That "Pop" radio sound

[irecordyou]

How would I go about trying to get that "Pop" radio sound that is pumping, such as a Fergie song with a composition that has all the instruments being ReWired from Reason into Pro Tools, and the lyrics that have been recorded in Pro Tools?

[Naagzh]

There's an article in the Nov 2007 Sound On Sound magazine that breaks down a Fergie mix. Lots of McDsp plugs (Analog Channel, compressorBank, FilterBank), IIRC. Even so, it's really hard to take alot away from the article, because the raw tracks aren't available to compare.

But getting that "pop" radio sound is why those guys get paid to mix music: they're THAT good (or bad, depending on your viewpoint).

[craigdwlr]

I was just going to say... You should download a free trial version of the MCDSP ML4000 LIMITER, and put that on your master track... it would probably do wonders for your mixes, and there are a lot of presets to help point you in the right direction.

[Larold]

Short answer:

Hire a good Engineer.

[audiocase]

Short answer:

Hire a good Engineer.

... end of story


Although T-racks radio setting isn't too bad on songs if you're mastering ( or mock mastering) at home. But you must cut (eq) and compress the main individual tracks like vox, bass, guitar etc when mixing, e.g. highpassing(eq) vocals and bass to create more room.

[paul_g]

Saddly, I don't know who fergie is...
Just as I throw names around like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Page, and the kids at work have no idea who I'm talking about... Feeling old.

[Stiff]

irecordyou,

Just hang in there and practice mixing a lot. EQ is perhaps the most important aspect. A good EQed instrument might sound like [bleep] soloed, but great in context of the rest of the instruments. It's about making room as someone else said.

Saddly, I don't know who fergie is...
Just as I throw names around like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Page, and the kids at work have no idea who I'm talking about... Feeling old.

The can you tell me how to play like Stevie Ray Vaughan?