Mixing Lakeview’s ‘Mangled’ Guitar: Fizz, Octaves & FX Chains

Ever come across a guitar riff that just sounds… gnarly? Maybe a little too fizzy, a bit untamed, something that on paper shouldn’t quite slot into a dense metal mix? Well, that’s exactly the kind of challenge Jonathan Roach tackled with a killer riff from Lakeview. Instead of trying to sanitize it, he leaned into its aggressive nature, using some clever processing to make it cut through like a razor without sacrificing the track’s overall power.

We got a peek into Jonathan’s session for Lakeview, and it’s packed with actionable tricks you can try in your own productions. Let’s break down how he took a potentially “mangled” riff and turned it into a standout element. If you’re looking to elevate your heavy mixes, these techniques are gold.

Taming the Beast: The Lead Riff Bus

First up, Jonathan walked us through his approach to the main lead riff’s bus processing. The goal here was critical: make the lead guitar audible and exciting, ensuring it slices through the mix without becoming the only thing you hear or, worse, clashing with the heavy rhythm guitars.

Embracing the Fizz: Unconventional Brightness

One of the first things Jonathan pointed out was the lead guitar’s aggressive top-end. He admitted that he wouldn’t typically push something to be that fizzy and bright. However, in the context of this particular Lakeview mix, this bold move was exactly what the doctor ordered. This intentional brightness helps the lead guitar carve out its own space.

To achieve this, he employed a few key tools:

• SSL EQ: A classic choice for adding that desirable sheen and presence. The SSL EQ was used to dial in some of that top-end clarity. If you’re looking to get surgical or add character with your EQ, understanding EQ strategies for modern metal is crucial.
• “Air” Enhancement: A significant part of this brightness came from an “Air” band, likely from a plugin similar to the renowned Maag EQ4’s Air Band. This type of processing can add that super-high, smooth top-end that helps elements “poke out” effectively. Jonathan demonstrated how engaging this “Air” allowed the lead to jump forward without needing to crank its overall volume, which crucially preserved the impact of the chugging rhythm guitars on the sides.

Sculpting with EQ and Dynamics

Beyond just brightness, careful shaping was essential:

• Targeted EQ Cuts: Jonathan specifically mentioned cutting “some more 300Hz.” This frequency range (around 250-500Hz) can often make guitars sound boxy or muddy, and cleaning it out helps maintain clarity, especially in a busy mix.
• Waves C4 Multiband Compression: For the palm-muted sections of the riff, the Waves C4 Multiband Compressor came into play. This allowed him to control the low-end build-up specifically in those chuggy parts, smoothing things out and keeping them tight. This is a prime example of how dynamic control is more than just loudness; it’s about shaping the envelope and consistency of your tracks. Dive deeper into metal compression secrets to master these techniques.

Layering for Depth: Individual Guitar Track Secrets

The bus processing sets the overall character, but the magic often happens with the individual tracks and how they’re layered. Jonathan revealed a couple of cool tricks here.

The Core Tone: Tried and True Gojira

The main guitar track itself was described as a “tried and true Gojira” tone. This likely means using an amp modeler like Neural DSP’s Archetype: Gojira, known for its tight, aggressive, and mix-ready sounds. Interestingly, Jonathan mentioned this was “no pedals, just the amp,” relying on the amp sim’s inherent character. He also noted it was probably the same core tone used for the rhythm chugs, providing a nice sonic consistency.

The High Octave Trick

This is where things get extra spicy. To add a unique texture and help the lead riff soar, Jonathan layered in a high octave.

• Same Take, New Dimension: He used the exact same guitar take as the main riff for this layer.
• 100% Wet Octave: The duplicated track had a high octave effect applied, set to 100% wet. This could be achieved with various pitch shifter plugins.
• Supporting Processing: This octave layer received similar EQ treatment to the main track to ensure it blended well, along with a touch of “Re-Ax” (a specific plugin he uses) and a Doubler plugin to give it some width and stereo interest.
• Blending it In: This high octave layer was then carefully blended underneath the original lead guitar, adding that ethereal, cutting edge without sounding like a separate, obvious effect.

