Using gates and expanders to remove bleed from a drum kit (video)
Fresh from my brand new Lynda.com course Foundations of Audio: Compressors and Dynamics Processors, here is a free video on gating a drum track. You can watch all the videos in this new course by...
View ArticleWhat is a Dynamics Processor? (video)
Dynamics processors are little more than automatic volume controls, responding to changes in signal level over time. If the input signal’s level meets a specific criteria (threshold) then the processor...
View ArticleMixing with Transient Shapers to control drum envelopes (video)
When you use traditional compressors to alter a signal’s envelope shape, you often trade one problem for another. Spiking out the attack uses deep threshold settings that alter the tone and shape of...
View ArticleThe importance of understanding a compressor’s threshold control (video)
As humans, we have tons of built in “thresholds” surrounding all of our senses. What do you do when the shower gets too hot? As the temperature rises, it eventually gets to the point that your nerves...
View ArticleUnderstanding EQ: Hi and Lo-pass filters (video)
A “pass” filter affects all energy above or below the target frequency, often referred to as the “cut-off frequency,” by removing that frequency content in a continuously decreasing downward slope....
View ArticleMixing for the first time listener
As a professional mix engineer I spend a lot of time mixing other people’s songs. These songs are like their children, so it is of the utmost importance that I respect their vision as an artist and...
View ArticleUnderstanding sound waves: frequency and amplitude (video)
Understanding the fundamental building blocks of sound is an important step for any mixer, producer, or musician. These core concepts are ultimately what bring our speaker cones to life, sending the...
View ArticleHaving trouble hearing compression? Turn your monitors down.
The speed at which a signal comes and goes as the compressor grabs and releases the program material is controlled by the processor’s attack and release controls. While a compressor’s envelope can be...
View ArticleYour kick drum doesn’t really sound like that. Room acoustics vs. sample...
These days, more and more producers, songwriters and bands are working their way through the production process outside of the traditional studio, often making all of their sonic decisions in less than...
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