ÔBAXÉ_MUSIC - pure sound
WHAT IS MIXING?
Mixing is like a puzzle:
The puzzle pieces are the individual tracks (instruments, voices, etc.) which have been recorded. These are still quite "raw" and not "polished". The task of mixing is to compose these parts to an image that is consistent and sounds "authentic" .
How do you do that?
- The individual tracks are set into the "right relationship"
in regard to the volume, panorama...
...an example: The vocals should be up front in the middle and as
loud so that you can understand the text. Thus, this volume ratio
builds a 3-dimensional image "from front to back">
louder = front, quieter = rear
- The sound of each track / instrument is processed in a way so that
it sounds "natural"and at the same time emerges / enforces well
compared to the other instruments. This is achieved by equalizing
(processing of the sound spectrum).
For better assertiveness/ presence we use compressors (limitation
of volume both from high and low)
- The individual tracks are (from left to right) arranged on the
horizontal axis. That characterizes the spatial image (in addition to
the relation of the volume levels from front to back)
- Each track / each instrument gets reverb - i.e. it sounds
more or less strongly in the "virtual listening room" -
this results in the overall "room impression"
(in combination with the volume balance
and the panoramic array).
Here are 2 examples to illustrate what Mixing does:
The original recording without any processing
The processed recording (EQ, compression, panorama, reverb)
The difference can be heard clearly:
In the original recording, the music sounds:
- "Flat" because the sound of the guitars has no contours.
Some musical passages are too low because the volume
differences are too big within a track
- Not spatial because all tracks are in the middle
- Not spatial because no reverb was used (it sounds as if the
piece is played outdoors)
In the mix music sounds:
- Clear contoured (EQ or sound processing)
- You can hear that the two guitars differ because they are
positioned right and left - this also creates "spaciousness"
- Also quiet sounds of the guitars are audible -
this can be reached by compressing and the approximation
of the volume in quiet passages ("gain riding")
- Because of reverb, the music is in a "space" (this is indeed just an
illusion but it works)