The big recap!
Lesson time: (3min 17sec)
Goetz recaps the mix so far - prepping and grouping the session, balancing drums and bass, adding lead parts and vocals, then dynamics and effects.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Mixing Commercial Pop Music
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Music Mixing Lesson Recap
Overview of Steps
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Listen to the Rough Mix
- Spend time contemplating how you want your mix to sound and where you want to go with it.
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Preparation
- Have a good template ready.
- Load everything in and sort it in groups.
- Color code elements for a clear visual presentation on your screen to avoid confusion.
- Given that you may receive up to 100 tracks, organizing them into departments will help manage the overwhelming volume.
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Timing and Tuning
- Ensure everything is in time and in tune before starting the mix.
Mixing Process
Starting With the Drums
- Begin with the drums to establish a balanced foundation.
- Check your mix on different speakers to ensure it translates well across formats, including mono.
Bass and Rhythm Instruments
- Work on bass and other rhythm instruments; make effective pannings.
- Utilize EQ and compression for a polished sound.
- Focus on creating a strong groove that captivates the listener.
Adding Lead Instruments
- Introduce your lead instruments, strings, pads, and additional elements after establishing the groove.
Vocal Integration
- The vocal track usually requires extra attention:
- Needs compressing and meticulous detail work.
Dynamics and Excitement
- Post vocal addition, focus on adjusting the dynamics.
- Ensure that the track maintains excitement and builds effectively.
Final Touches
- Once the mix sounds great, ask yourself:
- What can I do to make it truly outstanding?
- Consider adding creative touches, such as:
- Filtering in specific sections
- Backwards reverb
- Phasing effects
Conclusion
- After incorporating these finishing touches, your mix will be ready.
- Be prepared for the last steps, which include understanding how to present your finished mix back to clients, an essential aspect of the mixing process.
About the instructor
In the early nineties, Goetz Botzenhardt trained at Swanyard Recording Studios, assisting top producers like Flood, Alan Moulder and Tom Lord-Alge, and cut his teeth recording and mixing the dance and Acid Jazz bands of the 90s - Incognito, Galliano, Soul II Soul and many others.At Swanyard he met Rollo Armstrong and the two quickly formed a creative partnership, leading to many big dance records and remixes and, soon after, to recording and mixing the first two acclaimed Faithless albums and Dido's multi-platinum 'No Angel'.Ranging across genres, he recorded and mixed the Sugababes' debut album 'One Touch', including their first hit 'Overload', and has mixed for The Cardigans, Bjork, The Cinematic Orchestra, Craig David, the Pet Shop Boys and Hikaru Utada, one of Japan's most successful artists.More recently he expanded into film and TV, working extensively with composers Christian Henson, Martin Phipps and Anne Nikitin, and mixing Daniel Pemberton's Golden Globe-nominated score for 'Steve Jobs', directed by Danny Boyle. Away from film he produced Tanita Tikaram's 'Closer to the People', mixed tracks for Sigala, Ella Eyre, Breton, Planet Funk and Tito Jackson, and in 2016 mixed Peabo Bryson's album with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. A full list of his work is on his discography and filmography pages at goetz-botzenhardt.com.Goetz works from his own studio and mix room, built around an SSL E4044 console, Adam 5.1 surround monitoring, a 48-channel Pro Tools HDX system and choice outboard gear. In his courses he takes you inside that room to show how he mixes across two very different worlds: in Mixing for Film & TV Score, how he balances and shapes orchestral and hybrid scores to serve the picture; and in Mixing Commercial Pop Music, how he builds punchy, radio-ready pop mixes from the multitrack up. read more