Mixing is a technique used to transform a raw piece of music into a polished piece; a lot of thought goes into it. Calvin Joseph from DSE Bach 20 conducted an insightful session on how different audio mixing techniques can change how a piece of music sounds.
At the start of the session, Calvin Joseph showed us a preview of the before-and-after recordings, and hearing that helped us to understand the difference between both. He first played the unmixed recording, then showed how it sounded after applying different processors. Through this demonstration, students got a clear understanding that mixing is not only about making a recording loud but also includes controlling dynamics and shaping transients.
Demonstration of Audio Processing Techniques:
The session introduced the concept of transient design, as transients are the largest part of the soundwave. it refers to the loud bursts of energy heard at the beginning of the sound. To control and sustain the sound, a transient designer is used. The elements are controlled to produce a sharper and smoother track.
Calvin demonstrated the use of a Rupert Neve 543, with settings including a 3:1 ratio, 25 ms attack, and 5 ms release. He also demonstrated the use of overheads, specifically the JDK R22. The compression was set at a 2:1 ratio, with a soft knee and approximately 2–3 dB of compression. Compression helps music to sound more even, balanced, controlled and professional.
Calvin also discussed Mpressor; he highlighted an important point that different settings create an impact on the sound, so parameters need to be chosen carefully. He used THD Boost, with an attack of 45 ms, release of 10 ms, and a ratio of 1:6. THD boost helps to add harmonic distortion, which adds character to the sound.
In another demonstration, Calvin used an attack of 30 ms, Auto release, a 4:1 ratio and a sidechain high-pass filter at 120 Hz. Finally gluing everything using the SSL’s Buss compressor using the attack of 30 ms. Listening to the different demonstrations helps us to understand that the settings have to change according to the desired results.
Through this insightful session, students understood that a lot of work goes behind a final piece of music. Through Calvin’s demonstration, it was clear that mixing is more than changing settings and equipment, it's about listening to the sound carefully and understanding what it requires. With the help of demonstration, the concepts became quite clear. Moreover, different processing techniques add a lot of character to the sound. Experiment with these different techniques and bring your sound to life. Want to hone your mixing skills further? Join us at TAG.