rachael
Gone are the days when expensive high-end equipment was a prerequisite for mixing soundtracks. For people who have a passion for sound mixing, but lack the funds, the dream ends right there! However, with digital sound mixers, you can now pursue your passion for music like never before, and that too like a pro.
Now if you already have Digital Audio Workstation software, then all you need is to follow the following steps. However, if you are still short-listing your options, here are some Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) you can consider:
- Studio One 3
- Ableton Live
- Cubase
- Cakewalk SONAR
- Logic
- Adobe Audition
- Pro Tools
- FL Studio 11
- Bitwig
- Reaper
Creative Sound Mixing Tips
For starters, you need to understand that the goal of sound mixing is to use multiple tracks and bring out the best in the recording by using a wide range of techniques i.e.:
Adjusting Frequencies
A DAW can help you identify and eliminate problem frequencies that create a bad listening experience. Using your parametric equalizer, you can use the high Q setting for one band, and then, while boosting the signal, ‘sweep’ up and down until you find the problem frequency and remove it.
Panning
Panning makes the real difference when mixing two or more tracks together. The distribution needs to be impeccable, which can be easily achieved using a creative sound mixing software. Panning will allow you to adjust the music, vocals, drums, beats, etc. in an orchestrated manner.
Time-based effects
DAWs give you the ability to add time-based effects with great precision. This is where they are superior to analog systems that would cost you way more. Throw in some acoustic effects on precise moments that can be tweaked according to different themes and occasions.
Synchronization
Now here is the tricky part; you could be a great sound mixer but still, fail to amaze your audience due to bad synchronization. You need to be accurate when mixing tracks to maintain a smooth and non-disruptive flow of music. Make sure the beats, bass, vocals are adjusted accordingly, and nothing seems too out of the league.
You can also hire professional sound mixing experts to make your soundtrack sound like a Pro.
How to Use DAW like a Pro
Even if you are computer savvy, using a DAW software will not be a piece of cake. The sheer number of options and functions can get overwhelming at first, but take your time to evaluate each choice with great precision. Here are a few tips for using Digital Audio Workstations:
Avoid Acoustic Overload
DAWs have a wide range of options for reverbs and delay plug-ins. If you are planning to go for third-party plug-ins for reverb and delay, then you need to explore the built-in options first. Trying to go an extra mile here would only push your track into a territory where it becomes unclear and senseless.
Digital Mixing at its Best
DAWs give you controls at your fingertip and offer visual patterns to bring out the best in your music. You can enhance the sound mixing techniques by using the automation tools in your DAW. This can be done two ways; manually adjusting the settings as if you were operating a real mixing board or using visual graphics to identify a manipulative linear path using ‘nodes’.
