Backing tracks - mixing in GB

Question

Hi all. I am playing in a duo using backing tracks. We use mostly only the drum & bass tracks for the songs we do, just to try to replicate a 'band' sound. They were all purchased from the same place yet, the volume, bass and general dynamics of the different tracks varies considerably.
What i've done with the tracks up to this point is to create a stereo mp3 using Garageband. i import a click only and then the audio without the click. I then pan the click track left and the music right so that 1 side of the track is click and the other is the 'music'. I then export the mp3 to itunes and create my play lists from there - the backing tracks are all played from my ipad into the pa. Oh yeah, click goes to in ears, music goes to FOH through 2 different channels in the mixer.
The difference is so dramatic that during the gigs i have to adjust the output level to accommodate the different levels of the various tracks.
I believe the issue stems from the varying levels (and quality) of the backing tracks i'm using, so i really need to be able to mix them in GB so they are consistent
So, what i was wondering is how could i go back through all the tracks and adjust the output levels so they are all the same - where am i looking to see what level they are (not just trusting my ear). Can i do it in Garageband. What is the best way to do it. Or maybe it's less about levels and perhaps using a filter or eq to take some bass out, or a compressor or something.
Really looking forward to hearing any tips you can offer.

Answer 1

mitchy_ocker wrote:
Do you mean having every one of the tracks sitting in GB together 'side by side' so i can compare . Or do you mean just as i export the individual tracks to itunes.
If i do recognise a track as being louder than the other, what would be the best way to adjust. Should i just create a volume envelope on the track and adjust either up or down. How can i see what dB the track is playing at (this is what i meant about not only trusting my ears) - my point here is that the mix on my computer monitors is way different to hearing the track through my pa, so i was hoping to be as precise as possible.
The way I suggest is using a GarageBand Project more like a mastering Tool.
Lets say you have 5 Songs (5 audio files)  you want to prepare for your set
Create 5 Audio Tracks in GarageBandand and drag audio file 1 on Track1, audio file 2 on Track 2, etc
All Tracks are set their Volume at 0dB
Now you play your Project but listen to each Track at a time. You do that with the Solo function
About the Solo button. Clicking on a Solo Button will turn solo that Track and mute all the other Track. The problem is that you have to unsolo one Track and solo the next Track. But there is a hidden Key Command. Hold the option key down while clicking the Solo button. THis will solo that Track and un-solo any other Track.
Now when you listen to the different Songs, lower the Volume on those Songs that sounds too loud compared to the other. You can do the adjustment with the Volume SLider on the Track Header for each Track. I prefer to write it in Automation even if it is only ony one line (it still need two Control Points) to avoid that you move the SLider on the Track Header by accident without noticing it.
I don't go into compressor and limiting because that is a tutorial all by itself.
You are right about the listening environment. That is always an issue when mixing/mastering. There is a thing called "Isophones" or Fletcher-Munson Curves that shows the problem with perceived loudness. The short answer is, listen as loud as possible on good speakers to imitate the PA situation.
You are trusting your ears to judge the loudness but you are right, you have to keep an eye one the meter to judge the level. Unfortunately, GarageBand doesn't provide proper metering but you can use the Limiter in the Master Track Smart Controls.
mitchy_ocker wrote:
Please be careful with your panning. The Pan Control in GarageBand is a balance control not a "real" stereo pan...
I don't quite understand sorry. To create my mp3's, I have imported 2 tracks into GB, a click track, and also imported an audio track, so i have 2 tracks within GB. I then pan the click track left, and the audio right, then export. If i then import that mixed down track into GB i see a stereo track. If i play it through headphones i hear only click left & music right. Is that not stereo - I am new to this if you can't tell.
Here is an example. Let's say you have an old Beatles song were the drums are panned to one side (i.e. left) and the guitars are panned to the other side. If you would bring that stereo audio file into GarageBand and pan it extremely to the right, you would not hear the drums anymore.
You need two stage. If your audio file is stereo, then you have to make it mono first and then pan it to one side. This way, you have the drums and the guitars together. So make sure that the song you import is mono before you do the hard panning or get a Plugin that summs the stereo signal to mono first.
Of course, the song that you mix at the end (click left, song right) is stereo again.