Mix School 101
Chapter 1 : The Basics
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5:55 Introduction
What is mixing? What makes a good mix? How is a mix put together? Find out what goes into making a mix happen and the things that need to be considered.
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14:35 The Shape of a Mix
Russ deconstructs 3 mixes to show how the shape of a mix can make a big difference to the final result. Watch this and soon you'll be knocking your mixes into shape.
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17:50 The Anatomy of a Mix
Russ unpacks the anatomy of a mix and shows the 5 things to consider when mixing a track. Soon you'll be taking control of level, space, tone, dynamics, and effects to craft amazing mixes.
Chapter 2 : Getting Started
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8:21 Mix House Keeping
Discover how some simple house keeping can help you to mix faster and get great mixes in record time.
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20:16 Using Mix & Edit Groups
Why only do one thing at a time, when you can do ten - find out how Mix and Edit Groups can help you do the work of 10 people when mixing.
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7:36 Editing
If you want to get super tight drums, clean vocals and more, then watch and learn about editing the audio and getting it into shape, ready for mixing.
Chapter 3 : The Vocals
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23:14 Main Vocals
The core of any song is the vocals. See how to get them sounding just right, by applying EQ, Compression and Tuning. Make your vocals will really sing!
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9:06 Backing Vocals
If you want to get that nice big vocal sound, you'll need to know the backing vocal tricks used in top studios. The secrets are revealed in this video and every genre from rock to dance will benefit from these principles.
Chapter 4 : The Instruments
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8:12 Acoustic Guitars
Find out how to give your acoustic guitars that professional sheen and air that helps them sit just right in the mix.
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6:16 Piano & Keyboards
Getting a piano to sit in a mix can b e hard to those new to mixing - Russ shows you his 2 step approach to getting the piano to sit just right.
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2:52 Re-Tuning the Piano
Have an out-of-tune piano? Watch Russ take the MIDI piano on this track and replace it with a new one that's in tune!
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6:01 The Bass
Driving along under every great song is a solid bass. Find out how to get that solid, thick bass sound heard on so many tracks with tricks he learnt from some top mix engineers.
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21:31 Drums
How do you get a basic kit and give it the energy it needs? In this extended video, Russ takes a kit which needs some life and gives it smack and sparkle!
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22:04 Electric Guitars
You may not have a stack of vintage amps, but knowing what to put on your electric guitars can make the difference between them sounding thin to being fat and in your face.
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7:26 Beats & Percussion
Often back beats and percussion can be fighting the drums in a track. Find out how filtering can make them complement your drums tracks and be best friends.
Chapter 5 : Finishing Up the Mix
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17:27 Final Tweaks & Automation
If you have ever struggled to get things sitting just right in your mix, then see how automation can be the difference between a mess and a masterpiece. - Russ also throws some "magic dust" on the mix with careful use of reverb.
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30:39 The Final Mix
Stand back, we have a masterpiece to complete! See how using tape emulation and master bus compression can be the glue that holds the whole mix together.
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8:28 Bouncing to Disk
So you want to share you mix with the world? In this session find out how to get your mix from Pro Tools out in a file format you can send to a mastering engineer or share with your friends. Russ also shows that when it comes to bouncing the mix, there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Chapter 6 : Bonus Video
Product Overview
Are you just getting into mixing music? If so, boy are you lucky you found this collection of awesome tutorials by DAW guru Russ Hughes, co founder of Pro-Tools-Expert.com! Russ helps those either new to mixing, or who just don't feel satisfied with their mixes by starting right at the beginning, looking at what mixing is, and what makes a good mix. Then Russ performs a full, in-depth "over the shoulder" mixing session, explaining it all as he goes.
This series, although shown in Pro Tools 10, will help anyone on any DAW craft and hone their mixes into much better, professional sounding tracks that you can be proud of, as the theories presented apply to any DAW.
Russ starts with a detailed introduction to mixing, shows you "shapes" of mixes, the anatomy of a mix and mix "house keeping" to better manage and increase your mixing workflow. Next Russ gets into using groups and editing your tracks to make them mix ready. Russ then focuses on main vocals and background vocals, showing you how to get that "big" vocal sound.
The instruments are next to be mixed, including acoustic guitars, piano and keyboards, bass, drums, electric guitars and more! Russ then dives into important final tweaks, using automation and adding "magic dust" on the master buss. The final mix is then performed and Russ shows you how to bounce it to disc, and or use other means to create your master stereo file to share with the world. Just when you think it's over, Russ has included a bonus video called "Cleaning Up Live Drums" for those who need how to do so.
