Mix Instructions
The goal of this project is to work with the audio files from one of our recording session to create a basic mix of the live performance. You should start with a careful analysis of the individual tracks as well as an assessment of how they work together to represent the live performance of the ensemble.
Your mix should focus on ensemble balance, blend, and stereo image. For this mix, please try to represent the ensemble as accurately and realistically as possible, given your understanding of the session and the genre. Since we are just getting started on our plug-in / sound processing module, you are not expected to use plug-ins, but you can if you want to. If you do, please use only the plug-ins that come standard with your DAW and use them sparingly. This is a pretty straight forward session, and for this mix it is probably best to keep it simple and keep your attention focused on balance, blend, and stereo image.
You can do your mix in any appropriate software DAW, or on an analog mixer if you prefer. Again, your main technical tools will be level, pan, and automation, if needed. All of these are available in almost any DAW. As we discussed, Protools, Logic, and Reaper are all good choices. If you don't have your own system, you are welcome to work in the Music Department lab, which has Logic Express and Reaper, plus 16 licenses for Protools. When you set up your project, make sure to match the session setting to the source files.
It is often helpful to listen to representative recordings of groups similar to the ones you are working with. This gives you the chance to see how others have approached a similar ensemble and genre. There will be a range of approaches, but it will help you to hear some of the options. Some of the approaches will depend on how long ago the recording was made. I would highly recommend that you listen to at least three representative recordings as you work on your current mix, since there are a lot of examples of good recordings similar to the one you are mixing. If you have a good music collection, or use spotify, rdio, etc, you should be all set.
Please submit the following materials as part of this project:
1. a concise one page write up (word doc or pdf) that discusses your work on this project. How did you approach the mix? How did you decide on the level and pan settings? What were the challenges in this project? Please list specific recordings you listened to that informed your work. How might you approach a session like this in the future, and so on...
2. the project file from your DAW. I can read Protools, Logic, and Reaper files. You do not need to include the original audio files.
3. If you are using a DAW other than the ones listed above, please include images (screen captures) of your mix window, including level and pan settings and any plug-ins, as well as an image of your automation tracks.
4. an uncompressed 16 bit stereo interleaved audio file (aiff or wave). This is made useing the file / bouce to --> disk command
Once you have all the materials above in a folder (each file clearly labeled) please compress the folder. On the Mac this id done by selecting the folder, and the selecting 'compress' from the file menu. This creates a .zip compressed file. If you are using windows 7, instructions for making a zip file are here. Make sure it is named something like this: yourname_mix1.zip
If you have a slow internet connection, you may want to do your file upload while on the university network. Check the size of your zip folder before attempting an upload. It should be less than 75 meg.
You can upload this file to my dropbox by going to the following web site:
Enter the upload password: student_upload
You can then click 'choose file' and navigate to your .zip file
Click 'upload' - when you file has uploaded, you should see this 'File successfully uploaded to my Dropbox!'
Log out, and then you are done! - please write with any questions.