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The Mixing Process
Добавлен 5 май 2022
I help growing audio engineers learn the fundamental concepts of mixing audio. Come learn how to be great at what you do!
Gain vs. Trim Revisited
The difference between gain and trim can be confusing, but using both tools correctly is critical to avoiding problems in your signal chain. I'll walk you through it all in this video. Hope this helps!
Also, don't forget to get your FREE "7 Step Mix" download! www.themixingprocess.com/
- Schuyler
Also, don't forget to get your FREE "7 Step Mix" download! www.themixingprocess.com/
- Schuyler
Просмотров: 31
Видео
Why Do We Need Gain?
Просмотров 312 месяца назад
"Gain" is a word thrown around in mixing all the time... but what actually is it? In this video, I'll explain what gain is and why we need it. Hope this helps! Also, don't forget to get your FREE "7 Step Mix" download! www.themixingprocess.com/ - Schuyler
I Was Scared of Compression Until...
Просмотров 753 месяца назад
In this video, I'll share with you the two reasons I struggled with compression when learning to mix and the solutions I found to those problems. Hope this helps! Also, don't forget to get your FREE "7 Step Mix" download! www.themixingprocess.com/ - Schuyler
Revisiting Mixing With Faders At 0
Просмотров 3284 месяца назад
In this video, I revisit the topic of keeping input faders close to 0 when mixing, and I answer some common questions about the technique. Hope this helps! Why Mix With Faders At 0 - ruclips.net/video/WWsAbRDaN2c/видео.html Also, don't forget to get your FREE "7 Step Mix" download! www.themixingprocess.com/ - Schuyler
Using Subs In Your Live Mix
Просмотров 796 месяцев назад
If you want the low end of your live mix to sound punchy and full, but also translate well on your broadcast or in other applications, you have to be intentional about how you use subs. In this video, I'll explain the two most common ways engineers use subs as well as the pros and cons of each method. Hope this helps! Also, don't forget to get your FREE "7 Step Mix" download! www.themixingproce...
Broken Rules Make Great Music: EQ Edition
Просмотров 986 месяцев назад
Ever heard the phrase "rules are made to be broken"? Sometimes, we get so committed to a certain way of doing things in the name of following "the rules" that we miss the mark in our music. In this video, I'll teach you how to know when to follow mixing guidelines and when to just set them aside and trust your ears. Hope this helps! Also, don't forget to get your FREE "7 Step Mix" download! www...
How To Mix Music: Telling The Story
Просмотров 1128 месяцев назад
Audio engineers are musical storytellers. Sadly, many people who sit behind an audio console never learn the secret to telling stories that move the audience. I want to make sure you're not one of those people. :) In this video, I'll share three tips to help you make great music and connect with your audience in meaningful ways. Hope this helps! Also, don't forget to get your FREE "7 Step Mix" ...
Panning Instruments In A LIVE Mix
Просмотров 4679 месяцев назад
Live mixing and studio mixing have a lot in common, but there are a handful of differences that are important to know about. Panning is one of those differences. In this video, I'm going to explain my thinking behind how I pan a live mix and how it differs from my studio mix. Hope this helps! Also, don't forget to get your FREE "7 Step Mix" download! www.themixingprocess.com/ - Schuyler 00:00 I...
Should I Mix With DCA's Or Input Faders?
Просмотров 8510 месяцев назад
We've all heard of how helpful DCA's can be in mixing, but in some cases, organization systems can actually prevent good workflow. In this video, I'll give some perspective on when it's helpful to use groups and when it's better to stick to mixing with the input faders instead. Hope this helps! Also, don't forget to get your FREE "7 Step Mix" download! www.themixingprocess.com/ - Schuyler
How To Fix Mic Feedback
Просмотров 33511 месяцев назад
Feedback is a problem every live sound engineer deals with, but there are some useful techniques you can use to set yourself up for success. In this video, I'll give my my best advice for dealing with feedback before and during your live event. Hope this helps! Also, don't forget to get your FREE "7 Step Mix" download! www.themixingprocess.com/ - Schuyler 00:00 Intro 00:20 FREE STUFF! 00:48 Wha...
