Mid / Side processing is one of those things that lots of people talk about but not that many seem to actually have a proper understanding of what it's all about. In this tutorial I dive into some useful applications of mixing with mid / side in mind. Some are aesthetic and practical and some are more artistic. Let's do it!
Gain staging doesn't sound very exciting and it certainly doesn't include any sweet bleep bloops or whirly birds. That being said, it is essential to bare in mind when preparing and then starting a new mixdown otherwise your track is gonna potentially be red lining and sounding like garbage.
This is an essential mix down technique for absolutely everyone to get their heads around. It's very simple and incredibly effective. You use a frequency analyser to pin point the nasty resonant frequencies and then use a notch filter to remove them. Smooth mixes here we come!
This weeks tutorial is on the art of parallel compression. This is a subtle but very effective tool for adding some compression to your track without losing any of the dynamics of the original sound. Essential stuff for any producer.
It's mix down time! The drums are done and most of the bass. Tonight I will get the bass finished up and then hopefully smash out the synths and FX and get this puppy complete. Cookie crew assemble!
It's mix down time! The writing stage is complete and I have exported the stems from Ableton and imported them all into a new Logic Pro X project. Cookie crew assemble!
One of the essential back bones of any good mix is getting the kick and bass to sit well together. When the low end is lacking punch and clarity it often turns the track into a swampy mess. Here are a couple of techniques to help you put these two elements together in a harmonious fashion.
In the second video on compression I go through several examples in a track that I'm working on where compression can be utilised. Hopefully these practical examples will help you get a better understanding of how compression works and when you might want to reach for it.
This week's video is on one of the most important aspects of music production. Compression. It took me a long time to properly understand it but it's actually not that complex. I think I was just afraid of it. - It’s a dynamic shaping tool like a limiter or maximiser - Think about how much variation you could have with a singer - The ‘dynamic range’ is the difference between quietist and the loudest part of the performance - You can control the peaks with a compressor - Instead of using automation to turn it down you can use a...
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