Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio (Sound On Sound Presents...)

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with the emphasis always on helping the reader to understand when and why to use a particular technique, before explaining how in great practical detail. Burl Audio, under the direction of owner/designer Rich Williams, has developed some of the best new recording equipment over the last eight years. Vintage King co-founder Michael Nehra shares some of his love, knowledge, and practical advice for diving into the world of vintage audio gear, and then takes us behind the scenes for a walk through.

Different producers are going to have different preferences, technology is going to change over time, and it's not Mike Senior's fault I'm not British! The step-by-step breakdown, full of explanations and background in an easy-to-understand language was amazing and allowed me to complete my first mix successfully, even with no previous experience. In other words, as a result of working through this book, articles on arcane mixing techniques become easy to digest, even if they aren’t described in the book. Many good examples of current and popular CDs are given through this book to 'reference' each step in the mixing process.And though there's plenty of information to soak up, Mike has made it very easy to navigate your way through the book and to find the relevant information you need quickly and easily.

Example, most books on recording will remind you to listen to your mixes from multiple sources (monitors, headphones, car, etc. If you've never spent time working with seasoned engineers, or you haven't been mixing for long, this book is gold. And admittedly I am nowhere near as seasoned and experienced of a mixer as the author is, there are some pieces of his advice that I just disagreed with!As you become successful enough to justify more expensive equipment, Mixing Secrets will be there to help you make the most out of your time and effort. Obviously that's not rocket science, but again, I'd gotten comfortable in my ways, and de- fossilizing my brain a bit was a good thing. After reading Mixing Secrets, books and articles on more advanced topics become easier to grasp, even if they are written poorly.

There are, however, ways to maximize the effectiveness of your efforts, and this is the best I know when it comes to mixing. Now extensively expanded and updated, including new sections on mix-buss processing, mastering, and the latest advances in plug-in technology.Mike shares many of his own mixing tips, supplemented by tips and advice from some of the industry's top engineers that range from Chris and Tom Lord Alge to Andy Wallace. First, just so you know who this review is coming from, here’s a quick bio: I’ve been a guitarist for the last 20 years or so, and have been getting more into the production/mixing side of things the last ten years. If you're a tape-and- console engineer, there's still good stuff to be found, but you'll probably skip chapters like "Timing and Tuning. On the way, you’ll unravel the mysteries of every type of mix processing, from simple EQ and compression through to advanced spectral dynamics and ‘fairy dust’ effects. If you're doing something closer to experimental electronic music without vocals, there's a bit to skim through, but overall the book is still worthwhile for mixing any style of music.

And if you're not already an experienced engineer, much of the advice and terminology may go over your head, particularly towards the latter chapters of the book. moments where i found a common-sense practice that i hadn't thought about or had stupidly neglected. In the good old days, new engineers learned to mix by interning or assisting; that's less and less the case these days. Rather, he shows various methods, explaining that not every method would work for every mix and even provides links to find out more about the different schools of thought.Warning: For those readers who get upset when we deviate a bit from matters strictly audio, you should skip ahead to the next microphone review that fits your budget. Since 2007 he has transformed dozens of amateur productions for Sound On Sound magazine's popular 'Mix Rescue' column, proving time and again that you can achieve commercial-grade results with affordable gear -- once you know how!