Sidechain Compression - A guide to mixing music - Part 37
LearningToday we'll continue unveiling new tricks and tips on compression with an installment dedicated to the sidechain.
Parallel Compression - A guide to mixing music - Part 36
LearningIn this week's chapter, we'll tackle a specific use of compression you have surely heard about before, not least in our series of articles dedicated to mastering. I'm talking about parallel compressi…
Serial Compression - A guide to mixing music - Part 35
LearningNow that we've seen the basic usage of compression when mixing, I'll walk you through a couple of tips and tricks that I'm sure you'll find quite useful. This week we'll look into a technique that mi…
The Opposite of Punchy - A guide to mixing music - Part 34
LearningToday, I invite you to continue exploring the possibilities of dynamics processing at the microdynamic level. After having dealt with "punchy" sounds, we'll use dynamics to go for the opposite — "rou…
Make Your Mix Punchy with Compression - A guide to mixing music - Part 33
LearningAfter looking at some applications of compression at the macrodynamic level in the two previous articles, we'll deal here with microdynamics, starting with how to get a "punchy" sound.
The Right Way to Loudness - A guide to mixing music - Part 32
LearningToday we'll continue our discovery of the use of compression with an application that will surely interest all of you: An increase in loudness.
Add Consistency with Compression - A guide to mixing music - Part 31
LearningIn this episode, we'll concentrate on dynamics processing during mixdown, and we'll see how to use compression to give consistency to your tracks. This usage, in my opinion, is the most important one…
Ratio and Threshold in a Compressor - A guide to mixing music - Part 30
LearningThis week we'll proceed with the final steps of the method to learn about the sonic impact of the main parameters of a compressor. After having seen the attack and release times, now it's the turn of…
Attack and Release in a Compressor - A guide to mixing music - Part 29
LearningIn this installment, I'll show you a way to set a compressor that helps you understand what each parameter does. This method is by no means the ultimate solution, however it ought to help you grasp t…
Panning to the Extremes - LCR panning can make your mixes come alive
LearningConventional mixing wisdom states that when panning elements in a mix, you’re free to utilize the entire left-to-right spectrum. With the exception of elements like kick, snare, bass and lead vocal t…
Understanding Compressor Parameters - A guide to mixing music - Part 28
LearningNow that we've discussed the possible uses for compression, let's take a look at the way a compressor works. To do that, I'll explain to you, in a theoretical way, the different parameters commonly f…
Why We Compress - A guide to mixing music - Part 27
LearningIn this second installment dedicated to dynamics processing during mixdown, we'll take some time to discuss the whys before moving on to the hows.
Dynamics Processing 101 - A guide to mixing music - Part 26
LearningThis week we'll tackle dynamics processing during mixdown, a very thorny subject if there ever was one...To approach the topic in the best way possible, it's useful to begin with a quick rundown of t…
Which Comes First? - A guide to mixing music - Part 25
LearningBefore we tackle the next major section of this series ─ dynamics ─ let's diverge briefly to take stock of where we are in the process, and cover an important issue involving effect-chain order.
EQing Tools of the Trade - A guide to mixing music - Part 24
LearningNow that we have analyzed EQing during mixdown, let's talk a bit about the tools capable of carrying out the task.
A Matter of Perspective - A guide to mixing music - Part 23
LearningIn this week's installment, we'll continue our focus on EQing during mixdown, with some additional tips and advice.
Trust Your Ears - A guide to mixing music - Part 22
LearningTo close this chapter dedicated to EQing during mixdown, I'll give you some tips and tricks that ought to help you adopt better habits.
Create Space and Depth with EQ - A guide to mixing music - Part 21
LearningContrary to popular belief, panning and ambience are not the only tools to use for adjusting the location of a track in the sound field of a mix. We are about to see that the sensations of space and …
And There Was Color - A guide to mixing music - Part 20
LearningIn this episode we'll discuss a pretty subjective application of EQing, namely, coloration.
Lifting the Mask - A guide to mixing music - Part 19
LearningToday we'll deal with frequency masking ─ what is it actually, and how can we solve it?
If it Ain't Broke, Don't Fix it - A guide to mixing music - Part 18
LearningIn this installment, we'll do a quick review on how to deal with the rest of the mid frequencies and the high end. Why a "quick" review? Well, because there are no systematic rules this time around a…
Into the Gray Zone - A guide to mixing music - Part 17
LearningAfter cleaning up the low end, let's move on to the low/mids. You probably noticed that I wrote "low/mids" and not "low-mids". Why, you ask? Because we will be addressing frequencies between 100 Hz a…
Cleaning Up the Low End - A guide to mixing music - Part 16
LearningIn this installment, we'll continue our focus on EQ, looking at how to clear out unneeded clutter in the low end of the frequency spectrum.
Trim it Down - A guide to mixing music - Part 15
LearningIn this second installment dedicated to using an EQ during mixdown, I'll let you in on another "secret" and then we'll see where to actually start working...
The gear, the history and more from a legendary studio - A Video Tour of Ocean Way Recording
LearningWe recently had the privilege of an in-depth tour of Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood, and we just happened to bring along our video gear...