Studio Tip - Phil English on Mixing Quietly & Translation!
Photograph taken by www.recordproduction.com
Phil English of Alexander Sound Studios gives us two oh-so-simple tips, so listen up!
Mix Translation - Tip 1!
The first is really simple but SO OFTEN overlooked... mix 'quiet'. It's that simple! Things often sound great when you turn them up because your ears and brain start getting excited, compensating and compressing - make sure you still have a fairly flat frequency response and then mix as quietly as you can. If I can't talk to a client while the track is running I'm not happy.
Make it sound great quiet, and when people turn it up it will blow them away!
Mix Colouration - Tip 2!
The second is more of a trick - again really simple though - if you want a listener to be engaged by a mix element (lead vocal, lead guitar, cool synth etc etc) try running it through a high quality mic amp instead of a line amp. You'll be able to generate some subtle distortions without losing clarity (if you are losing clarity you either have too much gain or need to try a different mic amp - I have a personal favourite for this trick but I'll keep that to myself!) Just remember: don't use it on too much in any given mix or it wont have the same effect!
About Phil
Phil’s career started working with and learning from big name producers and artists during several years as an engineer at the internationally renowned Great Linford Manor recording studios and he has worked with the likes of Feeder, Biffy Clyro, Diamond Head, The Coral, McFly and many others...
Phil continues to work on singles, EPs and albums with both high profile and developing acts, most often from his own Alexander Sound studios. Here he uses a DDA Profile - another classic David Dearden designed console.
Connect with Alexander Sound studio on Facebook and Twitter, or share your thoughts with Phil English on his own Twitter.
You can also catch Phil musing about all things studio and production related in The Full English podcast delivered in association with www.recordproduction.com.
