How To Mix Trap Beats In Reason 10
Getting a good mix on the new fire trap beat you just made just got a lot easier. Making beats is not only about loading up the Nexus Plugin and dropping some 808 bass lines. Mixing your beat is a vital step in the beat making process, one that cannot be overlooked.
Often times, we invest loads of money in new equipment and software plugins in order to increase our production and get the creative juices flowing. Each new beat revitalizes our grind and puts us closer to that placement, hit single, or massive increase in beat sales. One very important investment that we sometimes fail to make, is investing in our mixing skills and techniques. Below I have comprised 10 tips to a better mix. Check them out and apply them the next time your about to start a mix session.
1. Don't mix the track right away, after you make the beat, give it some time and let your ears rest.
2. Set aside separate appointment times for production and mixing. Mixing can sometimes hinder creativity. Its just like in the writing process: brainstorm, drafting, editing, revision. Don't do all the steps at one time. Finish the draft and then make the edits.
3. Set all faders to the lowest point, and then add volume to each track one by one. You should monitor the db metering of the instrument so that it is not clipping. I like to start with the Drums, specifically the kick drum first because the Kick Drum is the driving force in trap music.
4. Cut frequencies instead of boosting. Each sound in your music has frequencies. Some are used more that others. Bass lives between 39 hz and 150 hz. The kick drum hits hardest around 90 hz, though it depends on the sound you want. ETC. ETC. Instead of boosting the frequencies of those sounds, cut the frequencies that it does not use. This will clear up the mix, and remove artifacts in the music (i.e noise, muddiness). Instead of increasing the sound you want to hear more of, lower the sounds around it. Everything should fit together well without instruments sounding like that are clashing with each other.
5. Use Pan to give your sounds room to flourish
6. Level everything according to the genre: Trap has heavy kicks and snares, and the 808 is a key
sound! R&B has more melodic bass lines and lush sounds that need room to "breathe".
7. Shy away from compressors and limiters for now, we will use those in the mastering stage.
8. Give yourself a lot of headroom. You should be able to mix with your monitor or headphone low. You should not need a lot of volume at first.
9. Give your ears a rest, do not mix too many beats or projects in one session!
10. Always use all of your senses when mixing. How does the bass feel coming out of the monitor? Listen to the music; can you hear every sound coming in clearly? Look at the eq analyzers and the fader knobs. Does it look like it makes sense? Are the fader positions matching the sound that is coming out? Hopefully your studio doesn't smell like you never leave it, and keep a tasty beverage handy!
When mixing, a producer or engineer should work on getting everything leveled and remove any frequencies that are not being occupied. Make space for sounds and help them sit in the pocket by removing tones and using the stereo field.
Getting a good mix on the new fire trap beat you just made just got a lot easier. Making beats is not only about loading up the Nexus Plugin and dropping some 808 bass lines. Mixing your beat is a vital step in the beat making process, one that cannot be overlooked.
Often times, we invest loads of money in new equipment and software plugins in order to increase our production and get the creative juices flowing. Each new beat revitalizes our grind and puts us closer to that placement, hit single, or massive increase in beat sales. One very important investment that we sometimes fail to make, is investing in our mixing skills and techniques. Below I have comprised 10 tips to a better mix. Check them out and apply them the next time your about to start a mix session.
1. Don't mix the track right away, after you make the beat, give it some time and let your ears rest.
2. Set aside separate appointment times for production and mixing. Mixing can sometimes hinder creativity. Its just like in the writing process: brainstorm, drafting, editing, revision. Don't do all the steps at one time. Finish the draft and then make the edits.
3. Set all faders to the lowest point, and then add volume to each track one by one. You should monitor the db metering of the instrument so that it is not clipping. I like to start with the Drums, specifically the kick drum first because the Kick Drum is the driving force in trap music.
4. Cut frequencies instead of boosting. Each sound in your music has frequencies. Some are used more that others. Bass lives between 39 hz and 150 hz. The kick drum hits hardest around 90 hz, though it depends on the sound you want. ETC. ETC. Instead of boosting the frequencies of those sounds, cut the frequencies that it does not use. This will clear up the mix, and remove artifacts in the music (i.e noise, muddiness). Instead of increasing the sound you want to hear more of, lower the sounds around it. Everything should fit together well without instruments sounding like that are clashing with each other.
5. Use Pan to give your sounds room to flourish
6. Level everything according to the genre: Trap has heavy kicks and snares, and the 808 is a key
sound! R&B has more melodic bass lines and lush sounds that need room to "breathe".
7. Shy away from compressors and limiters for now, we will use those in the mastering stage.
8. Give yourself a lot of headroom. You should be able to mix with your monitor or headphone low. You should not need a lot of volume at first.
9. Give your ears a rest, do not mix too many beats or projects in one session!
10. Always use all of your senses when mixing. How does the bass feel coming out of the monitor? Listen to the music; can you hear every sound coming in clearly? Look at the eq analyzers and the fader knobs. Does it look like it makes sense? Are the fader positions matching the sound that is coming out? Hopefully your studio doesn't smell like you never leave it, and keep a tasty beverage handy!
When mixing, a producer or engineer should work on getting everything leveled and remove any frequencies that are not being occupied. Make space for sounds and help them sit in the pocket by removing tones and using the stereo field.
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