Mixing In Mono vs. Stereo
Просмотров 499Год назад
There is a big debate in the mixing world about whether it’s better to mix in mono or mix in stereo. Today, we’re going to discuss the pros and cons of each approach, and at the end, I’ll give you my opinion on which is better. Hope this helps! Also, don't forget to get your FREE "7 Step Mix" download! www.themixingprocess.com/ - Schuyler
Using A Delay Effect On Vocals
Просмотров 271Год назад
Using a delay is an effective way to add texture, depth, and movement to your vocals. In this video, I'll show you how to make it all happen. Hope this helps! Also, don't forget to get your FREE "7 Step Mix" download! www.themixingprocess.com/ - Schuyler
How To Make Thick Vocals
Просмотров 940Год назад
Raw vocals often sound thin and weak by themselves, but there are tools we can use to add some thickness and texture. In this video, I'll teach you how to use those tools to get your vocals sounding great in your mix. Hope this helps! Also, don't forget to get your FREE "7 Step Mix" download! www.themixingprocess.com/ - Schuyler 00:00 Intro 00:49 Explanation 01:13 Free Help! 01:34 Doubler 03:42...
How To Fix A Muddy Mix (Instruments & Vocals)
Просмотров 264Год назад
How To Fix A Muddy Mix (Instruments & Vocals)
This is the most CRITICAL part of mixing...
Просмотров 100Год назад
This is the most CRITICAL part of mixing...
My Secret Trick For Troubleshooting Audio Problems
Просмотров 61Год назад
My Secret Trick For Troubleshooting Audio Problems
Are you talking about software gain or hardware gain? My studio monitors have a slight noise floor at 0db and if i listen at night i cant have it that loud, so the hiss can become noticable unless i turn the gain knob on the speakers down. Will this impede sound quality?
I'm talking about hardware preamp gain. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that turning the knob on your speakers down would only digitally trim the volume down. This should not affect sound quality.
... How does this work? If Potentiometers are Passive, and have no active electronics to Amplify a signal, what happens Past the 75% or 50% points. These being variable resistors that can only Cut, are "used" in a deceptive but practical way. If the top half of a fader is Linear and marked + & - say 12dB, we call that "having 12dB in hand". But that +12dB is already IN the signal, pre-fader. The fader being pulled down to the 75% point, is Cutting the signal by 12dB. When the fader is pushed to 100% (and 100mm in this case), the valve is opened all the way and the extra 12dB of metaphorical water pressure is alloed to flow. But it isnt Adding 12dB of additional Amplification. And therefore no additional noise. Whatever's there is already there. With the "Trim" knobs, its the same just at 50% and with a convenient detent to help us find Unity (also on the Gain knobs of Analog Parametric EQs BTW) So to your Digital Trims. Much of the digital audio world are 'emulations, simulations, virtual versions' of thier Analog counterparts. With Analog Trim knobs being Calibrated with say +or- 12dB, the digital trims do the same....but differently. In the Analog realm, the Gain has to come from somewhere...electronically. In the digital realm... It's just math.
Gotcha. Makes sense. You've obviously done a lot more work on the analog side of things than I have, so I appreciate the explanation! Thanks!
@themixingprocess Ahhh... I can try. Again I'll refer to an Analog Trim (as I understand it, more on that later) As I described in the last post, to my understanding: Gain is Active. Trim is Passive. The Active electronics can Amplify a signal, but also introduce Noise. A Passive circuit, basically, doesn't amplify anything and as a result doesn't add noise (or at least a negligible amount). So in practice, if you imagine a channel strip on a console, the first knob at the top is Gain, and the last thing at the bottom is a Fader which is Passive. That passive Fader is really a Variable Resistor, just like all of the Potentiometers sprinkled around the board. Again, if you imagine the Gain increasing water pressure like a water pump, then you can imagine all of the Potentiometers and Faders as Valves that, only when opened, allow that water pressure to flow through whatever pipes (busses) they're connected to. If all the valves are closed, the water (signal) is going nowhere. That's signal-flow 101 as I've understood for decades. Now a tricky point is one of ergonomics really. That Fader at the bottom is designed and "Calibrated" in such a way as to provide far more use than a simple linear Potentiometer. Firstly, unlike my Vintage consoles which have 60mm true linear faders simply marked 0-10 (not in any dB scale), modern faders: - are 100mm standard - follow a "Audio Taper" which basically means they are Linear in the top half and Logarithmic in the bottom half. Providing 50mm of higher resolution tactile control in the top half, and the ability to drastically cut the signal to infinity in the 50mm below that. (And to your question...) - as a standard, modern faders And (Potentiometer used for volume levels) are typically "Calibrated" so that "Unity Gain" is at 75% travel to the end, not at the fully open point. - Potentiometers labeled as "Trim" often times have a Detent at their 50% point and are "Calibrated" so that "Unity Gain" is in the middle. ...
