Mixing With UAD Spark Plug-Ins
The UAD Spark collection contains everything you need to successfully mix your song with incredible quality. In this UAD Spark video tutorial series, studio wizard Thomas Cochran takes you step-by-step through a song mixed entirely with UAD Spark plugins. You'll learn specific techniques for dealing with each instrument and hear each with audio examples throughout, so you can apply the same concepts in your own productions. These videos are for new UAD Spark users.
Main Elements
• Acoustic Guitar Pt. 1 (10:02) - In the first video of the course, we take a look at the main acoustic guitar in the song.
• Acoustic Guitar Pt. 2 (12:31) - We add some tape and final EQ processing to round out the acoustic guitar, giving us a balanced guitar tone that makes a good starting point for our mix.
• Vocals Pt. 1 (11:21) - Now we jump into the vocal mix and start processing everything. Using preamp emulation and compression, this gives a great starting point for the vocal.
• Vocals Pt. 2 (11:36) - Thomas wraps up the main vocal mix and adds some final processing to balance out the sound, including stereo tape delays and reverb.
• Background Vocals & Bus Processing (18:53) - Next, we take a look at the background vocals and ways we can best process them to fit behind the main vocal. Thomas also shows how to create artificial double tracking using a Hass effect.
• Kick & Snare Pt. 1 (12:05) - This video shows how to use gates and API Vision channel strip to sculpt the kick and snare in the song.
• Kick & Snare Pt. 2 (07:30) - Next, Thomas wraps up discussion on the kick and snare and adds some simple EQ processing to give body and fullness to the snare sound.
• Hats, Overheads, & Fills (11:28) - This video builds off the previous videos, using the same processing concepts with the API channel strips to process the remaining drums. Thomas also demonstrates how to use gates to add snap to the hats without the need for a transient shaper or compression.
• Drum Room Mics & Drum Bus (11:08) - Explore the room microphones and bus processing applied to round out the final drum sound.
• Main Guitars Pt. 1 (08:34) - Learn how to process multiple guitar recordings to add clarity and width. In this video, we take a look at how API channel strips can be used to add punch and brightness to the guitars.
• Main Guitars Pt. 2 (08:01) - Next, we look at bus processing and how it can be used to balance out the guitar sounds using tape, compression, and delay.
• Upright Bass (07:57) - Discover how to mix an upright bass guitar. This video also explores how to use compression to add groove to the bass.
Additional Instruments
• Guitar Solo (08:14) - This video takes the effects from the previous guitar mix and applies them to the solo for consistency. Tape distortion and tape delay are also used to add some flavor.
• Percussion (06:15) - Next, learn how to mix percussion and how to add control without sacrificing the dynamics of the shaker.
• Piano (08:38) - Explore ways to take a simple piano recording and use it to provide ambience to the track. This adds some additional interest to the production.
Final Adjustments
• Mix Bus Processing (08:57) - In the last video, Thomas adds some additional bus processing and makes some final adjustments to the mix.