Capturing Sound Series Course 4: What makes a good mix?
This is a six-hour course focused on how to get a mix to sound right using the tools discussed in previous courses, namely: gain staging, mixing board routing, equalization, compression, and effects such as reverbs and delays.
The course will address questions like:
– What should I be focusing on when I start to mix?
– What should be the loudest and why?
– Why do I always have trouble hearing the vocals?
– The drums are too loud and they aren’t even turned on in the PA! What do I do?
– When I turn up the guitar and piano, I can’t hear the vocal anymore, but then if I turn up the vocal I get feedback! What do I do?
– I like reverb, but I can never get it to sound right. What am I doing wrong?
– That old guy over there yelled at me during soundcheck because it was too loud, but I can’t get it any quieter. What do I do?
Some of the concepts discussed will be: panning, masking, overall frequency curve of the mix, volume of the mix in relation to the room and music type, the focus, PA volume and stage volume relationships, when and where to add effects, when to and how to EQ effectively, and when to and how to compress effectively.
Prerequisites: a basic understanding of the tools discussed in Course 3.
Course goals: To show participants how to approach a mix and apply the mix tools effectively in order to get a clear and professional sounding mix.
Who should take this course:
– All musicians
– Everyone interested in getting involved in live sound at festivals and local shows
– Anyone interested in recording music
– Those interested in stage management
– All musicians
These courses will be held at Green Needle Records recording studio located 20 minutes outside of Whitehorse and will run from 10 am to 4 pm.
Dates to be announced based on minimum of 10 participants per session.
Each participant will receive a handout of reference material.
It is recommended to bring a pen and notebook.
Participants should bring a lunch and indoor shoes.
There will a half hour lunch break at 1 pm. A full kitchen, including fridge/stove and toaster oven, is available.
Each course costs $99 plus GST, paid in advance.
Courses cannot be recorded or filmed.
Please wait for confirmation from Green Needle Records before paying.