i went to your site; thanks
i'm still not sure what you mean by trim. I'm using a sound craft expression 2 and there is nothing on the board that says trim unless you mean my fader.
Not every console has the trim function. If yours doesn’t have it, no worries! This video was just to explain what it does if you do have it.
Hmmm... Good explanation, but let me add: The distinction between Analog Gain & Digital Trim is misleading. In a fully Analog system, Gain & Trim function much as described here. Gain can Add Amplification to a signal to Increse beyond the input. Trim can only Reduce signal level from input to output. The old analogy is to think about audio signal as water pressure: Adding Gain is like adding a water pump in-line that can Increse water pressure (signal level) by adding Amplification. However this has has additional implications, such as also adding more Noise to the signal from the amplifier itself. As well as additional THD (distortion) and altered frequency response, as amplifiers are non-linear devices. Using a Trim to reduce signal level, is like turning down a Valve to reduce water pressure. The valve (Trim) can be Fully Open allowing everything at the input to pass through to the output, theorhetically 'un-altered'. Or can be dialed back to gradually Reduce water pressure from the input to what's desired at the output, being sent on to the next destination. Because there's no Active electronics in the process, there's also very minimal added artifacts to the signal. It's the same as the input, just less. (All of that said, we often Deliberately ADD Amplification stages to a signal specifically TO add that circuits Non-linearity to the signal, because we find those artifacts to be desirable. Slightly overdriving a signal through a Microphone Preamp, in order to ADD THD is pretty common. And many Preamps have a Gain knob in the input section AND a Trim knob at the output, in order to Use the Gain as additional 'seasoning' and then cleanly reduce any additional signal level back down to whatever is needed beyond that process. )
I really like the way you described that, but I’m not sure I understand the part about “trim can only reduce signal level from input to output.” At least on many digital consoles, you have the ability to trim a signal up (typically 10db or so), not just trim it down. I might have misunderstood what you were trying to say there… can you explain more?
Need some help with your mixes? You can download my FREE mixing guide "The 7 Step Mix" today! ---> www.themixingprocess.com/
how do u adjust that recording w an android phone? thanks
Phones and other devices not meant for making professional quality recordings are going to have very limited control. If you're trying to make good quality recordings, I'd suggest investing in a good microphone and recording into a DAW. You'll have much more success that way!
@@themixingprocess i c, thanks!
Make up and Output gain is not the same...
I realize there are compressors where “output” and “makeup” gain do not do the same thing, but in the plugins I was using in the video (and probably most plugins beginners are using or on console channel strips), manufacturers often use the two words interchangeably. Technically, you are correct though!
As a "HiFi neophyte" I found your explanation very helpful; thank you. If increasing gain enhances "sound quality resolution", under what circumstances would increased gain have a negative result? Inferior speakers/headphones perhaps?
The only time where increasing the gain would be a negative thing is if you increased it to the clipping point. Other than that, I don’t see any disadvantages. Consoles are designed to work at line level.
How does panning change if the musicians are set up in the round for live sound?
It's hard to say without knowing your specific setup, but I'll just say this: there's no right or wrong way to do it unless the method you choose prevents people in certain areas of the room from hearing a balanced mix or specific elements of the music. For example, if you pan an instrument hard left or right in a room where people don't have the whole stereo image, part of your audience is going to miss out on that instrument. It's really just a balancing act dependent on your room configuration and system setup.
