Soundcraft Guide to Mixing - Music

IN THE STUDIOA. Essentials & ErgonomicsThink about room layout and equipment. No, we’re notgoing to plan your studio for you, but here are a fewpointers:• If you play keyboards, set them up so that you can reachthe mixer.• Position your effects and synth modules within armslength.• If you use a computer, position the screen so as to avoidreflections. Do not position speakers near the screenunless they are magnetically compensated or shielded.• If the room is too ‘live’, deaden it with drapes or softfurnishings.• For best results, use dedicated nearfield monitors.• Don’t use large speakers in a small room - they’ll soundwrong at low frequencies.• Do use a well specified power amp (minimum 50 wattsper channel).• Don’t compromise on a weedy amp: it will distort at highlevels and may damage the speakers.B. Tape Machines &Recording MediaBasically, you’ll need two types of tape machine: amultitrack recorder for recording the individual parts ofthe performance in readiness for mixdown onto a 2-trackrecorder for mastering. There are both analogue and digitalmodels available. The final choice must be based onindividual requirements.C. The ConsoleStudio work presents additional problems for a mixingconsole in that it has to deal with a two stage processrequiring very different skills.1 Recording - Sound sources have to be captured onmultitrack tape. This process will include ensuring that thecleanest strongest signal is being recorded to tape, withoutoverload and distortion, optimising the sound of therecorded signal with EQ, signal processing and effects,monitoring the recorded sources, and creating a headphonemix for the musicians to ensure the best possibleperformance from them.2 Mixdown - All the recorded sound sources as well as any“live” media coming from sequencers, drum machines orsamplers must then be blended together using EQ, level,pan and effects and mastered down to a two-track device tocreate a “final mix”. This process bears some similarities tomixing a band - minus the audience, the live performanceand poor venue acoustics!If you have seen any T.V. shows including footage ofcommercial recording studios you may be forgiven forthinking that good multitrack recordings are only possibleusing a mammoth console. This does not have to be thecase! Professional sounding results can be achieved, albeitwith some repatching between recording and mixdownstages, using a relatively small multipurpose mixer.However, to achieve professional results the mixer must beequipped with either (and preferably both):• Direct outs• Groups/SubsWhen purchasing a console for both live and recordingwork, ensuring these facilities are available will save youhaving to buy a dedicated recording console until yourrequirements become more sophisticted.SECTION 6: In the Studio25