Mixing with impact : learning to make musical choices
Wessel Oltheten (Author), Gijs van Osch (Translator)
In 'Mixing with Impact', Wessel Oltheten discusses the creative and technical concepts behind making a mix. Whether you're a dance producer in your home studio, a live mixer in a club, or an engineer in a big studio, the mindset is largely the same. The same goes for the questions you run into: where do you start? How do you deal with a context in which all the different parts affect each other? How do you avoid getting lost in technique? How do you direct your audience's attention? Why doesn't your mix sound as good as someone else's? How do you maintain your objectivity when you hear the same song a hundred times? How do your speakers affect your perception? What's the difference between one compressor and another?
viii, 351 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 24 cm
9781138080881, 9781138080898, 1138080888, 1138080896
1008770290
ColophonPreface Travel guide for this bookChapter 1: The world of mixing1.1 Who is the mixer?1.2 Why is mixing necessary?1.3 What is the challenge?1.4 On rulesChapter 2: Listening2.1 Perception2.2 Your ear is a compressor2.3 Your ear is an equalizer2.4 Tuning in2.5 A fixed reference2.6 Taking professional care of your earsChapter 3: Laying the foundation 3.1 Before you start3.2 Foundation3.3 Balance3.4 Panning3.5 Mute is your friendChapter 4: The frequency spectrum4.1 Association is key4.2 Masking4.3 The goal of EQ4.4 EQ compassChapter 5: Dynamics5.1 Dynamics versus time5.2 Technical and musical dynamics5.3 Using compressors5.4 Reducing masking with compression5.5 Dynamics and loudnessChapter 6: Space6.1 Hearing space and distance6.2 Simulating space and distance6.3 How reverb works6.4 Using reverb6.5 How delay works6.6. Using delayChapter 7: Time and phase7.1 Interaction7.2 Combining microphones hierarchically7.3 Combining microphones non-hierarchically7.4 Phase manipulationChapter 8: Identity8.1 Innovation, imitation and inspiration8.2 Shaping identityChapter 9: Effects9.1 Distortion - simulating intensity9.1.1 How it works9.1.2 Distortion in a mix9.2 Re-amping - providing context9.2.1 How it works9.2.2 Re-amping in a mix9.3 Modulation - putting things in motion9.3.1 How it works9.3.2 Modulation in a mix9.4 Pitch manipulation - creating what wasn't there9.4.1 How it works9.4.2 Pitch shifting in a mix9.5 Triggering - cause and effect9.5.1 How it works9.5.2 Triggering in a mix9.6 Spectral editing - unreal reality9.6.1 How it works9.6.2 Spectral processing in a mixChapter 10: Automation10.1 Faders for each function10.2 Parallel constructions10.3 Change and conquer10.4 ExpressivityChapter 11: Advanced techniques11.1 The floor: keeping low frequencies in check11.2 The ceiling: creating clear mixes11.3 Securing the house: dynamic interventions11.4 The exterior walls: stereo processing11.5 Beyond the exterior walls: 3D panningChapter 12: Bus Compression12.1 Influence12.2 Choices and settings12.3 Multibus setups: painting on a colored canvasChapter 13: Templates13.1 Time is money13.2 Building templates13.3 Integrating equipment in the 21st centuryChapter 14: Preparing for mastering14.1 Communication14.2 What is a good mix?14.3 Mixbus processing14.4 Stems14.5 Consequences of loudness normalizationChapter 15: Mindset15.1 Doubt is fatal for a mix15.2 Imposed limitations - working in a context15.3 A guide for your mix15.4 Ways to stay freshChapter 16: The outside world16.1 Speaking the same language16.2 Reference tracks16.3 Feedback on the source material16.4 Feedback on the mix: revisions16.5 Working at a distance16.6 ConclusionChapter 17: Tools17.1 Basic acoustics17.1.1 Space17.1.2 Optimization17.2 Monitoring17.3 Subwoofers17.3.1 Why use a subwoofer?17.3.2 Choosing a subwoofer17.3.3 Installing and adjusting17.4 Headphones17.5 How EQ works and its side-effects17.6 How compressors work and their side-effectsIndex
"A Focal Press book"--Front cover
Includes index
"Previously published in Dutch by Edusonic, 2016."