There, I hope that was helpful for you😂😂😂😂
Appreciate this information. I agree with you. I've been fighting this for a while being self taught and I just recently came to this conclusion
Awesome
Preeeesh
✨Thank you, Sir, 🙏✨
✨🙏🏼✨
Great video question do you mess with the pre amp gain
No. The preamp should always be set completely independently from the fader volume. You can watch this video to understand what we need/use gain for: ruclips.net/video/akt0Q4GYg3I/видео.html
Doesn't make sense still. I mean if its a digital signal coming from a computer that's too hot (let's say), then the gain setting at low will do the trick. What's a better way to explain use case? This use case scenario is not legit.
Occasionally, you get a digital signal that's too hot even with the preamp all the way down. For example, sometimes electronic drums send a hot signal to the console, or if you play stems off of a computer live. In these situations, I'll either turn it down at the source or trim it down on the console.
@@themixingprocess Can you go deeper into this topic? So I heard that only digital connections from dante or usb is considered a "digital" input. If anything goes into the analog inputs on the console then its still considered an analog input because its going through the preamp and the AD converters. The trim control sits "after" the AD conversion so technically the signal is digital when it hits the trim control. Right? I think you have to make it clear what you mean by a digital signal and when you say "from a computer". If its a computer plugged into a direct box and then converted into a balanced xlr input so it can be plugged into the mixer input, its still the gain control that will be used, not trim. If you can explain it in a way that really differentiates the use case for both and what sort of inputs you're talking about it would be more helpful.
Great questions. Looking back, this was the fourth video I ever made, and I did NOT explain it well lol Definitely a topic deserving a redo, so thanks for digging into it! Let me do my best to explain this more clearly... When I talk about an analog signal, I’m referring to a sound that has been created by natural means, such as the human voice, an acoustic instrument, or any other source in nature. When I talk about a digital signal, I’m referring to a signal that has been created by some form of digital technology, such as a computer, phone, electronic instrument, etc. This is a fantastic website for quickly explaining the difference: byjus.com/physics/difference-between-analog-and-digital/ What I was trying to explain in the video is that the preamp is primarily needed when the signal is a weak, mic level signal. Such signals are typically “analog” signals (vocals, acoustic guitars, etc). Digital signals (electronic drums, keyboards, track stems), however, are often already at line level (or pretty close to), so they don’t really require a lot of, if any, voltage from the preamp to get in good gain structure. With that being said, gain is always necessary to add until each signal is brought up to line level on the console. Trim, on the other hand, is used AFTER the gain structure is set to digitally attenuate the volume of specific channels to allow for FADERS to be in high resolution (plus or minus 10db of unity). So to sum up simply, gain is used to get signals of every kind to line level. Trim is used to attenuate the volume of an input to bring the the fader into high resolution. Does that make more sense?
Need some help with your mixes? You can download my FREE mixing guide "The 7 Step Mix" today! ---> www.themixingprocess.com/
1:38 is where he starts talking about it
Putting Tom two in the middle doesn’t feel good. Especially because As a drummer your Tom is on the right hand side of your right leg. And farthest away from your face
The goal is to make it sound natural and balanced to the listener. Whatever you need to do to make that happen!
Thumbs up! How about vocal recording. Should i record vocals in pre fader metering with all my faders at unity gain? Thanks
You don't have to worry about fader position when you're setting input gain for recording. Setting the input gain should be done according to the meter; get the average of the signal turned up to line level (where the meter goes from green to yellow), and record. Mixing with the faders comes later.
wow, in my head it was the other way around, happy I made an effort to find out.
Need some help with your mixes? You can download my FREE mixing guide "The 7 Step Mix" today! ---> www.themixingprocess.com/
Thank you very much, after hours of searching why and how exactly it affects the sound quality, I finally found the answer here
Glad to be helpful! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Really informative, so many people miss this concept completely! Thanks so much for the great tutorial!
Great video very helpful. Thank you bro. Subscribed
Interesting, I always mix with the mindset of keeping faders at 0 for the bulk of the process. Never thought of it as a methodology or principle or anything. It was just easier for me to keep everything controlled between the input and the panner/fader section and then just do small adjustments with the faders.
