Resources for the Recording Musician
MUSIC AND TECHNOLOGY BLOG

Articles

June 12, 2019
Analog Summing

Hello sir. I am hoping you’ll answer this question for me no matter what. I am wanting to do summing with my mixes. I can’t afford to buy an analog summing mixer and was wondering how to do it digitally. Not that I don’t know how to do summing I have a good understanding of […]

Read More
March 2, 2018
The Mixing of Quiet Scream – Part 1 – Track Layout and Groups

The Mixing of Quiet Scream - Part 1 - Track Layout and Groups This is the not so glamorous, but very important part of mixing. Getting your tracks organized, and setting up your groups/busses, and folders. Part 1 in a series of mixing the song "Quiet Scream" from the Conversation CD by Greg Adams & […]

Read More
July 10, 2014
Monitors and Mixing

Stephen - I have a question which may be difficult to verbalize. When we mix a song over a set of speakers, we attempt to get the song sounding the best we can over those particular speakers. Then, if we hope to have that song translate over all speakers, one way of doing that is […]

Read More
October 25, 2012
Less is More - Bigger sounds through simplification

Want bigger & fuller sounding songs?  Less is More! The biggest problem I encounter with inexperienced artists, producers, and engineers these days is that there is too much of everything.  Too many parts in the song arrangements.  Too many tracks in the recording.  Too many plugins in the mix.  Too many frequencies competing with each […]

Read More
March 2, 2010
Multiband Harmonic Exciter

Is there any use for a multiband harmonic exciter? A harmonic exciter, I thought and correct me if I'm wrong, adds a high frequency "touch" to a sound. Couldn't an EQ do the same thing? What would be the advantage of multiband harmonic exciter? Harmonic exciters are different than EQ. EQ simply boosts or cuts […]

Read More
October 29, 2009
Use of compressor on early records

I greatly appreciate this site. It is such a treat to be able to speak to experienced and knowledgeable mixers. Question: I know technology in the recording field has come far in the last 40 years, but compressors were around in the 60's yet you do not hear the "punch" on those records like you […]

Read More
October 3, 2009
Fitting frequencies together

This is my first post on this forum. Somehow I lost my original post after I previewed it. I read the article "3D and the Art of Mixing," I think it was called, where it discussed fitting frequencies together to keep mixes from getting messy, heavy, conflicting, etc.... My question: if two instruments both have […]

Read More
January 16, 2009
Blending in a guitar solo

Dr. Doctor: How do you recommend blending a guitar solo into a song?  It's tricky (for me anyway) becuase if you have other guitars they are basically taking up the same EQ space.  I don't want to make it too loud or overly compressed.  Any trick/tips? I just do whatever sounds good for that particular […]

Read More
September 1, 2008
Saturation

Hi Steve, I was watching some free samples of a mix training DVD, where the guy mentioned he always puts McDSP AC-1 on the mix bus and does his entire mix through it to add subtle distortion to make it sound like a record.  Is this something that you do and would recommend as well? […]

Read More
March 30, 2008
EQ Low Cut

When you are mixing, do you use a low cut filter on the final mix and if so where? For example, on a mix will you set the low cut at 50Hz, or even higher?  If so, then how do you make the bass low end audible? Also, how do bands like The Roots get […]

Read More

Subscribe via Email

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Get Help!

Got a technical question for the Ask MusicTECH blog?
Submit your Question

Need more personal help or consulting?
Contact Me

Buy me a coffee?

If you find this site helpful, please consider leaving a tip/donation to help cover the server costs and encourage me to write more.

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram