the Art of mixing : a visual guide to recording, engineering, and production

287 Pages·2019·31.609 MB·English

by  David Gibson

The Art of Mixing
“David Gibson’s groundbreaking work is a real eye-opener for all of us, music professionals and
casual listeners alike. He has single-handedly rethought the whole metaphor for the visual
representation of recorded music and conjured up a brand new way to interact with it. It’s high
time we took a new look at the antique user interfaces employed by typical MIDI and same
editing tools – and this book is a great place to start.” – Thomas Dolby Robertson
David Gibson uses 3D visual representations of sounds in a mix as a tool to explain the dynamics
that can be created in a mix. This book provides an in-depth exploration into the aesthetics of what
makes a great mix. Gibson’s unique approach explains how to map sounds to visuals in order to
create a visual framework that can be used to analyze what is going on in any mix.
Once you have the framework down, Gibson then uses it to explain the traditions that have been
developed over time by great recording engineers for different styles of music and songs. You will
come to understand everything that can be done in a mix to create dynamics that affect people in
really deep ways.
Once you understand what engineers are doing to create the great mixes they do, you can then
use this framework to develop your own values as to what you feel is a good mix. Once you have a
perspective on what all can be done, you have the power to be truly creative on your own – to create
whole new mixing possibilities.
It is all about creating art out of technology. This book goes beyond explaining what the
equipment does – it explains what to do with the equipment to make the best possible mixes.
David Gibsonhas been teaching, engineering, and producing groups in major 24 track studios since
1982 and is the founder of Globe Institute of Recording and Production, which offers classes in San
Francisco and online. He has done recording for James Brown’s band, Bobby Whitlock (Derek and
the Dominoes), The Atlanta Rhythm Sections, Hank Williams Jr.’s band, members of the Doobie
Brothers, Lacy J. Dalton, and Herbie Hancock. He is also the co-author of the top-selling book on
producing, The Art of Producing. Gibson is currently the #1 seller of Sound Healing music, also used
in hospitals across the US, and he is the author of the best-selling book, The Complete Guide to
Sound Healing. Gibson is the inventor of the patented Virtual Mixer mixing plug-in and a Virtual
Reality healing system where you can place sounds inside a 3D image of the body.

The Art of Mixing
A Visual Guide to Recording,
Engineering, and Production
Third Edition
David Gibson
Third edition published 2019
by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2019 Taylor & Francis
The right of David Gibson to be identified as author of this work has
been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
First edition published by Mix Books, an imprint of artistpro.com LLC 1997
Second edition published by Thompson Course Technology PTR 2005
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Gibson, David, 1957–author.
Title: Art of mixing : a visual guide to recording, engineering, and
production / David Gibson.
Description: Third edition. | New York, NY : Routledge, 2019. |
Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2018028427 (print) | LCCN 2018029414 (ebook) |
ISBN 9781351252218 (pdf) | ISBN 9781351252201 (epub) |
ISBN 9781351252195 (mobi) | ISBN 9780815369479 (hardback :
alk. paper) | ISBN 9780815369493 (pbk. : alk. paper) |
ISBN 9781351252225 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Sound recordings—Production and direction.
| Popular music—Production and direction.
Classification: LCC ML3790 (ebook) | LCC ML3790 .G538 2019 (print) |
DDC 621.389/32—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018028427
ISBN: 978-0-8153-6947-9 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-8153-6949-3 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-351-25222-5 (ebk)
Typeset in Frutiger
by Florence Production Ltd, Stoodleigh, Devon, UK
This book is dedicated to all those who just want
to know how to make it sound better.

