In today’s post we are going to be talking about using analog noise to fatten up your mix. Now this technique isn’t something I’ve used all that often, but recently it’s something I’ve started to subtly throw in on my mixes. Just a little touch of noise can actually go a long way.
There are a couple ways you can go about this technique, and all of them will give you different results and give your track a different vibe. You can use a console emulation plug-in, which is what I’m using here today, but you can also use a signal generator to add a small amount of white noise to your mix. A more tasteful alternative is to bring in a track of vinyl crackling and tuck that under your mix. There’s a variety of ways to achieve this result, it’s really just about what vibe you are going for.
What I have started experimenting with recently is using the noise section on the console shaper in studio one. Now I am using it on the lowest setting possible as that is what works best for me. Just that small amount of noise helps level out the high end of my mix, and fattens up the track with a little analog vibe. It’s not enough to audibly hear while the track is playing, but it’s there in the background giving the entire mix a nice analog boost to help it feel a little less digitally flat.
For me the higher the level of the noise the less pleasant and the less helpful it seems to be. On the second setting the noise seems to begin to fight against the high end of my mix which I didn’t like. It seemed like the noise was pushing down the hi hat and cymbals on the drums which gave the track an over compressed sort of feeling. Now the top 3 settings were even more extreme. These setting entirely altered the balance of the mix. It felt as if the noise was battling the rest of the mix for the forefront and it seemed to duck certain elements in order to compete. That’s not something I need when I am adding things like this at the end of a mix. If I wanted that much noise it would have to be in from the get go that way it doesn’t alter the balance of a finished mix.
Noise is an interesting new element I’ve been adding to my last few mixes, and I would definitely encourage you to try it out and see if you can fatten up your mixes with a little bit of analog noise.
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