The Magic Separation Trick All The Pros Use

Summary

In this video, the speaker explores the concept of separation in a mix, explaining that it's an illusion created by the brain rather than a physical process. The video delves into frequency masking, EQ techniques, and the importance of arrangement for clarity in a mix. The speaker also shares their experience with ear training, offering insight into how to improve mixing skills, and discusses the potential of creating a structured ear training course for aspiring audio engineers. Viewers are encouraged to share feedback on the idea and the content format.

Takeaways

• 😀 Separation in a mix is an illusion—everything is combined into a single stereo waveform, and what we perceive as separation is a mental construct.
• 😀 The brain’s ability to decode complex mixes is extraordinary, helping us distinguish between instruments and sounds, despite everything being blended together.
• 😀 A mix with clarity makes it easier for the listener to interpret and recognize different parts, while a mix lacking clarity requires more mental effort to decode.
• 😀 Frequency masking is a key challenge in mixing—louder sounds at specific frequencies can obscure quieter ones, making them harder to hear.
• 😀 A mix with clarity ensures that the most important frequencies for each part are not masked by other sounds, which is crucial for a balanced mix.
• 😀 The arrangement of instruments is critical; a well-arranged mix almost 'mixes itself,' as parts don’t fight for space in the frequency spectrum.
• 😀 While professional mixing tools like EQ, compression, and reverb are important, a perfect arrangement minimizes the need for heavy mixing intervention.
• 😀 If the arrangement is poor, no amount of mixing can truly rescue the track—an excellent mix begins with an excellent arrangement.
• 😀 The 'magic trick' of the pros is using EQ to carve out space for different parts in a mix, ensuring each instrument's key frequencies are clear and distinct.
• 😀 Training your ears to recognize frequencies and their effect on different instruments is essential for mixing—this skill comes from extensive practice and ear training.
• 😀 A proposed ear training course could help people train their ears to recognize specific frequencies and the impact of EQ adjustments, speeding up the learning process for aspiring audio engineers.

Q & A

What is the main concept of separation in a mix as discussed in the video?

Separation in a mix is an illusion. While everything is combined into a single stereo waveform, the brain is able to decode the mix and distinguish between different parts, creating the illusion of separation.

Why is human hearing described as having 'mental processing power' in relation to mixes?

The human brain can process complex sound information, like a full mix, and automatically categorize frequencies, allowing us to distinguish which parts belong to different instruments, such as guitar, drums, or piano.

What does the term 'frequency masking' mean in the context of mixing?

Frequency masking occurs when a louder sound at a specific frequency makes it harder to hear quieter sounds at similar frequencies. This is a key concept in achieving clarity and separation in a mix.

How does frequency masking impact the clarity of a mix?

A mix with good clarity allows important frequencies to stand out without being obscured by other parts. If certain frequencies are masked, it makes it harder to separate the parts, leading to a more muddled or unclear mix.

What role does arrangement play in achieving a good mix?

A good arrangement is essential for a well-mixed track because when the arrangement is balanced, parts naturally sit in the mix without fighting for space. This makes it easier for the mix to come together without heavy post-production intervention.

Why is EQ considered crucial in the mixing process?

EQ is used to carve out space for each part of the mix by cutting or boosting specific frequencies. This helps prevent frequency overlap and allows each part to be clearly heard, enhancing separation and clarity.

What is the challenge in using EQ effectively, according to the video?

The challenge with EQ is knowing which frequencies to cut or boost for each part of the mix. This requires a lot of experience and ear training, as it's not something you can do intuitively without practice.

How does the speaker suggest accelerating the process of ear training for EQ?

The speaker believes that anyone can train their ears to recognize frequencies effectively, similar to how classical musicians learn to recognize intervals and chords. This can be done by following a structured training regimen focused on frequency recognition.

What are the three main types of ear training the speaker mentions?

The three types of ear training the speaker focuses on are: identifying the frequency of a sine wave (important for live engineers dealing with feedback), recognizing lumpy pink noise (for tuning systems), and EQing instruments and full mixes to identify problematic frequencies.

What is the proposed structure of the ear training videos that the speaker wants to create?

The ear training videos will focus on different frequencies, starting with a sine wave and filtered noise. The videos will demonstrate what each frequency sounds like on various instruments and mixes, with the speaker offering detailed insights into what sounds are desirable or undesirable at each frequency.