At over 4 hours long this series is designed to give the viewer the solid basics of mixing. This is great for someone just starting out, or for those who wish to visit the basics again to see if they have missed anything important. Even though this series is shown in Pro Tools 10, you'll be able to use the practices and theories on your own mixes in any DAW. Don't wait any longer, move to the top of the class... Watch "Mix School 101" today.
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Reviews
Submitted 7 months ago
Very helpful
I am a real beginner and this was extremely helpful to understand the fundamentals of a good mix. The videos are a bit dated now, but the core concepts are still the same.
I am a: Beginner, Hobbyist, Musician, Pro Tools
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 1 year ago
Found a lot of good detail here.
Whilst I don’t necessarily agree with some of the settings, that is my taste. The presentation and detail delivered was truly excellent. It is always good to checkout others opinions. Thanks for a great series.
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 2 years ago
Helpful
Learn a lot of new things
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 3 years ago
Not as expected
It flows good and very well explained but I do not feel I could learn a lot although I am a beginner.
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 3 years ago
Good info but...
The information is Good but the song being mixed is nauseating. I cant watch the video in it's entirety because of this,
I am a: Hobbyist, Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Sound Designer, Game Designer, Sound for Film/TV, Ableton Live, Cubase, Pro Tools, Reaper
Response from Customer Service:
I'm sorry you didn't like the tutorial. Although it is an older one, the techniques presented still hold true. The song itself was used because it was a song the author could get the licensing approved to use in this capacity. But the lessons are valuable regardless of the song being mixed.
Thank you for your support and check out some of the newer mix tutorials uploaded for even more info
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 3 years ago
Very helpful
This is a very informative course that provides a good perspective on the thought process and planning that is involved in the mixing of different tracks. Both instrumental and vocal tracks are covered along with the different audio techniques to enhance the tracks so that they sound good individually and together within the mix. For someone who is not a beginner, the course might simply cover things you already know. However, for a beginner, such as myself, it was great to see someone who is really good at his craft present this material.
I am a: Beginner, Musician, Audio Engineer, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Mixcraft
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 3 years ago
AAA
AAA
I am a: Hobbyist, Musician, Ableton Live, Cakewalk Sonar, Reason
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 4 years ago
Great set of videos
Im new to mixing and this series helped me understand the basics and much much more. Great series.
I am a: Student, Hobbyist, Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Beat Maker, Ableton Live, Reason
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 4 years ago
Pretty good basics
Pretty good overview of basics. Just one thing I noticed, he seems to be describing the 1176 the wrong way around regarding the 1176 - the faster settings are the higher numbers, not the lower.
I am a: Hobbyist, Producer, Reaper
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Submitted 4 years ago
Good, not great
I suppose this is good for beginners. It is interesting to see his thought processes. However, he was a bit unorganized, and he dwelled on things too long. There was a lot of wasted time throughout this course...I don't want to see you searching for all the areas of the song that have toms in them, you should have done that prior to filming your lesson. This was average. Separately, why does Groove 3 ask redundant, irrelevant and generic questions after the end of every review?
I am a: Musician
Ease of Use Quality of Videos Value of Training Access to Videos
Reviews
Submitted 7 months ago
Very helpful
I am a real beginner and this was extremely helpful to understand the fundamentals of a good mix. The videos are a bit dated now, but the core concepts are still the same.
I am a: Beginner, Hobbyist, Musician, Pro Tools
Submitted 1 year ago
Found a lot of good detail here.
Whilst I don’t necessarily agree with some of the settings, that is my taste. The presentation and detail delivered was truly excellent. It is always good to checkout others opinions. Thanks for a great series.
Submitted 2 years ago
Helpful
Learn a lot of new things
Submitted 3 years ago
Not as expected
It flows good and very well explained but I do not feel I could learn a lot although I am a beginner.
Submitted 3 years ago
Good info but...
The information is Good but the song being mixed is nauseating. I cant watch the video in it's entirety because of this,
I am a: Hobbyist, Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Audio Engineer, Sound Designer, Game Designer, Sound for Film/TV, Ableton Live, Cubase, Pro Tools, Reaper
Response from Customer Service:
I'm sorry you didn't like the tutorial. Although it is an older one, the techniques presented still hold true. The song itself was used because it was a song the author could get the licensing approved to use in this capacity. But the lessons are valuable regardless of the song being mixed.
Thank you for your support and check out some of the newer mix tutorials uploaded for even more info
Submitted 3 years ago
Very helpful
This is a very informative course that provides a good perspective on the thought process and planning that is involved in the mixing of different tracks. Both instrumental and vocal tracks are covered along with the different audio techniques to enhance the tracks so that they sound good individually and together within the mix. For someone who is not a beginner, the course might simply cover things you already know. However, for a beginner, such as myself, it was great to see someone who is really good at his craft present this material.
