Pace Audio

Pace Audio Resource

Mix chains

Pop and metal starting points, track by track.

The insert order, starting moves and track presets used in the Pace Audio studio, built in Pro Tools at 48 kHz. Use them to get to a solid balance faster, then let your ears and your bounce analysis decide the final moves.

Settings are starting points, not rules. Every song, room and performance is different.

Pop chains

Insert order left to right. Settings are starting points; bounce analysis decides final moves. Pace Audio, 48kHz Pro Tools.

Kick

Pop - Kick
  1. 1Trigger 2
  2. 2SSL 4K E
  3. 3dbx 160 (FG-Dynamics)

Blend sample 30–50%; HPF 30 Hz; +2 dB at 60 Hz; cut 300–400 Hz; 4:1, 3–4 dB GR

Snare

Pop - Snare
  1. 1DeBleedSnare
  2. 2Trigger 2
  3. 31176LN Rev E
  4. 4Pultec EQP-1A

1176 slow attack, fast release, 4:1, 4–6 dB GR; +2 dB at 200 Hz body, +3 dB at 5 kHz crack

Toms

Pop - Toms
  1. 1VM Gate Drums
  2. 2SSL 4K E

Gate open on hits only; cut 400 Hz boxiness

OH

Pop - OH
  1. 1SSL Channel Strip 2
  2. 2VM FG-2A

HPF 200–300 Hz; shelf +2 dB at 10 kHz; 2–3 dB GR

Room

Pop - Room
  1. 1FG-Stress (Fatso SR)

Heavy crush, blend under kit

Programmed drums

Pop - Programmed drums
  1. 1VM Transient Shaper
  2. 2SSL X-Saturator

Attack +, sustain − for tight pop groove

Drum bus

Pop - Drum bus
  1. 1SSL Bus Compressor 2
  2. 2Bus Clipper

Sends NY parallel (FG-Stress)

2:1, attack 30 ms, auto release, 2 dB GR; clip 1–2 dB peaks

Bass

Pop - Bass
  1. 11073
  2. 2LA-2A Gray
  3. 3Ampknob BDH III (parallel)
  4. 4SSL G3 MultiBusComp

HPF 30 Hz; +2 dB at 80 Hz; LA-2A 4–5 dB GR; multiband holds 60–150 Hz

Synth bass / 808

Pop - Synth bass + 808
  1. 1SSL SubGen (if needed)
  2. 2Inf Bass
  3. 3Bus Clipper

Submerge sidechain duck from kick on busy sections

Guitars

Pop - Guitars
  1. 1SSL 4K G
  2. 2Inf EQ
  3. 3Fairchild 670

HPF 80–100 Hz; dynamic cut at 2–4 kHz harshness

Keys / synths

Pop - Keys + synths
  1. 1SSL X-EQ 2
  2. 2SD-D Chorus
  3. 3Fusion Stereo Image

Carve 1–3 kHz for vocal space

Orchestral texture

Pop - Orchestral texture
  1. 1Pultec EQP-1A

Sends TR5 CSR Hall

Keep below vocal; HPF strings 120 Hz

Lead vocal

Pop - Lead vocal
  1. 1Melodyne / Auto-Tune Pro
  2. 2Inf EQ
  3. 31176LN Rev E
  4. 4LA-2A Gray
  5. 5E2Deesser
  6. 6Pultec EQP-1A
  7. 7AirEQ

1176 3–5 dB GR, LA-2A 2–3 dB GR; cut 200–350 Hz mud; air shelf +2 dB at 12 kHz

BVs / doubles

Pop - BVs + doubles
  1. 1Melodyne
  2. 2SSL Vocalstrip 2
  3. 3SD-D Chorus

Darker and narrower than lead; HPF 150 Hz

Gang vocals

Pop - Gang vocals
  1. 1Group
  2. 2Fairchild 670
  3. 3Fusion Stereo Image

Wide; tuck 3–6 dB under lead

Vocal bus

Pop - Vocal bus
  1. 1SSL Bus Compressor 2
  2. 2VCC Channel

1–2 dB glue

Vocal plate

Pop - Vocal plate
  1. 1VerbSuite Classics (plate)
  2. 2Pultec EQP-1A

1.6–2.2 s, pre-delay 30–60 ms; HPF 300 Hz, LPF 8 kHz

Slap / throw

Pop - Slap + throw
  1. 1H-Delay (1/8 or 1/4 note)
  2. 2Inf EQ

Throws automated on line ends

Drum room

Pop - Drum room
  1. 1SSL FlexVerb (room)

0.8–1.2 s, low send

Mix bus

Pop - Mix bus
  1. 1VCC MixBuss
  2. 2SSL Bus Compressor 2
  3. 3Pultec EQP-1A
  4. 4Virtual Tape Machines
  5. 5FG-X 2
  6. 6SSL Meter Pro

Sends mult to VSX MON aux

2:1, attack 30 ms, 1–2 dB GR; FG-X to about −9 to −8 LUFS-I, −1 dBTP

Mix Chains — written and compiled by Michael Pace for Pace Audio from personal studio experience. Plugin and product names are used only to describe the author's own workflow. Pace Audio is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any plugin manufacturer referenced here. All trademarks and registered marks remain the property of their respective owners.