How to Create Compelling Mixes (The Musician's Guide to Home Recording)

The best recordings are for nothing if the mix doesn't present those tracks in the best possible way – and this book is all about how to make mixes that pull the listener in. It's not just about the technology, but the art of mixing as well. Written in a clear, practical, non-intimidating style, topics include:

• Feel vs. perfection
• The importance of the arrangement for mixing
• Tailoring material for your audience
• Monitoring and acoustics
• Software mixer architecture
• Unique aspects of mixing with digital audio
• How to use plug-ins
• Integrating external hardware with computers, the "12-step program" to create great mixes
• Panning techniques
• Equalization
• Dynamics processing
• Time-based effects
• Placing effects in the right order
• How to use automation
• Hardware control surfaces
• Mixing with virtual instruments
• Adding expressiveness in the mix
• Using ReWire, beyond conventional mixing techniques
• Mixing and MIDI, and much more

Far from being a laundry list of mixing techniques, How to Create Compelling Mixes places equal emphasis on the art of mixing. With copious illustrations and featuring the judicious use of sidebars to give details on selected topics for those who want to know "why" as well as "how," How to Create Compelling Mixes is essential reading about how to get the most out of this crucial processor for mixing and mastering.