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Mixing Audio, 3rd Edition

Mixing Audio, 3rd Edition

by Roey Izhaki
Publisher: Focal Press
Release Date: October 2017
ISBN: 9781317508502
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Book Description

Mixing Audio: Concepts, Practices, and Tools, Third Edition is a vital read for anyone wanting to succeed in the field of mixing. This book covers the entire mixing process – from fundamental concepts to advanced techniques. Packed full of photos, graphs, diagrams, and audio samples, it teaches the importance of a mixing vision, how to craft and evaluate your mix, and then take it a step further. The book describes the theory, the tools used, and how these are put into practice while creating mixes.

The companion website, featuring over 2,000 audio samples as well as Pro Tools/ Multitrack Audio Sessions, is a perfect complement to the third edition.

The new edition includes:

  • A new 'Mixing and The Brain' chapter that provides a cognitive/psychological overview of many　aspects related to and affecting mixing engineers (and, to a narrow extent, listeners).

  • Updated figures and text reflecting recent software updates and trends.

Table of Contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. Symbols used
  6. Introduction
  7. Part I: Concepts and practices
    1. 1 Music and mixing
      1. Music: an extremely short introduction
      2. The role and importance of the mix
      3. The perfect mix
    2. 2 Some axioms and other gems
      1. Louder is better
      2. Percussives weigh less
      3. Importance
      4. Natural vs. artificial
    3. 3 Learning to mix
      1. What makes a great mixing engineer?
      2. The ability to work fast
      3. Methods of learning
      4. Mixing analysis
      5. Reference tracks
    4. 4 The process of mixing
      1. Mixing and the production chain
      2. The mix as a composite
      3. Where to start
      4. Deadlocks
      5. The raw tracks factor
      6. Milestones
      7. Finalizing and stabilizing the mix
    5. 5 Related issues
      1. How long does it take?
      2. Breaks
      3. Using solos
      4. Mono listening
      5. Housekeeping
      6. Mix edits
      7. Mastering
    6. 6 Mixing and the brain
      1. Dual process theory
      2. The power of the unconscious
      3. Intuition
      4. Thinking without thinking
      5. Emotions
      6. Change
      7. Creativity
    7. 7 Mixing domains and objectives
      1. Mixing objectives
      2. Definition
      3. Interest
      4. Frequency domain
      5. Level domain
      6. Stereo domain
      7. Depth
  8. Part II: Tools
    1. 8 Monitoring
      1. How did we get here?
      2. Choosing monitors
      3. The room factor
      4. Positioning monitors
      5. Headphone mixing
    2. 9 Meters
      1. Amplitude vs. level
      2. Mechanical and bar meters
      3. Peak meters
      4. Average meters
      5. Phase meters
    3. 10 Mixing consoles
      1. Buses
      2. Processors vs. effects
      3. Basic signal flow
      4. The importance of signal flow diagrams
      5. Groups
      6. In-line consoles
      7. The monitor section
      8. Correct gain structure
      9. The digital console
    4. 11 Software mixers
      1. Tracks and mixer strips
      2. Routing
      3. The internal architecture
    5. 12 Phase
      1. What is phase?
      2. Problems
      3. Tricks
    6. 13 Faders
      1. Types
      2. Scales
      3. Working with faders
    7. 14 Panning
      1. How stereo works
      2. Pan controls
      3. Types of track
      4. Panning techniques
      5. Beyond pan pots
    8. 15 Equalizers
      1. Applications
      2. The frequency spectrum
      3. Types and controls
      4. Graphic equalizers
      5. In practice
      6. Equalizing various instruments
    9. 16 Introduction to dynamic range processors
      1. Dynamic range
      2. Dynamics
      3. Dynamic range processors in a nutshell
    10. 17 Compressors
      1. The course of history
      2. The sound of compressors
      3. Principle of operation and core controls
      4. Additional controls
      5. Controls in practice
      6. Applications
      7. Tricks
      8. More on compressors
    11. 18 Limiters
    12. 19 Gates
      1. Controls
      2. Applications
      3. In practice
      4. Tricks
    13. 20 Expanders
      1. Controls
      2. In practice
      3. Upward expanders
    14. 21 Duckers
      1. Operation and controls
      2. Applications
    15. 22 Delays
      1. Delay basics
      2. Types
      3. In practice
      4. Applications
    16. 23 Other modulation tools
      1. Vibrato
      2. ADT
      3. Flanging
      4. Phasing
      5. Tremolo
    17. 24 Reverbs
      1. What is reverb?
      2. Applications
      3. Types
      4. Reverb programs
      5. Reverb properties and parameters
      6. Early reflections (ERs)
      7. Reverbs and stereo
      8. Other reverb types
      9. Reverbs in practice
    18. 25 Distortion
      1. Background
      2. Distortion basics
      3. Ways to generate distortion
    19. 26 Drum triggering
      1. Methods of drum triggering
    20. 27 Other tools
      1. MS
      2. Pitch shifters and harmonizers
      3. Exciters and enhancers
      4. Transient designers
    21. 28 Automation
      1. Automation engines
      2. The automation process
      3. Automation alternatives
      4. Control surfaces
  9. Part III: Sample mixes
    1. 29 “Show Me” (rock ’n’ roll)
      1. Drums
      2. Bass
      3. Rhythm guitar
      4. Lead guitar
      5. Vocal
    2. 30 “It’s Temps Pt. II” (hip-hop/urban/grime)
      1. Beat
      2. Bass
      3. Other tracks
      4. Vocals
    3. 31 “Donna Pomini” (techno)
      1. Ambiance reverb
      2. Beat
      3. Sound FX
      4. Bass
      5. Vocal
      6. Other elements
    4. 32 “The Hustle” (DnB)
      1. Ambiance reverb
      2. Drums
      3. Motif elements
      4. Pads
      5. Horns and brass
      6. Risers
      7. Strings
    5. 33 “Hero” (rock)
      1. Drums
      2. Bass
      3. Rhythm guitar
      4. Lead guitar
      5. Vocals
  10. Appendix A: The science of bouncing
  11. Appendix B: Notes-to-frequencies chart
  12. Appendix C: Delay time chart
  13. Index