Pro Studio Live The Science of Mixing [TUTORiAL]

DR Ford illustrates how understanding the science behind audio can really improve your mix!

DR Ford opens a session of his own to illustrate how he improves a mix, including vocal mix tips, theory on how to work with drums from tracking to mastering, and parallel processing philosophy. DR Ford is an expert on being more effective while using less processing, and he shares philosophy and tips that have helped redefine his approach to mixing. By the end of this seminar, you’ll know the importance of understanding the science behind audio, and how to “separate the magic from the mojo”. You’ll learn DR Ford’s original theory on how the golden ratio applies to mixing, why we use the rule of 3, why lyrical mixing is so important, and the transient vs. sustain theory. He not only shows us how he mixes in Pro Tools, but he also explains the science and the “why” behind his actions.

In this mixing seminar:

• Experiments that you can perform, aimed at helping you develop your ears to become more effective when using common studio tools
• Concepts of panning: the 3 pillars of panning, phantom center, the psychology behind panning, etc
• How to find, focus on, and work with the foundation of your mix, and how to visualize your mix
• Why you should check your mix in mono
• Transients vs sustain theory: how to treat them, and the science behind why you should treat them differently
• The philosophy of bass, and how you should handle bass in your mix
• “Lyrical Mixing” - The philosophy behind depth in audio, and how to truly achieve it in your mix
• The importance of selecting the right reference track
• Theory on how to mic a drum kit
• Why we use the rule of 3, and how the golden ratio applies to mixing
• Delay compensation, session organization, and good workflow suggestions
• Time aligning your drum tracks - How to manipulate your drum mics to get a roomier (or less roomy) sound
• How to enhance a drum groove, and how to spot what to do in order to enhance a drum groove
• How to make things cut through the mix (how to “lift the diction without changing the volume”)
• How to bring harmonics back into your tracks
• Vocal mixing tips
• The importance of understanding the anatomy of the voice while tracking and mixing
• How to deal with whistle tones
• Why DR Ford prefers single band dynamic processing to multi band
• Recommended reference mixes, and what to listen to within these mixes
• Theory behind bass in vocals, and how to treat bass in vocals
• Parallel processing philosophy, and how to do it

Not convinced yet? Check out these free excerpts from the episode:

1) NOTCHING OUT WHISTLE TONES AND FILLING IN THE POTHOLES

DR Ford demonstrates how he handles a whistle tone in a vocal track. Watch this video to learn valuable technique tips, hear some plugin recommendations, and learn how to handle the pothole that arises when you notch out frequencies.

2) NARROWING DOWN YOUR MIX TO THREE BITS OF INFORMATION TO MAKE IT MORE IMPACTFUL

DR Ford explains how the human mind can only pay attention to 3 bits of information at once. So what does this mean for our mixes, and how can we use this information to our advantage? Watch the video to find out!

3) USING TRANSIENTS AND SUSTAIN TO YOUR ADVANTAGE TO IMPROVE YOUR MIX

DR Ford discusses some basic human psychology when it comes it transients and sustain in audio. Can we then mold our mixing technique to accommodate the way the human mind focuses on these two categories of sound? Watch the video to find out!

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