though, great channel

[@andskimusic]

thumbs up Zen. you can do the same for basslines and pads i assume?

[@ZenWorld]

Yeah with logic ofcourse

[@visi0n14]

How would you choose between this approach and the surgical style EQ where you would cut everything below 400hz on that top lead and maybe a slight dip on the main one so they both have room. Either this or making one fully mono (but still keeping FX wide) and the other a bit wider

[@ay5r900]

There is a Plugin called TRACK SPACER which does the job

[@kaktusparty6305]

10:21 omg i love the automation

[@urphakeandgey6308]

I'd probably just lower the low-mids on the arp thing and heighten it on the main lead. Depends which one is more important to me. Might boost some highs on the arp thing so it can regain some presence elsewhere. But that's just what my quick noob intuitions tells me. I'm probably doing it all wrong.

[@yoshijaecques6890]

Trackspacer is the perfect tool for that.

[@aaronhedgesmusic]

Another great tip is to round off all your synths around 7k to leave more space for hats.

[@ZenWorld]

That’s a good one! I’ve used RC 20 and the vinyl patch on the synths and noticed my hats were coming through more. This is probably why!

[@KonJonnorMusic]

Dude this is a gold tip , think I got this from a Skrillex vid. Makes your top end way easier to manage

[@aaronhedgesmusic]

Yeah, I think I stole it from a JAUZ interview. I mean his style of music isn’t my thing but the tip stands

[@dnnstechno4914]

Really useful! Suffering from omicron after only having delta 3 weeks ago, keeps the quarantine interesting lmao

[@olimusmusic7537]

Zen, could you make a series producing a tech house ("In the Dojo" artists style) from scratch? It must be the request of many lol lol

[@artefact2162]

Thank you so much!

[@l.romain6447]

High is the way 👌🏿

[@Love-cp8sd]

I think you should have both low and high on different phrases

[@SaintScheriff]

Another one!

[@_ENOC]

Agreed, sounded cheesey an octave higher to me

[@sarkany888]

your hair looks so fluffy

i need one for highend too

[@onedayapp3534]

I like to use trackspacer

[@bobrobertsNotUrBob]

you should release this track as a project file, let your viewers edit it and submit it...just to see how others would do it. maybe make a comp out of it. great arp thou

[@ALifeTheKidd]

But Zen there is a Multiband Sidechain Plugin that does this... Instead of Routing it like you would Route a Bass to a Kick... The Plugin can Route The Synth to the Arp & it will trigger it to duck when both sounds are playing the same Frequency

[@ZenWorld]

I’m living in the PAST! What’s the name of the plug-in!

[@ZenWorld]

@Pahul Wadhwa ah I’ve seen it here and there gotta get my hands on it! Other way is to just use an audio effect rack and do it the long way ~_~

[@ALifeTheKidd]

@Pahul Wadhwa Yes thats the One...theres another one too if you dont like Trackspacer as well

[@ALifeTheKidd]

@@ZenWorld YUP, Wavesfactory Trackspacer ($50) I think... & You can Choose how much you would like & what Frequency to duck..

[@ALifeTheKidd]

@@ZenWorld But yeah you can do that except this pretty much does it automatically without you doing anything.lol

[@Matt_Morgan]

Honestly, I prefered the "cheesy" version.

[@abrahamclark767]

That arp sounds like it's from a $2000 synth

[@guzbass]

HOMEWORK 1:44

[@abhaysingh1334]

Second!

[@jayharley3059]

First

[@gaetanomason]

Higher is better