The Mixing Engineer's Handbook

✍ Scribed by Bobby Owsinski

• Publisher: Course Technology
• Year: 2014
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 286
• Edition: 3
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Thanks to the revolution in affordable recording and mixing technology, more music is being written, produced, and mixed today than ever before. The mixer's art is now a unique blend of time-tested principles and skillful technique using the latest high-tech tools. If you're ready to learn today's art of mixing, this is the book for you. THE MIXING ENGINEER'S HANDBOOK, 3RD EDITION, is the latest update of the most popular book on audio mixing ever written (more than 150,000 copies sold). Popular producer/engineer, author, and teacher Bobby Owsinski covers all the fundamentals, breaking the mixing process down into easily understandable elements. He covers the things you need to know most, including the variety of mixing styles, the six elements of a mix, the rules for arrangement, and how to build a mix. You'll also learn the secrets of equalization and "magic frequencies," along with easy-to-grasp methods for adding effects, EQ'ing reverbs, sonic layering, calculating delay time, and much more. In addition to the solid instruction in today's mixing principles, you'll also find great advice in Bobby's interviews with top mixing engineers and producers. Getting a great mix is no accident; it requires a thorough knowledge of the fundamentals of the art. Read THE MIXING ENGINEER'S HANDBOOK to learn how it's done.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Contents
Introduction
PART I: Mixing Techniques
Chapter 1 Some Background
The Evolution of Mixing
Different Mixing Styles
Twelve Ways Studio Mixing Is Different from Live Mixing
Learning How to Mix
Chapter 2 Monitoring
The Listening Environment
Monitors: Which Ones?
Basic Monitor Setup
Mixing on Headphones
How Loud (Or Soft) Should I Listen?
Listening Techniques
Chapter 3 Mix Preparation
Prepping Your Session
Personal Preparation
Chapter 4 The Mechanics of Mixing
Conceptualizing the Mix
The Overall Approach
The Signs of an Amateur Mix
The Six Elements of a Mix
The Intangibles of a Mix
Chapter 5 The Balance Element: The Mixing Part of Mixing
The Arrangement: Where It All Begins
Where to Build the Mix From
Level-Setting Methods
Chapter 6 The Panorama Element: Placing the Audio in the Soundfield
The Stereo Picture
Beyond Panning for Placement
Panning in Surround Sound
Chapter 7 The Frequency Element: Using the Equalizer
The Goals of Equalization
EQ Methods
The Relationship between Bass and Drums
Chapter 8 The Dimension Element: Adding Effects
The Six Principles for Adding Effects
Using Delays
Using Reverb
Using Modulation
EQing Effects
Layering Effects
Reamping
Chapter 9 The Dynamics Element: Compression, Limiting, Gating, and De-Essing
Types of Dynamics Control
Using Compression
Using a De-Esser
Using a Gate
Chapter 10 The Interest Element: The Key to Great (as Opposed to Merely Good) Mixes
The Direction of the Song
Develop the Groove
Find the Most Important Element and Emphasize It
Fifteen Steps to a Better Mix
Chapter 11 Advanced Techniques
Cleanup
Adjust the Timing
Pitch Correction
Sound Replacement
Automation
Gain Staging
Chapter 12 The Master Mix
Eight Indicators That Your Mix Is Finished
Competitive Level
Mastering
Mixing for Internet Distribution
Alternative Mixes
PART II: The Interviews
Chapter 13 Bob Brockman
Chapter 14 Bob Bullock
Chapter 15 Joe Chiccarelli
Chapter 16 Lee DeCarlo
Chapter 17 Jimmy Douglass
Chapter 18 Benny Faccone
Chapter 19 Jerry Finn
Chapter 20 Jon Gass
Chapter 21 Don Hahn
Chapter 22 Andy Johns
Chapter 23 Bernie Kirsh
Chapter 24 Nathaniel Kunkel
Chapter 25 George Massenburg
Chapter 26 Greg Penny
Chapter 27 Dave Pensado
Chapter 28 Elliot Scheiner
Chapter 29 Andrew Scheps
Chapter 30 Ken Scott
Chapter 31 Ed Seay
Chapter 32 Allen Sides
Chapter 33 Don Smith
Chapter 34 Ed Stasium
Chapter 35 Bruce Swedien
Chapter 36 Robert Orton
Glossary

Index