What’s going on everyone? ‘Tool back with another post. Too often we have an overloaded mindset of having/wanting to do too much when it comes to mixing. Almost every plugin we own has to be used, which isn’t necessary. Tracks that don’t have to be prevalent are now dominant because the producer sent 16 tracks of paper clip drumming. Most times it’s best to keep it simple. I want to break down my minimalist mixing approach. Let’s get back to the basics. Be A Minimalist
min·i·mal·ist /ˈminəmələst/ noun
I believe having this mindset along with going back to the basics go hand in hand. Opening your DAW to mix a record and doing only what NEEDS to be done is the goal. Saving time and not wasting decision moves is what we want to aim for. Your mixes don't have to be stacked to the ceiling on every single channel with plugins. Minimal mixing is a whole lot simpler than that: it's about getting all the layers of a song to fit together nicely, and then adding a little ear candy here and there. Now that we have our mindset in order, let’s get to the mixing. Below will be my exact approach. Feel free to mix, match and twist around to what works best for you. No Plugins! If you already have a mix open or one you’ve worked on previously, “Save As” and make a new version. Let’s start fresh. Either disable or remove any plugins across the session. That’s it that’s the step. Next…. Balance When we listen to a song, it should be balanced. Meaning, elements should blend together and not overpower each other. The bass being too loud that it drowns the drums and vocals would be an example of what we don’t want to achieve. For this step reset the volume faders to unity. Take the next 20-30 minutes only using the faders to place the tracks in a respective position. Most times I work on drums and bass first then move on to the music, percussive instruments and vocals. This step is fairly simple and easy. Rinse and repeat. You can also do this with panning. Panning allows elements to have their own space in the mix. Top Down Start at the master buss and work your way backward. Apply gentle compression and EQ at the frequencies that can use it. Do this for any other busses in your mix then you can move on to the individual tracks that may need special attention. Pay Attention To Your Body Take note of how your mix makes you feel. Are the vocals aggressive and in your face? Use a compressor that complements that.Or is your song a ballad? Use some reverb on the guitar solo to bring it to life. Mixing is technical. Mixing is creative. Never lose sight of this. Listen to what the song is telling you. Grab those FX and make those moves that will enhance what’s already there! In closing, I hope you’ve learned something valuable from this post. Apply it to your next mix and tell me how it goes. Until next time, it’s ‘Tool.
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instrumentoolI have a passion for teaching and writing. Some of my many thoughts are here. Archives
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