Audio mixing
Audio mixing is used for
sound recording,
audio editing and
sound systems to balance the relative
volume and
frequency content of a number of
sound sources. Typically, these sound sources are the different
musical instruments in a
band or vocalists, the sections of an
orchestra and so on.
Sometimes audio mixing is done live by an
sound engineer or recording engineer, for example at
rock concerts and other musical performances where a
public address system (PA) is used. A typical concert has two mixers, one located in the audience to mix the front of house speakers heard by the audience, and the other is located at the side of the stage, mixing for the
monitor speakers positioned directly in front of the performers so that they can hear one another.
Another example of live mixing is a
DJ mixing two records together. Break beats are created by mixing between identical
breaks. Often the end of one pre-recorded song is mixed into another so that the transition is seamless, which is done through
beat-matching or beat-mixing, and possibly
pitch control.
At other times, audio mixing is done in studios as part of
multitrack recording in order to produce digital or analog audio recordings, or as part of an
album,
film or
television program. See:
remix.
An audio
mixing console, or mixing desk, or mixing board, has numerous rotating controls (
potentiometers) and sliding controls (
faders which are also
potentiometers) that are used to manipulate the
volume, the addition of effects such as reverb, and frequency content (
equalization) of audio signals. On most consoles, all the controls that apply to a single channel of audio are arranged in a vertical column called a
channel strip. Larger and more complex consoles such as those used in film and television production can contain hundreds of channel strips. Many consoles today, regardless of cost, have automation capabilities so the movement of their controls is performed automatically, not unlike a
player piano. A recent trend is to use a "control surface" connected to a computer. This eliminates much of the electronics in a conventional console as the actual mixing work is done digitally by the computer.
Audio mixing on a personal
computer is also gaining momentum. More and more independent artists are starting to use their personal computers for
digital recording and
mixing their work.
Audio editing on the computer is also easy and generally preferred.
A recent trend is mixing to 5.1, which is "surround" audio. This requires 6 channels of audio: left, center, right, left rear, right rear, and low frequencies (sub-woofer). In commercial release, only DVD video has a standard. The demand for 5.1 in the audio and music domain was once small but has recently increased dramatically, along with the introduction of 7.1 & 9.1 surround channel audio.
Legendary Mix Engineers, such as Bob Clearmountain, have greatly influenced, and continue to influence the sound of modern music.
Links
The Way Recording Studio LondonAbbey RoadOcean Way Recording StudiosAir Studios
