Mixing and Mastering in the Box

Mixing and mastering are the final challenges in creating great recordings. Great mixes require both creativity and a practical understanding of process, while final masters require both a clear sense for purpose and specialized ears for achieving artistic goals. Mixing and Mastering in the Box gives readers the practical tools for accomplishing both of these tasks while highlighting the artistry of the creative process. While much of the information presented in Mixing and Mastering in the Box is applicable to those using analog mixing gear, or a hybrid of digital and analog tools, the book focuses directly on working completely within the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Author Steve Savage lets readers in on such topics as the secrets of collaboration and using EQ, compression, delay, reverb, and brickwall limiting to improve the sound of records, each topic illustrated with a myriad of concrete examples. Mixing and Mastering in the Box is the ultimate reference manual for the home recordist and the perfect basic to intermediate text for any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) training class in mixing or mastering. The book is also ideal for readers who handle their own mixing and mastering or who wish - or are professionally required - to be better informed when collaborating on mixes and masters.

An active producer, recording engineer, and music technology instructor, Steve Savage has been the primary engineer on seven Grammy-nominated CDs. He is the author of numerous books, including The Art of Digital Audio Recording: A Practical Guide for Home and Studio (OUP, 2011) and Bytes & Backbeats: Repurposing Audio in the Digital Age (Michigan, 2011).

ContentsIntroductionPart I - Mixing & MasteringIntroduction to Part I 1. The Starting Point1.1 Preparing to mix and master1.2 Where to mix and master1.3 The tools of mixing and mastering1.4 Introduction to the "Quick Guide"2. Quick Guide to Great Mixes and Masters: Five best practices2.1 Have a concept2.2 Monitor level2.3 Monitoring options2.4 Revise, revise, revise2.5 Live with your mix or master3. Quick Guide to Great Mixes and Masters: Four common mistakes3.1 Poor control of the low end3.2 Overly bright mixes and masters3.3 Overly compressed mixes and masters3.4 Trusting inadequate monitoring
Part II - Mixing Introduction to Part II4. Building a Mix: The concepts and tools in detail 4.1 Starting concepts and setting level4.2 Panning4.3 Processing: EQ4.4 Processing: Dynamics4.5 Processing: Effects4.6 Processing: What else is in the box?4.7 The stereo buss5. Automation and Recall: Fine-tuning5.1 Online versus off-line automation5.2 Details of online automation5.3 Details of off-line automation5.4 Timeline of automation5.5 From simple to complex mixes5.6 Fades5.7 Advanced automation techniques5.8 Recall6. Mixing Piece by Piece: How to approach individual elements6.1 Drums and percussion6.2 Bass6.3 Guitar6.4 Keyboards6.5 Vocals6.6 Horns6.7 Strings7. Mix Collaboration: The mix team 7.1 How to communicate about mixes7.2 Levels of mixer intervention7.3 Managing remote mixing projects 8. Delivering Mixes: Formats, mix types and multiple mixes8.1 Digital formats for mix delivery8.2 Full mixes, TV mixes, and clips 8.3 Multiple versions of a single mix
PART III - MasteringIntroduction to part III 9. Setting Up to Master: Tools and files9.1 Tools9.2 Creating a template9.3 Building the timeline10. How to Listen for Mastering: From your ear to action10.1 Level10.2 Frequency/EQ10.3 Dynamics and effects10.4 Consistency11. Creating a Master: The concepts and tools in detail11.1 Creating a reference track11.2 Processing: EQ11.3 Processing: Level11.4 Processing: Dynamics and effects11.5 What else is in the box?12. The Final Master: Creating and delivering12.1 Creating a master12.2 Formats and delivery options13. Mastering Collaboration: The mastering team13.1 How to talk about mastering13.2 Levels of mastering intervention13.3 Managing remote mastering projects Addendum I: Notes on surround mixing and mastering Addendum II: Why mixing and mastering can no longer be separated
Index