Mixing Audio ─ Concepts, Practices and Tools

Your mix can make or break a record, and mixing is an essential catalyst for a record deal. Professional engineers with exceptional mixing skills can earn vast amounts of money and find that they are in demand by the biggest acts.

To develop such skills, you need to master both the art and science of mixing. The new edition of this bestselling book offers all you need to know and put into practice in order to improve your mixes. Covering the entire process --from fundamental concepts to advanced techniques -- and offering a multitude of audio samples, tips and tricks, this book has it all.Roey Izhaki teaches you the importance of a mixing vision, how to craft and evaluate your mix and then take it a step further. He describes the theory and the tools used and how these are put into practice while creating mixes.Packed full of photos, graphs, diagrams and audio samples, Mixing Audio is a vital read for anyone wanting to succeed in the field of mixing.

New to this edition:* Multitracks provided to help practice mixing* Fully updated with current plug-in and software version and information * Companion website with a multitude of new samples including more macro-mixing samples * A new sample mix: Rock n' Roll

Roey Izhaki (Author)
Roey Izhaki has been involved with mixing since 1992. He is an academic lecturer in the field of audio engineering and gives mixing seminars across Europe at various schools and exhibitions. He is currently lecturing in the Audio Engineering department at SAE Institute, London.

IntroductionPart I: Concepts and PracticesMusic and mixingMusic - an extremely short introductionThe role and importance of the mixThe perfect mixSome axioms and other gemsLouder perceived betterPercussives weight lessImportanceNatual vs. artificialLearning to mixWhat makes a great mixing engineer?Methods of learningMixing analysisReference tracksThe process of mixingMixing and the production chainThe mix as a compositeWhere to start?DeadlocksMilestonesFinalizing and stabilizing the mixRelated issuesHow long does it take?BreaksUsing solosMono listeningBouncingHousekeepingMix EditsMasteringMixing domains and objectivesMixing objectivesFrequency domainLevel domainStereo domainDepthPart II: ToolsMonitoringHow did we get here?Choosing monitorsThe room factorPositioning monitorsMetersPeak metersAverage metersPhase metersMixing consolesProcessors vs. effectsBasic signal flowGroupsIn-line consolesThe monitor sectionSolosCorrect gain structureThe digital consoleSoftware mixersTracks and mixer stripsRoutingThe internal architecturePhaseWhat is phase?ProblemsTricksFadersTypesScalesWorking with fadersPanningHow stereo works?Pan controlsTypes of tracksPanning techniquesBeyond pan potsEqualizersApplicationsThe frequency spectrumTypes and controlsIn practiceEqualizing various instrumentsIntroduction to dynamic range processorsDynamic RangeDynamicsDynamic Range Processors in a nutshellCompressorsPrinciple of operation and core controlsAdditional controlsControls in practiceApplicationsTricksMore on compressorsLimitersGatesControlsApplicationsIn practiceTricksExpandersControlsIn practiceUpward ExpandersDuckersOperation and controlsApplicationsDelaysDelay basicsTypesIn practiceApplicationsOther modulation toolsVibratoADTChorusFlangingPhasingTremoloReverbsApplicationsTypesReverb programsReverb properties and parametersReverbs and stereoOther reverb typesReverbs in practiceDistortionDistortion basicsWays to generate distortionDrum TriggeringMethods of drum triggeringOther toolsMSPitch shifters and harmonizersExciters and enhancersTransient designersAutomationThe automation processAutomation alternativesControl surfacesPart III: Sample MixesHero (rock)The Hustler (drum n' bass)Temps (hip hop)Donna Pomini (dance)AppendicesAppendix 1: Notes and frequenciesAppendix 2: Delay time chart