Reference Tracks......

Electronic Music Production // Dark Arts
Post Reply
User avatar
nervejammer
quasi-public
Posts: 146
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:16 pm
Location: Badlands of Scotland...
Contact:
Reference Tracks......

Post by nervejammer »

Ok meat bags here is a question - what reference tracks do folks use on mixdown or mastering?

I usually use Tex Rex tracks on mixdown on real sub heavy tracks coz he pretty much hits it bang on.
For mastering i like using Mike Humphries stuff - he has a good loud balance without smashing it to bits.

If anyone isnt using reference tracks then look into it - it will bring your mix's/ masters on a lot.

User avatar
Wiu
Slowy J
Posts: 1316
Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 12:44 pm
Location: Horsham, UK
Re: Reference Tracks......

Post by Wiu »

I know I probably should, but I don't do this.
Thank you for the laughs, debate, new music found, production tips etc etc over the years. I wish Subsekt and everyone all the best for the future. Wiu.

chrisso
pregnant
Posts: 208
Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:35 am
Location: Down Under
Re: Reference Tracks......

Post by chrisso »

I use a variety of tracks that are close to the style I'm trying to create in. I would choose producers I admire in terms of production quality.
My room is compromised, so I'm not referencing parts and individual sounds, just referencing the overall EQ and the level of bass drums, hats etc.

User avatar
sam
Cold
Posts: 860
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:12 pm
Location: Auckland
Re: Reference Tracks......

Post by sam »

I should reference more too. I've used the Marcel Dettmann mix of My Black Sheep as a reference but probably for the wrong reasons. It's such a cool track with a thick dirty vibe and very dense in all the right places, but I've never actually made anything remotely like it.

User avatar
rktic
Utter Cunt
Posts: 1200
Joined: Tue May 29, 2012 12:45 pm
Location: Hamburg
Contact:
Re: Reference Tracks......

Post by rktic »

Hm, making one track sound like another one is a tricky route which may lead to a lot of frustration unless the stuff you produce deals with similar elements. And that's already a somewhat limiting approach towards creativity, isn't it?

Once you're using a rather clean and kicking reference track and your own one deals i.e. with a distorted lead there's a good chance you won't get even close since the mix balance is completely different.

That's why i have choosen to not use a track as reference anymore back in the day and go for a good metering setup instead. That consists of

a) a frequency analyzer
b) the k-12 rms loudness scale
c) my ears

User avatar
sam
Cold
Posts: 860
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:12 pm
Location: Auckland
Re: Reference Tracks......

Post by sam »

rktic wrote: a) a frequency analyzer
b) the k-12 rms loudness scale
c) my ears
Nice advices :-)

What RMS do you aim for on the K12 scale Ronny?

--

I still eyeball a lot of music with an iTunes visualizer that I've become accustomed to over the years just out of habit mainly.

While there isn't any single ideal spectral balance, in the early days it taught me a lot about how unbalanced my own mixes were.

User avatar
Mslwte
subsekt
subsekt
Posts: 5903
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:32 pm
Contact:
Re: Reference Tracks......

Post by Mslwte »

Wiu wrote:I know I probably should, but I don't do this.
I don't do this either, I have done in the past but I like to let my tunes take there own path and use my ears like a artist would use their brush :P

sometimes things work sometimes not lol
https://soundcloud.com/mslwte
https://noizefacilityrecords.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/subsekt909
https://www.facebook.com/subsekt909/
Lost to the Void wrote:Fuck off, get some tequila down ya neck and make some noise you cunt....

User avatar
Mattias
subsekt
subsekt
Posts: 3413
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 4:19 pm
Location: Sweden
Contact:
Re: Reference Tracks......

Post by Mattias »

rktic wrote:Hm, making one track sound like another one is a tricky route which may lead to a lot of frustration unless the stuff you produce deals with similar elements. And that's already a somewhat limiting approach towards creativity, isn't it?

Once you're using a rather clean and kicking reference track and your own one deals i.e. with a distorted lead there's a good chance you won't get even close since the mix balance is completely different.

That's why i have choosen to not use a track as reference anymore back in the day and go for a good metering setup instead. That consists of

a) a frequency analyzer
b) the k-12 rms loudness scale
c) my ears
Word.

However I would say its good in the start-up to have some good reference tracks. The more experience you gain the less reference you need.

Hey Nerve Jammer dont use Mike Humphries as your mastering reference, at-least not if its his Mastertraxx releases. His tracks are also delivered kinda smashed to mastering for other labels as well.
Music Page: http://www.facebook.com/Mattias.Fridell.Music
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/fridell
Sample packs: http://mfsamples.bandcamp.com

Contention / 005

User avatar
rktic
Utter Cunt
Posts: 1200
Joined: Tue May 29, 2012 12:45 pm
Location: Hamburg
Contact:
Re: Reference Tracks......

Post by rktic »

sam wrote:
rktic wrote: a) a frequency analyzer
b) the k-12 rms loudness scale
c) my ears
Nice advices :-)

What RMS do you aim for on the K12 scale Ronny?
I need to correct myself, i'm using the K-14 scale (according to the TT DR meter) and aim for an average dynamic range of -9db at an absolute headroom of -0.5db (that one's important - never ever mix to straight 0db!).

User avatar
nervejammer
quasi-public
Posts: 146
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:16 pm
Location: Badlands of Scotland...
Contact:
Re: Reference Tracks......

Post by nervejammer »

Hm, making one track sound like another one is a tricky route which may lead to a lot of frustration unless the stuff you produce deals with similar elements. And that's already a somewhat limiting approach towards creativity, isn't it?
Sorry folks - should have explained myself better.
By using a reference track you should be using it as a guide for balance and loudness along with an analyser - obviously the ref track should be in a similar genre.

User avatar
nervejammer
quasi-public
Posts: 146
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:16 pm
Location: Badlands of Scotland...
Contact:
Re: Reference Tracks......

Post by nervejammer »

Hey Nerve Jammer dont use Mike Humphries as your mastering reference, at-least not if its his Mastertraxx releases. His tracks are also delivered kinda smashed to mastering for other labels as well.
Mattias - yea noticed that with some of his releases - I have an older one that has a good sound but still loud enough :)

chrisso
pregnant
Posts: 208
Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:35 am
Location: Down Under
Re: Reference Tracks......

Post by chrisso »

Mattias wrote: However I would say its good in the start-up to have some good reference tracks. The more experience you gain the less reference you need.

I agree.
Of course I still use my ears, but as I don't DJ, I periodically need to check my bass drum isn't overbearing with low rumble, and my hi-hats aren't shredding people's ears. It's just a great ear refresher to stick on a production I admire and check out the balance and overall EQ (just for reference).


Post Reply