šļø Mixing Tip: Enhancing a 2-Track Instrumental Without Stems šļø
When you only have a stereo instrumental, it can be tricky to shape it around the vocals. Hereās how to make it work: š 1. Mid-Side EQ Magic: - Use a mid-side EQ plugin (e.g., FabFilter Pro-Q, Ozone EQ). - Cut some mids (around 1-4 kHz) in the center to create space for the vocals, while leaving the sides untouched. This keeps the stereo width intact but makes room in the vocalās frequency range. - You can also boost the low-mids or highs on the sides to enhance the instrumentalās width without clashing with the vocals. šļø 2. Dynamic EQ or Multiband Compression: - Use a dynamic EQ or multiband compressor to tame clashing frequencies when the vocals hit. - Example: If the vocals feel buried, apply multiband compression to subtly reduce the instrumentalās midrange (around 2-5 kHz) only when the vocals are present. š¤ 3. Subtle Ducking with Sidechain: - Use a gentle sidechain compression on the instrumental, triggered by the vocal. - This makes the instrumental subtly dip in volume when the vocals are present, keeping the vocal upfront without noticeably affecting the instrumentalās energy. ā
Pro Tip: If the instrumental feels flat, add parallel saturation or harmonic exciters to bring it to life without overpowering the vocals. Hope this helps!