Contents
List of Visuals ix
Prefaces xv
Acknowledgments xix
INTRODUCTION 1
BEST OF THE COLOR VISUALS 5
CHAPTER 1
ALL ASPECTS OF A RECORDED PIECE OF MUSIC 25
Aspect #1: Concept or Theme 26
Aspect #2: Intention 27
Aspect #3: Melody 28
Aspect #4: Rhythm 28
Aspect #5: Harmony 29
Aspect #6: Lyrics 29
Aspect #7: Density of Arrangement 29
Aspect #8: Instrumentation 30
Aspect #9: Song Structure 31
Aspect #10: Performance 31
Aspect #11: Quality of the Equipment and the Recording 35
Aspect #12: Hooks 35
Aspect #13: The Mix 35
CHAPTER 2
VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF “IMAGING” 37
Section A: Physical Sound Waves Versus the Imagined Placement of Sounds
between the Speakers 37
Section B: The Space between the Speakers 39
Section C: Visual Representation of Sounds 48
CHAPTER 3
GUIDES TO A GREAT MIX (REASONS FOR CREATING ONE STYLE OF MIX
OR ANOTHER) 63
Section A: The Style of Music 64
Section B: The Song and All of its Details 65
Section C: The People Involved 69
CHAPTER 4
FUNCTIONS OF STUDIO EQUIPMENT AND VISUALS OF ALL PARAMETERS 79
Section A: Volume Controls 82
Section B: Equalizers 92
Section C: Panpots and Stereo Placement 113
Section D: Time-Based Effects 114
viii Contents
Section E: Other Effects 136
Section F: Combinations of Effects 137
CHAPTER 5
MUSICAL DYNAMICS CREATED WITH STUDIO EQUIPMENT 139
The Dynamics in Music and Songs 140
The Dynamics Created by the Equipment 143
Section A: Volume Control Dynamics 146
Section B: Equalization Dynamics 180
Section C: Panning Dynamics 187
Section D: Dynamics Created With Time-Based Effects 210
CHAPTER 6
STYLES OF MIXES 221
Creating Maximum Presence 222
Creating a Full Mix 223
Classic Styles of Mixes 224
Changing the Style of Mix in the Middle of the Song 224
CHAPTER 7
MAGIC IN MUSIC, SONGS, AND MIXES 227
CHAPTER 8
3D SOUND PROCESSORS AND SURROUND SOUND MIXING 231
CHAPTER 9
MIXING PROCEDURES 243
Section A: The Mixing Process 243
Section B: Automation 245
Section C: Mastering 247
Appendix A – Using an Equalizer 249
Appendix B – Mastering 251
Appendix C – Homework for the Rest of Your Life 253
Appendix D – The Virtual Mixer™ 257
Index 261
Visuals
Visual A. Electronica Mix 5
Visual B. Blues Mix 6
Visual C. Rap Mix 6
Visual D. Reggae Mix 7
Visual E. Heavy Metal Mix 7
Visual F. New Age Mix 8
Visual G. Alternative Rock Mix 8
Visual H. Acoustic Jazz Mix 9
Visual I. Folk Music Mix 9
Visual J. Bluegrass Mix 10
Visual K. Big Band Mix 10
Visual L. Orchestra Mix 11
Visual M. Balanced Orchestral Mix 11
Visual N. “She Blinded Me With Science” on The Golden Age of Wirelessby
Thomas Dolby 12
Visual O. The Alarm Clock Section in “Time” on Dark Side of the Moonby Pink Floyd 12
Visual P. “Sledgehammer” on Soby Peter Gabriel 13
Visual Q. “Babylon Sisters” on Gauchoby Steely Dan 13
Visual R. Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major 14
Visual S. “Fallin” on Songs in A Minorby Alicia Keys 14
Visual T. “Don’t Know Why” on Come Away with Meby Norah Jones 15
Visual U. “Video” onAcoustic Soulby India Arie 15
Visual V. “Crash into Me” on Crashby Dave Matthews Band 16
Visual W. “The Way You Move” on Speakerboxxx/The Love Belowby Outkast 16
Visual X. “Beautiful” on Strippedby Christina Aguilera 17
Visual Y. “I’m With You” (Verses) on Let Goby Avril Lavigne 17
Visual 1. Sound Imaging of Instruments xv
Visual 2. Structuring a Mix xvi
Visual 3. The Thirteen Aspects of a Recorded Piece of Music 25
Visual 4. Sound Waves: Traveling Compressed and Spaced Out Air 37
Visual 5. Imaging in Head 38
Visual 6. Brain in Head 38
Visual 7. Dynamics Created with Studio Equipment 39
Visual 8. Sound to Visuals: X, Y, Z Axes 39
Visual 9. Panning: Left to Right Placement 40
Visual 10. Volume: Front to Back Placement 40
Visual 11. Frequency: Low to High Placement 41
Visual 12. Frequencies in Us 42
Visual 13. Song with Highs and Lows Highlighted 42
Visual 14. Left and Right Boundaries of Imaging 43
Visual 15. Front and Back Boundaries of Imaging 44
Visual 16. Up and Down Boundaries of Imaging 45
Visual 17. Only Place Mix Occurs 45