Mixing: 9 Recent Audiotuts Tutorials

Mixing is a skill and an artform. It is learned from experience, but reading a bunch or great tutorials on it can't hurt. Here are 9 great 2010 tutorials on mixing. Some look at mixing in general, others focus on specific DAWs, vocals and drums. Read them, practice them, and become a better mixer.

• How to Record and Mix Stereo Backing Vocals – Part 1

  Recording backing vocals in stereo has been a tried and tested technique for years. Some of the greatest singers have done it – Michael Jackson, Marti Pellow (Wet Wet Wet), Mick Hucknell (Simply Red), Seal, Madonna, Christina Aguilera – and they’ve done it well. But how do you get that layered, wall-of-sound backing vocals without clouding the lead? How do you choose how many and which ones to do? Read on…

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• Recording and Mixing Stereo Backing Vocals – Part Two: Adding Effects

  It takes a lot more than good pre-production to make vocals sound professional in a track (although it certainly helps), and there are many ways to improve your mix. In Part One of this tutorial we had a look at the pre-production as well as how to mix lead and backing vocals together effectively with the use of EQ, compression and panning. This time take it one step further and add the sheen to the sound.

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• Getting to Know Reason 4’s Mixer Device

  Reason’s Mixer is one of the most important devices in the software, but most home musicians don’t pay much attention to it. It’s simple enough to get your head around the basics of leveling devices with a bit of experimentation, but in this tutorial we’re going to go further into the breadth of features this essential and under-appreciated device offers.

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• A Guide to Effective Drum Mixing – Part 1

  Get five mixing engineers in a room and they will probably give
  you five different tips on mixing your drums. Some want it au natural,
  making it breathe and sound live. Others want it pumped in your
  face with crushed compression kicking you to the ground. And many
  like the happy middle, applying compression when needed but still
  retaining the natural feel of the drum kit. No matter what your
  preference is, there are certain guidelines that are good to follow
  when starting to mix your drums.

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• A Guide to Effective Drum Mixing – Part 2

  In the last installment of Effective Drum Mixing we went through the rough levels of each instrument, checking the phase of the snare and general panning. Therefore, the faders are mostly where we want them, the snare is punching through without phase problems and every drum is panned in the stereo field.

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• A Guide to Effective Drum Mixing – Part 3

  In the last installment, Effective Drum Mixing – Part 2, we touched upon the subject of EQ and compression. And if you missed the first installment of the series, where we did basic levels, panning and the sort, check it out here.

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• An Introduction To 3D Mixing

  Mixing is arguably the most important stage of the music production process. When done properly, one can do everything from add energy and warmth to a sound to completely alter the feel and flow of an entire piece of music.

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• 3D Mixing Part 2: Panorama

  Creating a convincing and tight mix that is ‘tall, deep and wide’ is far easier said than done. However, if the mixing process is approached in a systematic way the outcome will be far better and far easier to achieve.

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Want more? Check out the top mixing and mastering tutorials of 2009!

• Top 10 2009 Tutorials About Mixing and Mastering

  Mixing and mastering make or break all of the hard work you previously put into recording your musical masterpiece. They allow you to process and balance your tracks together in a pleasing final form that will hopefully be listened to by millions. The following 10 tutorials contain techniques that will get you mixing and mastering like a pro.

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Which of these tutorials or tutorial series did you find most helpful? Do you have any mixing tips of your own? Let us know in the comments.