Producing and Mixing Guitars for Star Zero – King Saul
How Cameron Webb Constructed Width, Punch and Belief Right into a Trendy Rock File
When Star Zero walked into the studio to report King Saul, the temporary was not sophisticated.
They needed punch. They needed width. They needed that unapologetic ‘90s vitality.
Nevertheless, getting there was not about stacking acquire and hoping for the very best.
It was about intention.
On the centre of all of it was Cameron Webb, working carefully with guitarist James and the band, shaping tones in actual time, committing early, and constructing a combination that felt highly effective with out collapsing into noise.
This full course of is damaged down inside Cameron’s two track, two artist course, the place you see precisely how he approached King Saul alongside a totally completely different manufacturing:
- Star Zero – King Saul
- Sailors Songbook – No One Lives Ceaselessly
Discover the complete course right here: https://promixacademy.com/course/mixing-modern-rock-with-cameron-webb/
4 Rhythm Guitars, Not Two
The core of King Saul was constructed round 4 rhythm tracks.
Two primary rhythms, panned left and proper.
Then two further elements layered to widen the wall of guitars.
With solely two tracks, it sounded strong. With 4, it grew to become cinematic.
Nevertheless, right here is the crucial element from the session:
They weren’t the identical tone stacked repeatedly.
Cameron may be very clear about this within the breakdown. When you merely layer equivalent amps with equivalent midrange focus, you don’t get width. You get frequency build-up. Harshness. A slim, aggressive blob.
As an alternative, they intentionally modified amps and tonal personalities.
Selecting the Proper Amp for the Proper Position
Throughout monitoring, the tones got here from a variety of basic and trendy heads.
EVH 5150
Tight, targeted, trendy excessive acquire.
Soldano SLO
Thick and harmonically wealthy, but articulate.
Marshall Plexi / JMP
Cleaner, extra open, permitting elements to punch with out extreme saturation.
Bogner
Dense midrange muscle that contrasts fantastically with tighter trendy tones.
Fender Princeton
Used for cleaner textures with a touch of breakup.
The technique was easy however highly effective:
Every amp spikes completely different frequencies. Every tone occupies a distinct pocket.
That’s how the wall of guitars turns into wider as a substitute of brighter.
Commit Throughout Monitoring, Not After
One of the vital classes from this session is dedication.
Reverb textures, pedal results, tonal shifts, they had been dialled in because the band tracked. They weren’t added later as separate security layers.
If a heavy part collapsed right into a washed reverb tone, that occurred within the efficiency.
If a cleaner half wanted to chop, they selected a distinct amp.
This avoids what Cameron refers to not directly within the session, limitless stacking of pointless tracks. The core tones run by the entire track. Leads and alternate textures distinction them, fairly than compete with them.
Much less litter. Extra influence.
Refined Mixing Strikes, Not Excessive Surgical procedure
As soon as within the combine, the guitar processing was restrained.
You will notice within the breakdown:
- Slightly low finish trimmed to create space for bass
- Presence added round 6 to 7 kHz to assist guitars sit on prime
- Gentle compression on cleaner elements
- Brightening darker tones fairly than reshaping them fully
No excessive EQ curves. No dramatic plugin chains.
The distortion comes from the amp. The combo merely positions it.
Oversaturating all the pieces was averted intentionally. As Cameron explains, if each guitar is maxed out, you simply get a ball of noise. A barely cleaner distinction half typically punches more durable than one other absolutely distorted layer.
Distinction creates readability.
Collaboration Is the Actual Secret
Maybe a very powerful takeaway from King Saul just isn’t technical in any respect.
It’s belief.
Cameron listens first. He research the band’s influences. He understands what they’re chasing. Typically which means turning an amp knob himself. Typically it means guiding them towards the tone they need however can’t but articulate.
He brings the band into the combination stage. He asks for suggestions.
And crucially, he interprets it.
If a guitarist says one thing feels off, it may not be about quantity. It may be about brightness. It may be about part. It may be about distinction.
This steadiness between management and collaboration is what elevates a recording from good to nice.
A part of a Two Music, Two Artist Deep Dive
King Saul is only one half of the story.
On this 4-hour course, Cameron additionally breaks down:
Sailors Songbook – No One Lives Ceaselessly
On this observe, you see a distinct flavour of rock manufacturing:
- Punchy, natural drums with out overprocessing
- Shared reverbs for cohesion
- Early dedication to tones
- Refined, stacked enhancements that create influence
Collectively, these two productions present how the identical producer adapts to completely different bands whereas sustaining readability and authority.
Enrol right here: https://promixacademy.com/course/mixing-modern-rock-with-cameron-webb/
If you wish to perceive learn how to construct large guitars with out mud, learn how to handle heavy preparations with out shedding focus, and learn how to information a band towards their greatest sound, this course reveals you precisely how it’s performed.
Not principle.
Actual periods. Actual selections. Actual information.
