Level Up Your Mixes: An Audio Engineer's Secrets

Summary

In this episode of the Safari Pedal Show, host Abby interviews Trinity Wolford, an assistant engineer at Criteria Studios, known as Ox or Trin. They delve into Trinity's journey in audio engineering, from her initial foray into music production to her current role. The conversation explores her evolution as a mixer, the growth of her workflow, and the lessons she's learned along the way. Trinity also offers practical advice for new engineers, emphasizing the importance of developing a unique mixing style, the value of hands-on experience, and the need to continually learn and adapt in the ever-changing world of audio production.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Trinity Wolford, also known as Ox or Trin, is an assistant engineer at Criteria Studios and also freelances in mixing and recording.
• 🎧 Her journey in audio started with a passion for rap music and self-recording, which led her to study digital audio and beat production.
• 🏫 Trinity's education includes a degree from Full Sail University, where she learned technical aspects of audio engineering and discovered her love for mixing.
• 📈 She emphasizes the importance of evolving one's mix style and not just relying on technical proficiency, but also adding personal character and emotion to mixes.
• 🛠️ Trinity advises against relying on templates and encourages engineers to learn how to build templates from scratch to understand the effects and plugins being used.
• 🔧 She learned a lot by watching mentors and practicing on her own, which helped her develop her ear for audio and understand why certain mixing decisions are made.
• 💡 Trinity's workflow includes preparing mixes in advance when she's not in her creative window, saving automation for the end, and using VCAs for easy adjustments.
• 💾 She recommends saving multiple copies of a mix at different stages to avoid losing work and to have versions to compare.
• 🎧 Trinity has mixed on various equipment, including Apple earbuds, demonstrating that high-end gear isn't a requirement for learning to mix.
• 🔄 She stresses the importance of being open to starting over and learning from new environments, even if it means stepping back from a current position to gain more knowledge.

Q & A

What is the podcast 'Safari Pedal Show' about?

The 'Safari Pedal Show' is a podcast that discusses various topics related to audio engineering, focusing on the journey and evolution of audio professionals, including their mixing techniques and workflows.

Who is Trinity Wolford and what is she known by in the industry?

Trinity Wolford is an assistant engineer at Criteria Studios and also freelances in mixing and recording. She is known by her nicknames 'Ox' and 'Trin' in the industry.

What was Trinity's initial interest in audio and how did she get started?

Trinity's initial interest in audio was sparked by her love for rap music, which led her to start writing her own music and recording it. She began with basic equipment and later pursued formal education in audio engineering.

How did Trinity transition from being an artist to focusing on the technical side of audio?

Trinity initially wanted to be an artist but during her studies, she discovered her love for the technical aspects of audio, particularly post-production. This realization led her to switch her focus to becoming an audio engineer.

What was Trinity's first internship and what did she learn from it?

Trinity's first internship was at Full Sail through the Dub Stage, where she worked on a CNN documentary. Initially, she thought she wanted to do post-production, but the experience of sound effects editing made her realize it wasn't her preferred path.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact Trinity's career trajectory?

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the shutdown of campuses and studios, which disrupted Trinity's planned post-graduation internship. However, music studios remained operational, allowing her to get her foot in the door and work her way up from intern to full-time engineer.

What is Trinity's current role at Criteria Studios?

Trinity's current role at Criteria Studios is an assistant engineer. She is responsible for setting up technical aspects of sessions, ensuring gear works, and sometimes teaching other engineers and interns.

How has Trinity's mixing style evolved over her career?

Trinity's mixing style has evolved from being cautious and following norms to becoming more confident and adding her own character and style to mixes. She now focuses on adding emotion and expression, and making bold choices that reflect her unique approach.

What advice does Trinity have for new engineers regarding the use of templates?

Trinity advises new engineers not to rely solely on templates and to learn how to build one from scratch to understand what each plugin is doing. This knowledge is essential for true skill development and not just relying on pre-set configurations.

What is Trinity's approach to workflow and mix preparation?

Trinity's approach to workflow includes getting all mix prep done when she's not in her creative window, such as downloading, organizing, importing, and doing rough balances ahead of time. This allows her to focus on creativity when she's most inspired.

What is the significance of the 'Mix with the Masters' experience for Trinity?

The 'Mix with the Masters' experience was significant for Trinity as it provided validation of her mixing skills. Despite mixing on basic equipment like Apple earbuds, her mixes were well-received, showing that it's possible to achieve quality results with limited gear.