Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio (Sound On Sound Presents...)

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stars because it's out of date and could be refreshed and it's also really only focused on mainstream and pop mixes. His book is packed with surprising insights and techniques which are - frankly - so simple that I while reading this, my forehead was beet red because I kept slapping it. First you’ll discover how to prepare yourself and your studio for truly productive work, but without breaking the bank.

The EQ, and Compression chapters alone make this book worth the money; but Senior also goes on to give valuable tips on software (some of it free) and hardware without sounding like he's pushing any particular brand.However, when the charm of long, antisocial hours in dark studios finally wore off, Mike joined the SOS team as Reviews Editor, where he was instrumental in establishing the popular Studio SOS and Mix Rescue columns.

The contents of the book are the result of interviews of dozens of veteran producers who have had to work with all kinds of equipment and in all kinds of spaces. com/reviews/gear/91/mixing-secrets-for-the-small-studio-book) – “This book is gold… may bump your work forward by months or years. And if you're not already an experienced engineer, much of the advice and terminology may go over your head, particularly towards the latter chapters of the book. There are, however, ways to maximize the effectiveness of your efforts, and this is the best I know when it comes to mixing. If you're doing something closer to experimental electronic music without vocals, there's a bit to skim through, but overall the book is still worthwhile for mixing any style of music.

Each month, he does a "makeover" mix of a reader-submitted song, explaining his decisions and techniques in detail. Pick up tricks and tips from leading-edge engineers working on today's multi-platinum hits, including Derek "MixedByAli" Ali, Michael Brauer, Dylan "3D" Dresdow, Tom Elmhirst, Serban Ghenea, Jacquire King, the Lord-Alge brothers, Tony Maserati, Manny Marroquin, Noah "50" Shebib, Mark "Spike" Stent, DJ Swivel, Phil Tan, Andy Wallace, Young Guru, and many, many more. It's pretty awesome to stumble across a quarterly print 'zine that's "dedicated to increasing visibility for women working in live and recorded sound. I've heard it's also good for experienced mixers who are seeking to develop their skills, but I can't talk for that as I am not one of them!

This is what they've learned--their sage advice to impart on the next generation of engineers/producers. Another important detail is that it never appears to be trying to sell you one brand or product, it really makes you feel that the only important thing is knowledge and experience. It has detailed frequency information on individual instruments, for things like “fullness” “attack” “presence” etc. Appropriate audio material can be downloaded from a dedicated section of Mike's own company web site ( www. User-friendly explanations introduce technical concepts on a strictly need-to-know basis, while chapter summaries and assignments are perfect for school and college use.

Additionally, reexamination of any chapter reveals situation specific tips that become increasingly relevant as the student gains experience. Regular Sound On Sound readers will already be familiar with Mike Senior's contributions to the ever‑popular Mix Rescue series, as well as his occasional (and usually lengthy! For a person with a limited budget who is willing to put in the time to work through Mike’s lesson plan, Mixing Secrets is an invaluable resource. Pick up tricks and tips from leading-edge engineers working on today's multi-platinum hits, including Michael Brauer, Serban Ghenea, the Lord-Alge brothers, Tony Maserati, Manny Marroquin, Dave 'Hard Drive' Pensado, Jack Joseph Puig, Mark 'Spike' Stent, Phil Tan, Andy Wallace, and many, many more.

Many books have been published about mixing, but in all honesty I'd say Mixing Secrets is easily the most practical, complete and ultimately satisfying that I've read so far. After starting to dabble in doing some home recordings and simple mixes, I skimmed this book over a period of several months. Different producers are going to have different preferences, technology is going to change over time, and it's not Mike Senior's fault I'm not British! Mike Senior gives the novice the fundamental information necessary to understand and execute all basic mixing tasks as well as many advanced mixing ones.

The book is structured in a progressive fashion, following a logical mixing workflow, and developing and building on ideas and techniques throughout. Burl Audio, under the direction of owner/designer Rich Williams, has developed some of the best new recording equipment over the last eight years. This book tells you in more specific detail how to do that well and how to use listening in mono as a check for phasing problems.