I'm starting to get into recording and stuff like that and wanted to go through the whole mixing/mastering process and such so I started writing a song.
The performance is pretty sloppy at times and I have never mixed/mastered anything in my life before.
Also, I'll probably expand on what I have so far so de there's plenty of room for that
Tips/tricks are very much appreciated
Ok so first of all, that track is pretty awesome. I love the ambiance and I dont know why but i have a very peaceful vibe out of it!
As for mixing goes, have you added the reverb after recording or did you record with the reverb?
Secondly, In my book, i have two types of recording and mixing and all that. Scratch recordings which i use when I write a song and therefore create a demo. The point of it is not for it to be tight as much as it being a decent recording that give a good idea of the song I am trying to make and the direction its taking. I will use all the effect I want on it and wont do much of work on it. I will do brutal edits on it, leave lots of artefacts and just... you know try to create and shape a song. I will then give it a very rough mix with all the automations or what not to once again give it shape. Not as much for having it ready to be mix properly or even mastered. Mastering can be incredibly difficult so I just skip for this step.
Once your song has taken shape, you have it fully or at at least 90% done, then I would jump into the pro recording. Means that I slap new strings on my guitar and I record everything and try to have clean tracks and tight tracks (or tracks that serve the song). Then on my side, I will send it to someone to mix it and master it for me because I cannot do it on my own material without being bias. For best mixing possible, fresh ears are always preferable. But for home made projects, it can always be great to perfect and expand your mixing skills so in your case, by all means, have fun and try to mix it on your own! Even more if its instrumental because what I say is true for me simply because I cant stand my vocals.
But thats true for very well produced material which is huge stretch for a lot of people. The point of it is to always serve the song. For exemple trashy punk band or grunge bands, you dont want the recording to be nice and shiny. You want it to reflect the vibe of the song so it wont matter, for exemple, if the performance is sloppier. The truth is that there are many truth and that so many different things apply so in short, its a case by case basis and the goal is to always serve the song.
Jesus christ that was a lot, I hope I helped, let me know if you need anything more on this technical side of things.
