Studio Day 20 and 21 MIXING AND MASTERING

Friday July 26 Alice and I sat in as extra ears for the mixing of 5 songs for Conventus. Adam worked on How Would We Know, Dizzy, Boy, Perfect Love Affair and Fire Flames.

Monday July 29 we returned for the mixing and mastering of the remainder. Adam had been setting the mixes as we progressed so this really saved time at the end. He also didn't need to reconfigure his studio as he did for No.8 and mastered all the songs as well.

So what is mastering? Discmakers describes the process well. "Every major label release is mastered to prepare it for radio play and retail sale. The reason? In the studio you record one song at a time, resulting in songs that all peak at different levels and have different EQs. A mastering engineer can unify your album with skillful use of EQ, gain, and compression to give it a consistent sound from track to track. This process also allows the mastering engineer to pump up the volume of your overall album so it’s as hot as can be and make it sound unbelievable."

and mixing according to wikipedia

In sound recording and reproduction, audio mixing or mixdown is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, for instance 2-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such asreverb may be added. This practical, aesthetic, or otherwise creative treatment is done in order to produce a mix that is more appealing to listeners.

Audio mixing is done in studios as part of creating an album or single. The mixing stage often follows a multitrack recording. The process is generally carried out by a mixing engineer, though sometimes it is the musical producer, or even the artist, who mixes the recorded material. After mixing, a mastering engineer prepares the final product for reproduction on a CD, for radio, or otherwise.

Prior to the emergence of digital audio workstations (DAWs), the process of mixing used to be carried out on a mixing console. Currently, more and more engineers and independent artists are using a personal computer for the process.

The final phase is here, Adam and I sat with the mixes and listened to the album over a week and then made a list of notes. This is my list I sent Adam today and we will discuss his thoughts and findings as well. You can see recording is quite a process!

- Boy on ipod and headphones the song starts in just one ear and seems a little disorienting, it sounds fine over big speakers...I wonder too you said about the band sounding small on this one and I think if you could bring the band up it might be better.

- Dizzy sometimes seems quieter than the other songs depending on the systems too though it could be the systems. 

also CHECK OUT  at 2:16 in the song when I sing the word FIND does it sound like something flies out of my mouth?

- SLeek train is abit bass boomy or muddy on big speakers but sounds awesome on ipod so not sure if its the mix or the system playing if you could check that out too.

- on Today the acoustic guitar at the intro could use a boost it seems quiet in relation to the strong opening

as well the vocals are a tad on the dry side overall on the track they could be more slicker 

- also check out the transition from acoustic to electronic on conventus I can hear a swoosh or sweeping very softly at 1:08

- when playing the album quietly,  the acoustic songs I found you and the intro on conventus seem much quieter than the others and I am compelled to turn them up

THIS FLOW IS STILL WORKING FOR ME TOO any thoughts?

Lightening Strikes Twice
How Would We know
Dizzy
No More
Boy
Today
99%
SLeek train
fire flames
perfect love affair
i found you
conventus

Thanks again and look forward to your notes.

luvnb