Why Your Mixes Sound Small

[@BobDietrich1]

Consider automating the panning. Bring it in during verses and pan wide during chores. The contrast makes it seam wider.

[@FrightboxRecording]

Couldn't agree more! LCR mixing is where it's at.

[@JakeNolen]

Real recognizing real!! 🙌

[@jessedanger8788]

In Soviet Russia song mixes you

[@reidiculous4747]

In Soviet Russia, mix nails you

[@madmuso5]

In regards to width, the more two sounds are the same, the more they want to sum to the center, decreasing width. Two gtr takes (L and R) of the same gtr setup will not sound as wide or as seperated as two gtr takes from different setups. The two different setup scenario also leaves the center more clear as there is less common information from the two sources summing to the center. I do this with synth reverbs, rather than use one stereo reverb, I use two different mono reverb plugins (panned hard L and R), I'll select the same reverb type on both plugins, due to different manufacturers using different reverb algorithms etc, this provides the difference required to keep the center image clean and the reverbs nice and wide.

[@steamedyams18]

This is the best answer here so far. Even if you can only use one guitar and one amp/cab, at least have a different EQ focal point for each, like emphasizing high mids on the left and low mids on the right.

[@boobo3763]

Albini said to use two different guitars... I'm trying to sort out my guitar thing, right now... Lol!!

[@musicmansell]

@@boobo3763 Sometimes a great trick can also be just switching to a different pickup on the guitar. It will dramatically change the tone and sound just with a flip of that switch.

[@acidhendrix]

M/S EQ is huge for this once you get a feel for which frequencies you want on the sides vs middle

[@redskyorange3341]

I agree with Jordan. The only width plugin I use is one to give the lead vocal more presence. My mixes sound big and wide.

[@Vanes-NL]

The more high frequenties you cut in the guitars, the narrower it sounds. So be careful you're not cutting too much high frequenties

[@lionaudio]

EQ the left and right guitars differently. The more frequency separation from left to right gives the illusion of more width.

[@7AKV7]

Good solution to that can be mid and side volume gain and compression. Most of the time you just need more volume OR compression in the side, NOT stereo separation, it will just F up your phase.

[@christopher9000p]

The only time I ever use a widener is if I have a large number of mono tracks that all play off each other. I pan them around, route them to a buss, throw a widener on the buss, then dial in just enough stereo widening to give them a little extra space in the mix. I also keep wideners well away from anything low-frequency related; kick drums, bass guitars, synth bass, etc. You just need to know where to use them, how much, and where NOT to use them.

[@iamnebas]

Personally, I found that the width problem is just in my head. Especially when I've recorded the parts. I think we hyper focus our own performances to the point that it affects our perception of the mix's stereo image. I found that spending even a little bit of time mixing in mono, whether it is adjusting levels, EQ, compression, etc. fixes the perception problem for me.

[@cheery-hex]

Agree on the hyperfocus. I have listened to many hit songs and thought what if I was mixing this? And I'd start to find all sorts of problems and stuff I would change lol

[@MrNickDrummer]

Mixing is like painting on a canvas. X, Y and Z axis - 3 dimensions being Z the axis of volume which determines distance. wide mix will happen automatically like he said, once you master "painting" the mix canvas properly. Don't let frequencies fight for the same spot on this canvas and you'll have a naturally wide mix without any need for widening plug ins.

[@Stevo7388]

Mid/Side processing usually helps.

[@metalfather8139]

Careful cutting highs and lows also can narrow your guitar width

[@derekfrazier389]

I feel maybe his room could be attributing to some phasing issues? Not all of us have the best room to mix in, and we really have to get used to our rooms and know them very well in order to get great mixes that translate

[@BAwesomeDesign]

If your guitar parts are identical, then they will collapse to mono. Something to think about. This may have been overlooked. Make sure each take (on the L and the R) is different or else it WILL sound narrow.

[@aliissackaden1245]

Nice job

[@JacobraRecords]

frequency masking!

[@djerikfox]

..and if everything is stereo ..then nothing is stereo, 😁 no contrast in the mix..great tutorials..regards

[@derekdfarrington11]

Your mixes may sound small because they lack depth. Reverb may help, also not using compression on everything and making everything in your face all the time.

[@imperiusband]

Don't master engineering do width processing?

[@TheSpeedyr6]

Borat I love Tajikistan

[@joemarta8221]

My mixes got much wider after really focusing on very high quality guitar takes and then editing them to be tight. If your l-r guitar parts which are the same notes don't fall exactly together you instantly lose a ton of width even if you do every other trick in the book

[@metallicafan3124]

reading these comments after Jordan's email... sheesh

[@oinkooink]

Weak and thin...somehow it starts from the recording. Almost like there's potential for a recording to be 100/100 but the actual capture is like 25/100 and you're wasting 75 "something". I don't know what the numbers represent. But I feel like my recordings...the raw tracks are weak. They are not robust, strong captures/ recordings. Like an 80/100 or even a 70/100 "somethings" is a good strong capture. A 90/100 is great. But my raw tracks seem like I haven't maximized the potential of the microphone. And it's not from recording too far away. It's something else. Poor tone selection perhaps. Thin guitars out of the amp. A thin vocal/ weak voice. Maybe if I was recording Slash or Frank Sinatra I wouldn't have these problems.