Mixing A Song Start To Finish: Can You Hear The Difference?

Summary

This video takes viewers through the complete mixing process of a song, highlighting the collaborative efforts of guitarist Chris Buck and vocalist Inkara. Viewers gain insights into songwriting, recording techniques, and the essential equipment used, including Focusrite gear. The mixing journey covers adjustments to drums, bass, guitars, and vocals, emphasizing the importance of pitch correction, compression, and adding effects like reverb and delay. The final mastering stage demonstrates how to achieve a polished sound. This behind-the-scenes look not only educates aspiring musicians but also inspires creativity in their own musical endeavors.

Takeaways

• 🎤 This video features a complete mixing process from start to finish, offering insights into both the technical and creative aspects of music production.
• 🎸 Chris Buck, a professional guitarist and content creator, contributed guitar and bass tracks to the song.
• 🎶 Inkara, a skilled vocalist and artist, provided impressive vocal performances that were recorded and processed in the session.
• 🔧 The mixing process utilizes Focusrite equipment, including Scarlett interfaces and microphones, demonstrating the effectiveness of quality gear in music production.
• 🔊 Before diving into details, it's crucial to set initial levels and panning to establish a solid foundation for the mix.
• 📈 Applying EQ, compression, and auto-tune helps enhance track quality and ensure all elements fit harmoniously together.
• ⚙️ The use of channel strips simplifies the processing of multiple effects, such as filters and compressors, in one place.
• 📊 The bass guitar received careful attention through level adjustments and harmonic distortion to ensure clarity across various playback systems.
• 🎚️ Side chaining was implemented to ensure the kick and bass frequencies work well together, preventing buildup and maintaining a clean mix.
• ✨ The video emphasizes the importance of maintaining vocal dynamics while controlling the overall sound to enhance performance quality.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video primarily focuses on the mixing process of a song, providing insights into the songwriting and recording stages as part of a series.

Who are the main contributors to the song discussed in the video?

The song was started by Chris Buck, a professional guitarist and content creator, while Inkara, a professional vocalist and artist, wrote the song and recorded the vocals.

What equipment was used for recording and mixing the song?

The recording and mixing were done using Focusrite Scarlett interfaces, Focusrite microphones, and various included software and plugins, along with some stock plugins available in any DAW.

Why is auto-tune applied to the vocal tracks?

Auto-tune is applied to the vocal tracks to ensure that all layers are relatively in tune, enhancing the overall harmony of the vocals.

What is the purpose of using side chaining in the mixing process?

Side chaining is used to reduce the bass volume slightly whenever the kick drum hits, helping the kick and bass fit better together and preventing buildup of low frequencies.

How does the speaker prefer to handle compression and EQ during the mixing process?

The speaker prefers to apply compression first to manage dynamic range before applying EQ, as this helps maintain the tonal integrity of the sound.

What adjustments were made to the bass during mixing?

The speaker aimed to level out the bass performance, which varied due to live recording, and added harmonic distortion to ensure it translates well across different speaker systems.

What role do channel strips play in the mixing process?

Channel strips combine various functions like filters, compressors, gates, and saturation in one interface, making it easier to process audio tracks efficiently.

What is the effect of using a fast balancer plugin on the guitars?

The fast balancer plugin is used to thin the guitars slightly during the chorus to avoid congestion, helping them cut through the mix more clearly.

How does the speaker manage the dynamics of the vocal performance?

The speaker uses a fast compressor to grab peaks in the vocal performance and applies gentle compression to control the overall dynamic range while retaining the emotion and passion of the vocals.