Mixed Reality Modules

• Drum Tuning
• Acoustic Treatment
• Monitor Placement

Introduction

• Basic concepts and goals
• Less is more
• Techniques instead of technology
• The right balance
• The build of a mix
• Common problems
• Less is more“ approach
• Solving problems

Preparation

The Creative Bermuda Triangle

• File formats and handling
• Project organisation/folder structure
• Importing the files
• Grouping
• Rough mix(es) and reference track(s)

Monitoring

What you hear is
(the opposite of) what you get

• Basic studio layout
• Monitor speakers
• Mixing with headphones
• The signal path
• Curating a reference playlist
• Working with a reference playlist
• Using metering tools

Basic Mixing

Focusing on the simple things

• Gain staging
• Mono vs. stereo signals
• Time domain and frequency domain
• Panning signals
• Cleaning up the sound
• Low cuts and high cuts
• Balancing
• Fader balance vs. EQ
• Finding the sweet spot

Drum Tuning

The Most Important Step in the Process

• The concept
• The tools
• How it works
• The different drum elements

EQ

Shaping Soundwaves

• EQ 101
• EQ concepts: surgical vs. sweetening
• Resonances
• Minimal invasive filtering
• Bell/Shelve/Tilt
• The „Pultec trick“ demystified

Philosophical Interlude

If in doubt, make it loud or leave it out

Compression

Control, cohesion, and character

• Compression 101
• Types of compression
• Automation vs. compression
• Use cases
• Multiband: yay or nay
• Compression vs. Dynamic EQ
• Parallel compression demystified

Philosophical Interlude 

Music is the greatest art form that doesn’t even exist

Spatial Design

Setting the Soundstage

• Basic concepts
• Depth layers in a mix
• Reverb 101
• Delay 101
• Pre-delay and decay
• Creating depth with early reflections
• Creating one-shot tails
• Reverb tails as pads
• Channel inserts vs. send effects
• Bus routings with reverbs and delays
• Sound design with reverbs

Mixing and Groove

Let it Roll

• Delays as groove tools
• Sidechain compression
• Reverb and delay parameters
• Tools and techniques and how they influence the groove

Mixing Low End

Fundamental Issues

• Monitoring 101
• The toolbox
• The sequence is key
• Drum tuning: benefits and limits
• Sidechain compression: yay or nay
• Bass drum shaping

Mixing Vocals

Acoustic Signals in an Electronic World

• Vocal 101
• Cleaning up the sound
• Editing and comping
• Tuning
• Automation
• EQ
• Compression
• De-essing
• Placement and treatment

Buss Processing

Group Therapy

• Routing concepts
• Less is more
• Bussing vs. grouping
• Drum buss processing: Compression
• Drum buss processing: EQ
• Drum buss processing: Saturation
• Vocal buss processing: EQ
• Vocal buss processing: Compression

Advanced Mixing & Techniques

Going the Extra Mile

• Ideas and concepts
• The sound stage
• Modelling 3D sonic sculptures
• Placing sounds
• Automation
• Creating drama and big sounds
• The yin and yang principle
• Telling a story with a mix

Philosophical Interlude

• Emphasize the flaws the „good“ ones

Mixing The Bigger Picture

No Mix is an Island

• The different stages
• The earlier quality occurs, the better
• Ingredients
• Tackling issues at the source
• Fixing it in the mix?
• Arrangement is key

Exporting The Mix

The Launchpad

• Master buss processing: yay or nay
• Export for mastering
• Export for DJ testing

Famous Last Words

• Gardening, not architecture!