I am a: Beginner, Musician, Audio Engineer, Ableton Live, FL Studio, Mixcraft
Submitted 3 years ago
AAA
AAA
I am a: Hobbyist, Musician, Ableton Live, Cakewalk Sonar, Reason
Submitted 4 years ago
Great set of videos
Im new to mixing and this series helped me understand the basics and much much more. Great series.
I am a: Student, Hobbyist, Semi-Pro, Musician, Producer, Beat Maker, Ableton Live, Reason
Submitted 4 years ago
Pretty good basics
Pretty good overview of basics. Just one thing I noticed, he seems to be describing the 1176 the wrong way around regarding the 1176 - the faster settings are the higher numbers, not the lower.
I am a: Hobbyist, Producer, Reaper
Submitted 4 years ago
Good, not great
I suppose this is good for beginners. It is interesting to see his thought processes. However, he was a bit unorganized, and he dwelled on things too long. There was a lot of wasted time throughout this course...I don't want to see you searching for all the areas of the song that have toms in them, you should have done that prior to filming your lesson. This was average. Separately, why does Groove 3 ask redundant, irrelevant and generic questions after the end of every review?
I am a: Musician
I started young. My father was a Jazz piano player who would play Oscar Peterson on the piano, I would go in as a kid and sit and listen to him in wonder. When he left the room I would try and knock out tunes myself. When I was 15 I swapped my bike for a really bad electric guitar which I went home and plugged into my sister's hi-fi, she was not impressed. From there I started having bands in the garage and the rest, as they say, is history.
2. What training have you had?
As a musician, no formal training, I just picked things up by ear. Over the years I've been lucky to work and play with some of the best musicians around, that rubs off on you, playing with great people means you either get better or get a different job! As a trainer I've done a lot of public speaking, presentations and seminars to groups of anything from 10 to 3,000 people. Again, you either get good or get hungry.
3. When did you get into recording?
When I was 17 I bought myself a Tascam 244 Portastudio, that was a 4 track cassette based recording system that cost around $1800! In those days that was a miracle being able to record and mix on separate tracks. Once I got that then I was hooked, in fact I forgotten the stuff I've bought over the years, I just look music and technology and so recording ticks both of my passion boxes!
4. People you have worked with/for?
It's a long list and to name drop would sound like throwing pans down a stone staircase. I've worked with and for, in a technical and programming capacity UB40, T-Pau, Elton John, The Beat, New Order, Jools Holland, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Duran Duran, and Japan to name some of those blasts from the past... I'm old!
5. Why are you so good at training people?
I didn't know I was, perhaps it's the combination of my passion for the music and the gear coupled with a genuine desire to help people to use their gear without any barriers. I read the manual as a last resort (often because they are so badly written) so I guess that other's may feel the same, so I try to find a way of making things as simple as possible, I try not to pretend to be an expert, more a guy who's just figured it out. I also have a terrible sense of humour, which means when I train live there are a lot of laughs.
Products by Russ
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tutorial videoAlloy 2 Explained
iZotope just made the mixing world way better! DAW master Russ Hughes shows you all there is to know about iZotope's amazing new Alloy2 essential mixing tools. Get ready to make your tracks and mixes sound even better.
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tutorial videoBFD Eco Jump Start
Learn how to use BFD ECO fast! In this no-nonsense series by DAW master Russ Hughes, you'll learn all the important basics and not so basic features and functions of the incredibly powerful BFD ECO virtual drum instrument by fxpansion.
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tutorial videoHybrid Explained
Updated for version 2.0, Pro Tools Instrument legend Russ Hughes is back with this highly anticipated 'Explained' title. Russ takes you through the Hybrid power synth plug-in from start to finish, exploring every part of the synth and finishing off with some sound creation examples that will get your creative juices flowing.
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tutorial videoIris Explained
A new Synth is born! Russ Hughes takes you deep inside the revolutionary iZotope Iris virtual synth plug-in. Unlike other synthesis types, iZotope has created something very special and this series will teach you the ins and outs of the unbelievable new technology.
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tutorial videoLoom Explained
Untangle the creative possibilities of additive synthesis and produce something amazing with Loom. Synth master Russ Hughes takes you on a journey and helps unlock the synth secrets of this cool new take on additive synthesis. This series includes a full, in-depth explanation of all the features and some practical sessions on designing sounds from scratch.
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