Công nghệ, Kỹ thuật - Nhạc cụ
Mix và Mastering
11
Th3
Th3
Mixing
Methods The sound mixing methods suggested below are not guidelines and what may be right for one person may not be for another. That is why mixing is an art depending on the ears and musical knowledge of the mixer. And no song is mixed like any other.
1. Mix the sound from low to high:
Since the drum and bass are the background sounds of the song, no sound is allowed to overwhelm or mask these two sounds.
– Turn off all tracks, then increase the kick drum volume, adjust the compressor, EQ, delay so that this kick is suitable for music: pop, rock, jazz, blues, hiphop, techno…
– Turn up the volume bass, adjust compressor, EQ, delay so that the bass sounds heavy and full, louder but does not cover the kick drum.
– Then sequentially adjust snare, hihat, toms, cymbals and percussion.
– Only after completing the mixing between the drum kit and the bass, you continue to gradually mix other instruments according to the principle from low to high based on the volume of the drum and bass. Each instrument must have its place in the song, not being obscured by other instruments with drums and bass in the background.
2. Position the instruments for stereo space efficiency (using DELAY) and depth effect (using VOLUME + REVERB). The arrangement of instruments right, left, front and back depends on personal preference. Although there is no sample formula, you should also refer to the arrangement of musical instruments by genre from audio CDs of famous American bands and singers.
3. Main vocals will be mixed last. The vocals must “fit” into the space of the instrument and should not be too loud. Can be in a ratio of 50/50 or 60 voices/40 music. Vocals that are too loud will appear to the front and separate from the orchestra. Please listen to audio CDs of American singers to comment on this mix.
What about Vietnam’s audio CD? The vocals are loud, exposed to the front and mask the accompaniment. Reason? Please leave your comments and ratings.
4. Currently, there is a tendency to use the “Normalize” technique to the point of abuse (even American mixing experts also apply this technique) to increase the maximum music volume to suit all types of phonographs, from the “genuine” to the “smug” CD player.
You can choose how to mix: either mix for a good rig (moderate volume with delicate sound quality), or mix for an inexpensive CD player (vocals and instruments are both maxed out).
Look at the audio waveform of “You Light Up My Life” (audiophile disc for “genuine”) – the wave is between – 6.0 dB:
and that of “Lady of Dream” – Kitaro (market audio disc) – waves exceed 0 dB (head cut off):
5. During the mixing process, choose a song of the same genre that has been produced in the US (preferably a top ten song) to compare with your mixes, to reflect on and perfect your mixing technique.
6. It’s very strange that after thinking the mix was complete,A few days later or a whole week later, when you listen to this mix again, you will feel dissatisfied and have the urge to mix again! If you always have this feeling and always have to sit back and mix again, then you will definitely become a good audio mixing expert.
Mastering
A song, after being fully mixed, also needs to be “mastered”. Master means Master, but in art it means “Right”, “Original”. The Master Audio Edition will be used for commercial printing.
Mastering techniques often use EQ and Compressor to adjust so that the audio frequencies blend together to give the overall sound of the mix quality and fuller sound.
And mastering is also done to adjust the volume and quality of songs in an audio CD program for balance.
Recording, mixing and mastering is both a technique and an art, and art has no formula and cannot be taught. Then forget what you’ve read in the “Computer Sound Processing” series and develop your own talent and individuality in finding the “beautiful” in sound.
Methods The sound mixing methods suggested below are not guidelines and what may be right for one person may not be for another. That is why mixing is an art depending on the ears and musical knowledge of the mixer. And no song is mixed like any other.
1. Mix the sound from low to high:
Since the drum and bass are the background sounds of the song, no sound is allowed to overwhelm or mask these two sounds.
– Turn off all tracks, then increase the kick drum volume, adjust the compressor, EQ, delay so that this kick is suitable for music: pop, rock, jazz, blues, hiphop, techno…
– Turn up the volume bass, adjust compressor, EQ, delay so that the bass sounds heavy and full, louder but does not cover the kick drum.
– Then sequentially adjust snare, hihat, toms, cymbals and percussion.
– Only after completing the mixing between the drum kit and the bass, you continue to gradually mix other instruments according to the principle from low to high based on the volume of the drum and bass. Each instrument must have its place in the song, not being obscured by other instruments with drums and bass in the background.
2. Position the instruments for stereo space efficiency (using DELAY) and depth effect (using VOLUME + REVERB). The arrangement of instruments right, left, front and back depends on personal preference. Although there is no sample formula, you should also refer to the arrangement of musical instruments by genre from audio CDs of famous American bands and singers.
3. Main vocals will be mixed last. The vocals must “fit” into the space of the instrument and should not be too loud. Can be in a ratio of 50/50 or 60 voices/40 music. Vocals that are too loud will appear to the front and separate from the orchestra. Please listen to audio CDs of American singers to comment on this mix.
What about Vietnam’s audio CD? The vocals are loud, exposed to the front and mask the accompaniment. Reason? Please leave your comments and ratings.
4. Currently, there is a tendency to use the “Normalize” technique to the point of abuse (even American mixing experts also apply this technique) to increase the maximum music volume to suit all types of phonographs, from the “genuine” to the “smug” CD player.
You can choose how to mix: either mix for a good rig (moderate volume with delicate sound quality), or mix for an inexpensive CD player (vocals and instruments are both maxed out).
Look at the audio waveform of “You Light Up My Life” (audiophile disc for “genuine”) – the wave is between – 6.0 dB:
and that of “Lady of Dream” – Kitaro (market audio disc) – waves exceed 0 dB (head cut off):
5. During the mixing process, choose a song of the same genre that has been produced in the US (preferably a top ten song) to compare with your mixes, to reflect on and perfect your mixing technique.
6. It’s very strange that after thinking the mix was complete,A few days later or a whole week later, when you listen to this mix again, you will feel dissatisfied and have the urge to mix again! If you always have this feeling and always have to sit back and mix again, then you will definitely become a good audio mixing expert.
Mastering
A song, after being fully mixed, also needs to be “mastered”. Master means Master, but in art it means “Right”, “Original”. The Master Audio Edition will be used for commercial printing.
Mastering techniques often use EQ and Compressor to adjust so that the audio frequencies blend together to give the overall sound of the mix quality and fuller sound.
And mastering is also done to adjust the volume and quality of songs in an audio CD program for balance.
Recording, mixing and mastering is both a technique and an art, and art has no formula and cannot be taught. Then forget what you’ve read in the “Computer Sound Processing” series and develop your own talent and individuality in finding the “beautiful” in sound.
Composer: NS Dac Tam
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