mixing lap or pedal steel

J. Wilson · Post by **J. Wilson** » 15 Apr 2012 9:53 am

I would like to get some input on techniques for mixing steel guitar into a song. I have written a song and came up with some nice lap steel licks on my'51 Bronson/Supro, but I can't figure out how to seat it in the mix. I have the sound from the instrument I want and the mood... but try as I might it is challenging to figure out what to do with it in the grand scheme.

The song is simple:
1 voice
1 acoustic track - Eastman Parlor (Mahog w/ spruce top)
1 simple bass
1 banjo (simple rhythmic strumming - no picking)
1 lap steel
(no drum track yet just a click track)

I am using Garageband.

Any constructive advice is appreciated.

thx,
John Wilson
Winnipeg,MB

Randy Reeves · Post by **Randy Reeves** » 19 Apr 2012 3:31 pm

adding reverb to the track could give the steel a nice presence in the mix. I am a fan of panning instruments wide. well, not all the time. setting a track hard right and left can really widen the feel of a recording.
ultimately, it is up to your ears. what sounds and feels right.it is your work.

J. Wilson · Post by **J. Wilson** » 19 Apr 2012 5:47 pm

Thanks! I will give that a shot. I have some decent 'verb on already but maybe that panning idea will get something happening for me....
J

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 8 May 2012 8:14 am

I would pan the acoustic track and the banjo opposite one another at about 3 and 9 o'clock and see how that sounds.

Bring up the vocals to the center using a little reverb to broaden the spread across the stereo spectrum.

The bass should also occupy the center, but be sure that you don't have too many overlapping frequencies in the voice and bass.

As for the steel, if it is playing during the vocals, offset it a bit to one channel, balancing it out on the other channel with a little reverb or delay. Play around with it.

Use subtractive EQ to seat things in the mix better without cluttering.

J. Wilson · Post by **J. Wilson** » 8 May 2012 8:53 am

As for the steel, if it is playing during the vocals, offset it a bit to one channel, balancing it out on the other channel with a little reverb or delay. Play around with it.

Thanks Mike! So are you saying, for example, mix the lap steel at say, 10 o'clock with no reverb and then at 4 o'clock with some gentle reverb? Or go wider with 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 8 May 2012 10:49 am

Yeah, something like that might work nicely--just a touch of reverb on the other channel just to give the feeling of balance and space.

Not knowing the type of tune or anything like that, I offer these suggestions only as a starting point. Sometimes removing a little of the bass from some of the front and center instruments gives the appearance of them being back in the mix a bit--the same with high end.

Just experiment until it feels right to you. And listen to as many recordings critically as you can--you're bound to hear things you never noticed before.

J. Wilson · Post by **J. Wilson** » 8 May 2012 11:43 am

This is some good practical advice. Thanks! I will give this a shot tonight.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 8 May 2012 4:57 pm

Great advice from Mike! One of the panning possibilities is to pan the instrument to one side, and the reverb return, (or try some delay) to the other side. You'll find it amazing and fun how much difference a few degrees of panning makes as well.
Also, are you compressing the whole mix? A light touch with a nice compressor can help glue everything together.
And as Mike suggests, if you go back and listen to some of your favorite mixes, trying to "picture" and imagine how the instruments were effected, balanced and panned, and then try to copy some of those sounds, you'll learn all kinds of things.
Best of luck!

J. Wilson · Post by **J. Wilson** » 8 May 2012 5:38 pm

I never even thought of panning just the 'verb to one side until you guys brought it up. What a great idea. It just never would have occurred to me otherwise. It blew me away. I have spent a lot of years writing and playing but don't have much skill in the recording area at all. I am happy to try your great ideas.

Yeah there is some compression on the steel to increase the sustain and give it a more width overall.

Don't hold out on me now! More guidance is dandy by me.

J. Wilson · Post by **J. Wilson** » 8 May 2012 5:55 pm

pan the instrument to one side, and the reverb return, (or try some delay) to the other side

Any idea how I would do this with Garageband? Do I need any special tools for this? I have already recorded 95% of the lap steel part....

Sorry... like I said, I don't have a lot of ability in this particular area. It seems like a dark art or something, limited to those with a preternatural knowledge of the arcane...