Unit 48: Mixing and Mastering

Definition of effects/DAW options

• EQ - adjusting the balance of different frequencies in an audio recording. This can be adjusted in the DAW via a graphic, where the user manipulates the waveform to select which frequencies they wish to boost or tame

• Compression - balancing levels of a recording (making louder and quieter noises the same volume and evening out frequencies). This can be adjusted to taste by several parameters, which include threshold (the volume level at which the compression is applied), ratio (how much compression is applied) and make-up gain (compensates for loss of volume whilst keeping the compression effect)

• Balancing - ensuring all parts of a recording can be heard equally in a mix
• Panning - 'moving' different parts to different sides of the stereo field (left or right), adjusted in Cubase by using the slider for each track

• Limiting - preventing an audio signal from going above a set volume threshold to prevent clipping (distortion of the signal)
• Reverb - causing a sound to persist then fade away after it has been produced. The main parameters involved with reverb are the amount (how much reverb to be applied) and dry/wet (the blend between the original sound and the effected sound)

• Grouping - also known as busing, this literally means grouping similar parts together so that effects can be applied all at once. In Cubase, this is done by 'sending' the outputs of the tracks to one group track, as shown:

• Automation - allowing certain parameters, such as volume, to move automatically

Mix 1 - "Let's Stick Together"

For the first mix, I was given the files (stems) and told to mix from scratch. After importing them into my DAW, I organised them according to instruments (vocals, guitars, keys, brass, bass, drums), colour coded them, then grouped some tracks together (in this case, I grouped vocals together). 

I then proceeded to mix the song, beginning with the drums, then adding in the bass, keys, brass, guitars and finally the vocals until all parts were mixed and balanced well with each other. 

To master the track, I began by opening the mixer up by going to Devices -> Mixer, then opened the effects for the stereo out track. This allowed me to add EQ, multiband compression and other effects to the final mixdown, in order to sweeten the sound. EQ is applied to the master track the same way it would be as a regular track (my settings are shown below, chosen in order to boost bass and higher frequencies), but multiband works differently to normal compression (a screenshot is listed below of the settings, where I also applied compression to bass and higher frequencies); multiband allows you to individually adjust the the different settings for each frequency band, which lets you compress bass frequencies whilst letting through a lot of higher frequencies, for example.

Another method of mastering is known as formatting. This involves exporting the stereo out first as a final mixdown (using 16bit sample depth and 44,100Hz sample rate, also known as CD quality) then reimporting the track back into Cubase and adjusting the settings like a normal track.

Finally, I then mastered the stereo out track and then exported my final mix as a stereo mixdown. It was very important to keep the final output below 0db, as otherwise this would cause the mixdown to clip.

Below is the tracklist along with the list of effects used:

Track Number	Purpose of Track	Effects Used
1	Vocal Grouping	·         EQ (boost at 1k, low pass filter at 10-20k) ·         Reverb ·         Compressor ·         Limiter
2	Lead Vocal	·         EQ (boost at 1-5k) ·         Limiter
3	Backing Vocal	·         Panned 50% left ·         EQ (boost at 500Hz - 1k)
4	Backing Vocal 2	·         Panned 50% right ·         EQ (boost at 500Hz - 1k)
5	Guitar	·         Panned 25% left ·         VST Amp Simulator on Distortion setting
6	Guitar Solo	·         VST Amp Simulator on Distortion setting ·         Noise gate (to remove any excess hiss) ·         EQ (boost at 1k)
7	Keys	·         Panned 60% left ·         Reverb ·         Delay (ping pong setting to create ‘bounce’) ·         Chorus (adds modulation effect) ·         EQ (boost at 2.5k)
8	Trumpet	·         Panned 40% left ·         Reverb ·         Limiter
9	Trombone	·         Panned 40% right ·         Reverb ·         Limiter
10	Bass	·         Panned 50% right ·         VST Amp Simulator ·         EQ (boost at 200-300Hz)
11	Cymbals	·         EQ (boost at 5k)
12	Hi Hat	·         EQ (boost at 500Hz, reduction at 1k)
13	Snare	·         Panned 20% right ·         EQ (Boost at 200Hz and 500Hz)
14	Kick	·         Panned 20% right ·         EQ (Boost at 200Hz and 500Hz)
Stereo OUT	Final Mixdown	·         EQ (boost at 200Hz and 500Hz, 1k and 5k) ·         Multiband Compressor (boost at 200Hz and 500Hz, 1k and 5k)

Yellow Mix
For this unit, I also had to mix another project that I had already done for the BTEC; in this case, I chose my cover of 'Yellow' by Coldplay to mix and master. I chose to use the same lot of effects for this mix (EQ, compression, reverb, limiting etc.) but tweaked them to suit the different range of instruments used. 

To begin with, I used the same process for the first track, which was to colour code my tracks, group them (this time, I grouped vocals, guitars as well as drums) and them to remove a lot of the background noise (mostly evident in the vocals in between different sections of the song. I then mixed the track, ensuring everything was balanced together and didn't clip by passing over 0db. 

When it came to mastering, I used the same method as "Stick Together", which was to master in real time by importing my effects directly into the stereo track. I found this a simpler method to use than formatting, as this method is basically the same without the extra step of exporting the track first.

Track Number	Purpose of Track	Effects Used
1	Vocal Group	·         De-esser (removes sibilance) ·         Compressor ·         Reverb
2	Vocal 1	·         EQ (reduction at 200Hz and 10k)
3	Vocal 2	·         EQ (reduction at 200Hz and 10k)
4	Backing Vocal 1	·         EQ (reduction at 200Hz and 10k)
5	Backing Vocal 2	·         EQ (reduction at 200Hz and 10k)
6	Guitar Group	·         Compressor ·         Reverb
7	Distortion 1	·         EQ (boost at 250Hz and at 7.5k)
8	Distortion 2	·         EQ (boost at 250Hz and at 7.5k)
9	Clean 1	·         EQ (low and high pass filters, as well at reduction at 1k) ·         Panned 44% right
10	Clean 2	·         EQ (low and high pass filters, as well at reduction at 1k) ·         Panned 33% left
11	Acoustic 1	·         EQ (high pass filter, reduction at 200Hz and boost at 5k) ·         Panned 68% left
12	Acoustic 2	·         EQ (high pass filter, reduction at 200Hz and boost at 5k) ·         Panned 68% right
13	Bass	·         EQ (high pass filter, reduction at 200Hz and boost at 5k) ·         Compressor ·         VST Amp Simulator ·         Panned 47% left
14	Drum Group	·         Compressor ·         Reverb
15	Hihat	·         EQ (large high pass filter, boost at 5k) ·         Panned 50% right
16	Kick	·         EQ (boost at 100Hz, reduction at 500Hz, boost at 2k and low pass filter) ·         Compressor ·         Panned 15% right
17	Snare	·         EQ (reduction at 200 to 500Hz, boost at 5k)
18	Ride	·         EQ (boost at 300Hz and 5k) ·         Panned 50% left
19	Crash	·         EQ (boost at 300Hz and 5k) ·         Panned 50% right
Stereo OUT	Final Mixdown	·         EQ (reduction at 200Hz and 500Hz, boost at 1k and 5k) ·         Multiband Compressor (reduction at 200Hz and 500Hz, boost at 1k and 5k)

Here is the link to both of my mixes:
https://soundcloud.com/user-239608709/sets/mixing-and-mastering