How to mix orchestration in metal

Just say no to aggressive HPF!

Orchestral parts can add a lot of dynamics, character and interest to metal songs, but because most of us are unfamiliar with how to approach them, they often end up treated as an afterthought in the mixing process (and, let’s be honest, sounding like poo-poo).

MIXING ORCHESTRATION IN METAL w/ Fleshgod Apocalypse + Jacob Hansen

Orchestral parts can add a lot of dynamics, character and interest to metal songs, but because most of us are unfamiliar with how to approach them, they often end up treated as an afterthought in the mixing process (and, let’s be honest, sounding like poo-poo).

But we hope to change that in this Fast Track, where Jacob Hansen (Epica, The Black Dahlia Murder, Fleshgod Apocalypse) shows his approach to mixing orchestration the RIGHT way!

The key to this approach is in two simple things: starting with the right arrangement, and preserving as much of the orchestration’s sonic character as possible (rather than aggressively high passing it as many people do).

Jacob’s Fast Track is only one of over 50 in the library, and you’ll get instant access to ALL of them when you join URM Enhanced 😎Click here to join!

Nail The Mix

Nail The Mix is our online mixing school that gives you REAL multi-tracks from REAL bands, plus a mixing class from the producer who recorded it. Past guests include Periphery, Gojira, Meshuggah, Machine Head, A Day To Remember and Bring Me The Horizon. Join now for instant access!

Nail The Mix goes to Denmark! w/ Jacob Hansen & Dyscarnate + Amaranthe

Best coffee ever??

The NTM crew traveled to Ribe, Denmark for Jacob Hansen’s Nail The Mix with “365” by Amaranthe and “Iron Strengthens Iron” by Dyscarnate, and here’s what happened:

NAIL THE MIX GOES TO DENMARK! – vlog 010

The NTM crew traveled to Ribe, Denmark for Jacob Hansen’s Nail The Mix with “365” by Amaranthe and “Iron Strengthens Iron” by Dyscarnate, and here’s what happened: – We hung out with Chris Adler (Lamb Of God) and the Dyscarnate guys – We got a tour of Jacob’s beautiful studio – We had some amazingly good coffee – And as always when we travel, we went to a URM meetup Thanks to Jacob, Chris, the Dyscarnate guys and everybody who came to the meetup!

  • We hung out with Chris Adler (Lamb Of God) and the Dyscarnate guys
  • We got a tour of Jacob’s beautiful studio
  • We had some amazingly good coffee
  • And as always when we travel, we went to a URM meetup

Thanks to Jacob, Chris, the Dyscarnate guys and everybody who came to the meetup!

Click here to get the Dyscarnate + Amaranthe tracks and Jacob’s full mixing session!


Nail The MixNail The Mix is our online mixing school that gives you REAL multi-tracks from REAL bands, plus a mixing class from the producer who recorded it. Past guests include Periphery, Gojira, Meshuggah, Machine Head, A Day To Remember and Bring Me The Horizon. Join now for instant access!

Jacob Hansen’s Pro Tools workflow hacks

Time to overhaul your template?

Jacob Hansen shows off some of the simple but VERY powerful pro tools workflow hacks he’s developed over the years.

JACOB HANSEN’S PRO TOOLS WORKFLOW TIPS

Jacob Hansen shows off some of the simple but VERY powerful pro tools workflow hacks he’s developed over the years. First of all, he doesn’t use a mouse! Instead, he uses a pen and tablet to control Pro Tools.

First of all, he doesn’t use a mouse! Instead, he uses a pen and tablet to control Pro Tools. Unorthodox, but after you hear his explanation you may feel the need to get one yourself 🙂

Second, some nuts-and-bolts Pro Tools bussing and routing tips that could save you hours (if not days) over the course of a year AND unlock some cool creative possibilities.

Want more? Click here to get instant access to Amaranthe multi-tracks and Jacob’s full mix session!


Nail The MixNail The Mix is our online mixing school that gives you REAL multi-tracks from REAL bands, plus a mixing class from the producer who recorded it. Past guests include Periphery, Gojira, Meshuggah, Machine Head, A Day To Remember and Bring Me The Horizon. Join now for instant access!

Mixing massive AMARANTHE vocal stacks w/ Jacob Hansen

These vocals are yuge!

Jacob Hansen shows how to mix powerful female metal vocals in this clip from Nail The Mix, using the raw multi-tracks for “365” by Amaranthe.

MIXING MASSIVE AMARANTHE VOCAL STACKS w/ Jacob Hansen

Jacob Hansen shows how to mix powerful female metal vocals in this clip from Nail The Mix, using the raw multi-tracks for “365” by Amaranthe.

This song has a LOT of vocals: dozens of tracks from their female vocalist Elize Ryd and male vocalists Henrik Englund Wilhelmsson and Nils Molin, so it’s all about making precise moves to manage this massive session.

Jacob Hansen uses some basic EQ, compression, Mod Delay III, a Lexicon Reverb plugin and some smart routing to make it all come together into huge, powerful, in your face metal vocals.

Want more? Click here to get instant access to Amaranthe multi-tracks and Jacob’s full mix session!


Nail The MixNail The Mix is our online mixing school that gives you REAL multi-tracks from REAL bands, plus a mixing class from the producer who recorded it. Past guests include Periphery, Gojira, Meshuggah, Machine Head, A Day To Remember and Bring Me The Horizon. Join now for instant access!

Unboxing Amaranthe “365” raw multi-tracks

70 tracks of vocals?!

Eyal Levi takes you on a guided tour of the raw multi-tracks for “365” by Amaranthe, from their 2018 album “Helix” and originally mixed by Jacob Hansen.

AMARANTHE “365” RAW MULTI-TRACKS [UNBOXING]

Eyal Levi takes you on a guided tour of the raw multi-tracks for “365” by Amaranthe, from their 2018 album “Helix” and originally mixed by Jacob Hansen.

A few things to note:

  • Over 70 tracks of amazing vocals from Elize Ryd, Henrik Englund Wilhelmsson and Nils Molin
  • Several layers of synths and post-production that add depth and dynamics
  • DI and amped tracks for bass and guitars
  • A fairly large amount of drum inputs given how dense this arrangement is: 2 kick drums with both in and out mics on each, as well as spot mics for several of the cymbals, tops and bottoms for all the shells, and a few ambient and room mics

Want more? Click here to get instant access to these multi-tracks and Jacob Hansen’s full mix session!


Nail The MixNail The Mix is our online mixing school that gives you REAL multi-tracks from REAL bands, plus a mixing class from the producer who recorded it. Past guests include Periphery, Gojira, Meshuggah, Machine Head, A Day To Remember and Bring Me The Horizon. Join now for instant access!