Mixing 101 - Mix Session from Hell

Introduction

Kenny welcomes you and introduces you to the video tutorials. You'll run through all the tracks and procedures for how you're going to go about mixing the song and what specific methods you'll be using in the tutorial. All tracks in the song are also briefly reviewed, followed by the song being played as a before and after.

Track Management

In this video, we break the tracks down into sections and Re-order them, add Color and give them useful names that can be spotted in a much quicker way.

Rough Mix with Markers & Tempo

Kenny now shows the benefit of making a quick rough mix to get an idea of what will be needed in the final mixing process. He also adds Markers for each song section and finds the correct song tempo.

Clean-Up, Clip Gain & Split Mono

Going further into the pre-mixing process, watch Kenny clean up tracks where music isn't playing, add gain to tracks with low levels, and split stereo and mono tracks into their most useful form.

Master Buss FX

In this video, Kenny sets up a master buss track and adds FX and plug-ins that are most useful in this application.

Basic Vocal Sound

As we dig in and start the actual mixing process, we start by getting a basic vocal sound that can be built around, in the rest of the mixing flow, as we always consider this most important aspect of the final mix.

Guitar Amp Sims

Many of the tracks are just a DI or direct injection signal straight from the guitar, so together you'll sculpt the best guitar tones for this specific track.

The Drum Overheads

In this video we begin getting the overall drum sound from our overhead mics. The goal is to make this the sound or centerpiece of your kit and build around it. EQ, compression, reverb are also applied.

The Room Mics

In this tutorial you'll dig in to the room mics on the kit and see how big and distant we can actually make the drums sound. In addition, we add EQ and compression to re-shape the drum mics.

Kick Drum

As we begin to zero in on the close mics on the kit, we notice how much presence and thump can be applied by adding samples to the kick drum. Not only do we add Samples to enhance the sound but we also find quick ways to make those triggers sample accurate.

Snare Drum Pt. 1

In this video we address the Snare drum and see how much crack we can create from it by using EQ and compression.

Snare Drum Pt. 2

In this video, Kenny continues with the snare mix and adds a sample to create some extra character in the snare.

Drum Reverb

Next we focus on getting the right room treatment for the drums by adding Reverb and making just the right preset for this song.

The Toms

In this tutorial we go through and adjust the tom track using EQ and compression.

The Ride Cymbal

In this video, Kenny focuses in on the ride cymbal to make sure it too cuts thru the track.

Drum Buss EQ & Parallel Compression

In this video we go thru and add a parallel compression buss and then add EQ and compression effects to really create an aggressive drum sound.

The Bass Sound

Next we dig into the bass sound. See how to use multiple sub-mixes, VCAs and effects to create that modern Bass Sound.

The Guitars Pt. 1

Moving on to the guitars, we now start to blend these into the mix finding the perfect place for them regarding panning and a bit more edgy EQ.

The Guitars Pt. 2

Kenny continues working on the guitars utilizing different plug-ins and techniques to get that polishes pro sound.

Acoustic Guitars

In this video, Kenny checks out the acoustic guitars in the song which come in a bit later, but do play an important part in creating dynamics in the overall arrangement.

Lead Vocals & Clip Gain

Next we come back to the vocals and start to fine tune the level of each phrase in each lyric. This makes things easier down the line, but also makes each word sit at the right volume along with getting the right amount of compression.

Lead Vocals / EQ & Compression

As we start to dig in deeper to the vocals, we can now add some final EQ and compression to really make the vocal pop out in the mix.

Lead Vocals & De-Essing

As a final step, we can now De-Ess the vocal so that those high frequencies don't jump out in an un-natural way. Also see how to create a tighter more polished vocal treatment.

Bridge Vocal FX

Next we check out the bridge vocal which has some similarities to the lead vocal but also needs to be treated in its own special way.

Background Vox

In this video, Kenny works on the background vocals and how to find a unique supporting place for them while adding EQ, compression, reverb and delays.

Dividing Tracks & Panning

In this tutorial, we go back to separating tracks into useful groups and sub-groups, and finding spatial left and right panning for each section. Automation and dynamics are also used.

Automation Pt. 1

As a Final step to tying the whole Mix together, Kenny breaks out automation and really digs in and rides every instrument that needs finessing on a section by section basis.

Automation Pt. 2

Kenny finalizes all his automation choices and dials in just the right moves to add movement and excitement to the mix.