Mixing Secrets For The Small Studio - Additional Resources

Workflow Demonstration Video

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Audio Files

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• Internal Rebalancing Of Mixed Stereo Files: One of the most difficult balancing tasks is trying to adjust the levels of different instruments within a mixed stereo file, a situation most commonly encountered when you’re mixing music built around samples from other records. Here’s an example of this kind of processing in practice, the aim being to increase the vocal level as much as possible relative to the other instruments in this mixed stereo sample Ex15.01: WAV/MP3play_arrow. Chopping out an earlier isolated example of the song’s triggered kick-drum and phase-cancelling it with that in the sample helps reduce the kick’s level Ex15.02: WAV/MP3play_arrow and high-pass filtering removes a lot of other unwanted low-end below the vocal register Ex15.03: WAV/MP3play_arrow. Some precise fader automation ducks the snare hits to an extent Ex15.04: WAV/MP3play_arrow and some more targeted ducking of the stereo Sides component takes that a little further Ex15.05: WAV/MP3play_arrow. Some fast high-frequency limiting dulls both the hi-hat and the snare Ex15.06: WAV/MP3play_arrow, while a couple of automated low mid-range notch EQ bands further target the body of the snare sound Ex15.07: WAV/MP3play_arrow. The main remaining balance problem now stems from the rhythm guitar, and that’s tackled using a set of five level-automated comb-filters (with root frequencies at 262Hz, 292Hz, 331Hz, 352Hz, and 441Hz) to individually target each of the part’s main pitched notes Ex15.08: WAV/MP3play_arrow. Now, compare this result with the original untreated sample Ex15.01: WAV/MP3play_arrow – the processing has made a big alteration in the balance, although not without some trade-offs for the vocal tone itself.

Links

• Experimenter’s Bias & ABX Testing: You can find a full explanation of ABX testing, as well as links to some ABX testing utilities, at the PC ABX website. For a long time I’ve used KikeG’s freeware WinABX software, but more recently have discovered Lacinato’s cross-platform freeware ABX/Shootouter. For a freeware plug-in alternative, try HOFA’s 4U+ BlindTest.