Just be sure to not confuse controlling volume with the gain knob versus controlling it with the fader. Gain is a completely separate process from the fader volume. Many people try to keep the fader at 0 and control the volume with the gain knob, and that’s the opposite of the way consoles are designed to work.
@@themixingprocess I know what you mean because I did it extensively in the past. :D but that's not the case, worry not. What I do depends on the instrument but the gain knob serves only to feed the channel at an appropriate level since I try to stick to analog emulations. It is possible that some fx chains have some kind of gain or volume control at some point, e.g. a clipper on a snare or the output of an amp sim.
Thanks
Need some help with your mixes? You can download my FREE mixing guide "The 7 Step Mix" today! ---> www.themixingprocess.com/
Amazing teacher !
Hi what is the site for 7 mixing steps
themixingprocess.com
I got my song to -12 lufs but when i play the file and compare it to songs on spotify the file is significantly quieter. what should i do?
It's hard to tell without seeing the output meters and settings in person.. what kind of limiter are you using?
Great stuff💯
Vividly explained. Bless up man🎉
Great explanation. One question I havent heard explained by anybody is if it's possible to have different effects on each channel, as yo can in a DAW. I'd be very grateful if you could answer that.
@@themixingprocess Thank you!
Ok so at church I always set gain correctly and the vocalists at 0 on the fader but one of my vocalists is too loud so according to this video I should just turn the vocalist group down, for her fader to be in the high fader resolution area but then I would have to turn up all the other vocalists on their faders so they don’t sound quiet either. But then once they are up they are still to quiet because the lead vocalist is just too loud. I’ve tried setting compression but I noticed she was clipping due to being over compressed so I made the compression as soft as possible so she doesn’t clip, but at that point she’s really not even being compressed, so in the end she is still too loud. Do you have any tips or suggestions for this?
Sure! Here's a couple thoughts: 1. The concept of keeping the faders at 0 is more about creating a good workflow. It's not a hard and fast rule in mixing. Sometimes, the setup doesn't allow for perfect execution of this concept. Just get as close as you can, and don't worry too much about the rest! If your vocal is too loud, and the gain is set correctly, just use the input fader to turn it down. 2. If any signal is clipping, that's an issue with the gain structure, not compression. Compressors turn the signal down, not up (unless you're using too much makeup gain). I'd go back and check your gain structure on that vocal, and then use the compressor to control the dynamic range of the signal (like if the vocal sings quietly on some parts and very loudly on others). If you need more information and getting the gain set correctly, this video might help: ruclips.net/video/uKuJiv9F2Qw/видео.html
nitpick time... 3:28 a gift is always free ;) Thanks for uploading, quite helpful explanation.
Hello you Can make a tutorial on Reaper the mixing vocal rap please 🎉
Hello! I actually don't usually work with rap music, so I don't have any tracks to teach from, but the concepts for rap vocals are similar to other kinds of music. What kinds of things are you trying to learn about with mixing vocals? I can point you in the direction of some videos I've made in the past on vocals.
@@themixingprocess i would like a tutorial on voice mixing and how to use the EQ, fabfilter effects to make voice clean and mastering and compressor. Thanks ! ☺️
Need some help with your mixes? You can download my FREE mixing guide "The 7 Step Mix" today! ---> www.themixingprocess.com/
Then here I am 16 and doing the mixing for my church, all my experience is on an analog mixer
Need some help with your mixes? You can download my FREE mixing guide "The 7 Step Mix" today! ---> www.themixingprocess.com/
thank you, I think it would be useful if the video could be available to save on a youtube playlists
Love the way you explain things. Really clear, and helpful!
Thank you!
But what about gain staging? At what level do you set your drum/guitars/bass/vocal tracks before applying eq and compression? Some people like to normalize their tracks to -6, -10 or -12 dbFS.
Gain staging is actually a separate process from setting fader levels. It's the first step in the signal chain, while getting your faders into good mixing resolution is the last step. I made a video about this a while back; you can watch it here: ruclips.net/video/uKuJiv9F2Qw/видео.html
in the future i would get rid of the intro get str8 to the point
Thank you. That's very clear!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for this video…. This was the best expiation I’ve found on RUclips….
Hey thanks! I’m glad it was helpful.
Precisely delivered 🎉