This kind of creative layering is a fantastic way to add size and uniqueness to your guitar parts. If you want to see how pros like Jonathan build these layers from the ground up, check out the full Lakeview mix session on Nail The Mix.

Beyond the Norm: Sound Design & Special Textures

Jonathan’s philosophy clearly embraces sound design – he loves to “mangle” guitars into “crazy ass sounds.” This adventurous approach can lead to some truly memorable sonic moments.

Tools for Sonic Mayhem

He rattled off a few go-to plugins for this kind of creative destruction:

• Soothe2: Excellent for taming harshness that can arise from extreme processing.
• Doubler: For creating width and interesting stereo effects.
• Waves L1 Limiter: Can be used aggressively for character, not just peak control.
• Radio Filtered EQ: A classic trick to create a thin, lo-fi sound.
• Soundtoys Decapitator: A beast for adding saturation, distortion, and all-around grit.

These tools, often used in unconventional ways, are key to crafting signature sounds.

The “Tricky” Tappy Part

One specific section, a tappy bit, proved a little challenging to fit into the mix but was too cool to cut. For this, Jonathan switched things up:

• Different Amp: This part utilized a different amp sound from the main riffs.
• Focused Processing: It received its own chain:
  • “Gojira EQ”: Again, likely the EQ section within Archetype: Gojira or a similar focused EQ approach.
  • Waves L1: For control and impact.
  • Quarter Note Delay: To give it rhythmic space.
  • Valhalla Reverb: A “little bit of a ‘halla'” (likely ValhallaVintageVerb or ValhallaRoom) to give it ambiance.

Solo Supremacy: Octaves and Polish

The guitar solo received a similar treatment to the main riff in terms of core processing, utilizing familiar EQ settings and the Waves C4 for dynamic control. But, of course, Jonathan had another trick up his sleeve.

The Other Secret Sauce: The Octave Down

While the high octave added cut to the riff, the solo benefited from an octave down layer. This is a fantastic technique for adding serious weight and power to lead lines.

• Beefing it Up: This lower octave provides a subconscious foundation that makes the solo feel bigger and more authoritative.
• Dedicated Processing: The octave down layer wasn’t just a simple pitch shift; it had its own distinct processing chain:
  • EQ: To shape its place in the low-mid frequencies. (Explore EQ strategies for layering).
  • Compression: To keep it solid and consistent. (Learn more about metal compression).
  • Flanger: A “little flanger action” at a 20% blend was introduced for some “funkiness” and movement.
  • Delay & Reverb: Standard time-based effects to give it space and depth.

Smoothing Out the Edges

A practical problem-solving tip: the solo was taken from the demo recordings and wasn’t re-tracked, meaning it had an abrupt ending. To fix this, Jonathan employed some Valhalla reverb with automation at the tail end of the solo. This created a smooth, natural decay, masking the sudden cut-off – a common and super useful mixing save!

Bringing It All Together with Lakeview (and NTM)

So, how do you make a “mangled” guitar riff not only work but shine? As Jonathan Roach demonstrated with Lakeview, it’s about:

• Embracing Character: Don’t be afraid of unconventional sounds like extreme brightness if they serve the song.
• Strategic EQ and Dynamics: Use tools like SSL EQs and the Waves C4 to sculpt and control, making space and ensuring punch.
• Creative Layering: Octave highs and lows, processed individually, can add immense depth and uniqueness.
• Problem Solving: Using effects like reverb with automation to smooth out imperfections.

These are the kinds of insights and techniques that separate a good mix from a great one. Watching a pro like Jonathan Roach navigate these decisions, choose specific plugins, and dial in settings in real-time is an invaluable learning experience.

If you want to dive deeper and see exactly how Jonathan Roach mixed this Lakeview track from start to finish, plus get your hands on the multitracks to practice these techniques yourself, then you need to check out Nail The Mix. Every month, NTM members get exclusive access to sessions like this, learning directly from the producers behind some of metal’s biggest albums. It’s your chance to go beyond presets and truly unlock your sound in modern metal mixing.

Don’t just read about it – see it in action and try it yourself with the Lakeview NTM session!

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