It's All Down To The Way You Mix It

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It's All Down To The Way You Mix It - By: Kevin Sinclair, Posted on: 2008-04-24

When it comes to recording your music, it's all down to the way you mix it. Combining different sounds will enable you to achieve lots of instrumental opportunities and understanding how to carry out this procedure will have a great bearing on the end result.

There are two areas where the mixing happens and the first of these occurs between the musicians and through the soundboard before any recording onto a track takes place. This kind of mixing not only helps to define the instrumentation for the computer software programs but also for the musicians who are working with the mixer.

At this point all of the instrumentation has to be leveled out and although finding a blend is not necessary, creating similar levels of volume and a balance between the various instruments is essential. This is also part of the preparation for the final recording session which includes noise gates and deadening the sound in order for the waves to be manipulated.

This part of mixing is defined once more after the tracks have been recorded. The process of mixing after this point depends on the strong areas of the individual instruments being found and making sure they sound good. All of the instruments should be normalized by the time you start mixing within whichever software program you are using and the peak points of the waves should be at the same number calculated through the noise levels of the waves.

The mixing process them becomes a method of developing the individual instruments through the piece. You should also be thinking of how to link in other instruments at this time, without paying any less attention to bringing out the best of the instrument you are using. There are a several components available for you to use to ensure you get the best mix and a better sound at the end of your recording.

You can augment the sound by the use of special effects. Each instrument can have its own special effects or an equal effect which allows everything to sound unique. You can even create separate effects for specific rooms. These are all different aspects of the mixing process which enhances the instruments being used.

After the effects have been added, through the wave files you can enhance the necessary areas of each instrument. Creating volume envelopes to bring out individual instruments at various times throughout the piece or let them remain in the background is another component you will want to use. This will allow you to define what needs to come out most in the song. Highs and lows within the waves of individual instruments will need to be created so that the balance is perfect within the song.

The last step of the mixing process is determining the volume levels and working out whether to keep them the same or have the option to increase them. Always remember to allow yourself a little bit of leeway in order to balance out the levels during the pre-mastering and mastering parts of mixing and recording.

When the mixing process within the software program is completed you will have all of the instruments equalized with their own volume levels, their effects and their different areas of sound. You can then blend the instruments together, first one by one and then as a group. Simply understanding the mixing procedure will allow you to create exactly the sound you desire for your piece of music.

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Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of MusicianHome.com, a site that provides information and articles for musicians at all stages of their development.