Position the drone to fill spatial space while keeping chords centered
Designing the drone to occupy wide stereo space while keeping harmonic elements (chords) centered creates balance and depth.
Center the unison for a more focused sound
Reducing the unison width in Serum 2 creates a more centralized, focused sound while maintaining perceived size.
Use stereo auto-pan and plate reverb for spatial depth
Problem: dry or overly muddy sound lacking spatial context
Apply auto-pan for dynamic stereo movement, then use Ableton's medium dark plate reverb at 25% wet. Cut low frequencies in the reverb to avoid muddiness. Route the reverb through a return channel for precise control over…
Apply pseudo-width with hyper dimension plugin
Problem: narrow stereo image
Using the hyper dimension plugin at 6% mix and 25% dimension adds subtle stereo width. This technique enhances spatiality without overdoing it, making the stab feel more expansive in the mix. The speaker uses this to…
Use stereo imager to analyze sub bass width
Problem: unawareness of sub bass width issues
A stereo imager plugin reveals if sub bass is excessively wide, which is a common mistake in mixing. This analysis helps identify issues that would otherwise go unnoticed, ensuring the sub bass is mono for optimal…
Avoid overly wide bass for professional translation
Problem: overly wide bass for club/hi-fi systems
Wide bass may sound impressive in isolation but fails on club systems and headphones. This is a common misconception among beginners. Narrowing bass ensures it remains powerful across all playback environments without…
Narrow sub-bass width to prevent mix domination
Problem: overbearing sub-bass
Reducing the stereo width of the sub-bass ensures it doesn't overpower other elements. This maintains a balance between the low-end and the rest of the mix, preventing the bass from becoming too dominant in the stereo…
Avoid overly wide bass to prevent mix domination
Problem: bass overpowers mix
An overly wide bass can overshadow other elements in the mix. Keeping the bass focused toward the center maintains balance and allows other instruments to breathe in the stereo field.
Balance narrow and wide instruments for stereo width
Problem: flat stereo image
A mix of narrow and wide instruments creates a sense of stereo space. If all instruments are wide, nothing sounds wide. This rule of thumb ensures dynamic stereo imaging without losing focus on key elements.
Center vocals for clarity and presence
Problem: vocals lost in mix
Focusing vocals toward the center using a stereo imager (like Ozone Imager) ensures they cut through the mix without being overshadowed by wide elements. This technique is especially useful in dense arrangements.
Pan hi-hats on a scale for stereo balance
Problem: unbalanced stereo field
Panning hi-hats left and right in a balanced scale prevents mono-centric sounds. The speaker uses this technique to create spatial separation, ensuring the hi-hats don't clash with other elements. This is a fundamental…