Message 3/10
Date: 03-Nov-02 @ 02:10 AM -
RE: reviving a mix
Sadly, overprocessed files will generally always sound that way. Not much to do for getting the original dynaics and tone back. Coupla things to try:
Expansion and or stereo narrowing/widening. For some parts a bit of expansion might help to reintroduce some harmonics. I've also had some luck with Ozone's Harmonic Exciter for some tracks. You might also try either making bits more mono (sometimes helps for drum bits) or in some cases, widening the sound.
Distortion. A bit of distortion, or more like saturation really, can sometimes introduce some warm harmonics if stuff has gone a bit brittle.
If the sound is really dead, you're probably better off trying to rerecord/resequence. It's quicker in many instances.
Some things I do when I mixdown an old track are:
Turn off any FX or FX tracks, solo the drums and bass to make sure they're grooving together, add in one or two elements at a time dropping anything that makes things muddy, re-eq everything, overcompress/over-effect/distort one or a few of the tracks, get a good balance, add back in the FX and/or FX tracks, get it to sit, and bounce it down to a two-track. Leave it for an hour or two, then come back and see what havoc you have wrought...=)