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Mixing Techniques
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Ducking
Ducking lowers the volume of one audio track to make room for another, similar to sidechain compression but can be manually controlled or triggered by events other than audio signals.
Delay
Delay is an audio effect that creates echoes of a sound by playing back the audio signal after a short period of time. It's used in mixing to add depth and texture to sounds, and can be synced to the tempo of a track.
High-Pass Filter (HPF)
A High-Pass Filter allows frequencies above a certain cutoff point to pass through while attenuating lower frequencies. It's applied to remove unnecessary low-end from tracks that don't require strong bass content.
Mid/Side Processing
Mid/Side Processing separates the mono content (Mid) from the stereo content (Side) of a signal, allowing for independent adjustments. It's used in mixing and mastering to enhance stereo width or to fix imbalances between the center and sides of a mix.
Exciters
Exciters enhance the presence and brightness of audio by adding harmonic content. They are often used to bring life to dull sounding recordings or to help certain elements stand out in the mix.
Automation
Automation refers to dynamically changing parameters such as volume, panning, and effects over time within a mix. It's used to enhance the expressiveness and dynamics of a song by making specific adjustments during playback.
Panning
Panning is the distribution of a sound signal into a new stereo or multi-channel sound field. It's used in mixing to place elements within the stereo field, giving the sense of a live performance space.
Mid-Range Equalization
Mid-Range Equalization focuses on adjusting frequencies between 250 Hz to 2000 Hz, where the bulk of speech intelligibility and musical notes lie. It's applied to clarify vocals or lead instruments in a dense mix.
Limiting
Limiting is an extreme form of compression that sets a maximum output level which the signal cannot exceed. This technique is often used in mastering to prevent peaking and to increase the overall loudness of the mix.
Subtractive Mixing
Subtractive Mixing is the technique of carving out frequencies from tracks that are masking or clashing with others, instead of boosting, to create a clean and balanced mix.
Sidechain Compression
Sidechain Compression is a technique where the compressor is triggered by another sound source to reduce the volume of the target track. It's often used to make room for the kick drum by ducking the bassline when the kick hits.
Saturation
Saturation is the process of adding harmonic distortion to a signal, which can warm up tracks and make them sound fuller. It's often used to make digital recordings sound more analog-like.
Stereo Widening
Stereo Widening is the technique of increasing the perceived spatial width of a sound within a mix. Delays, phase manipulation, and other effects may be used to achieve this effect, enhancing the listener's sense of immersion.
Parallel Compression
Parallel Compression, or 'New York Compression', involves mixing a dry (uncompressed) signal with its compressed version, which can add punch and sustain to sounds without losing their dynamic character.
De-Essing
De-Essing is the process of attenuating sibilant frequencies, which are harsh, high-frequency sounds usually found in vocal recordings (like 's' and 'sh'). De-essers are used to smooth out these frequencies for a more pleasant sound.
Gating
Gating is the use of a noise gate to attenuate sounds below a certain threshold. This technique is applied to remove unwanted background noise or to give drums a tighter sound by cutting off reverb tails and mic bleed.
Equalization (EQ)
Equalization involves adjusting the balance between frequency components within an audio signal, enhancing or reducing certain frequencies. It's applied during mixing to shape the tone of individual tracks and create space for each instrument in the mix.
Reverb
Reverb is an effect that simulates the acoustic characteristics of a physical space, adding a sense of depth and space to audio recordings. It is used in mixing to give instruments and vocals a context within a virtual space.
Transient Shaping
Transient Shaping is the manipulation of the attack and sustain characteristics of a sound. It's used to enhance or reduce the impact of percussive sounds and to reshape the dynamic expression of instruments in the mix.
Synthetic Stereo Widening
Synthetic Stereo Widening creates a wider stereo image by duplicating a mono signal, delaying one copy slightly, and panning them left and right. Care must be taken to avoid phase issues.
Compression
Compression reduces the dynamic range of an audio signal by attenuating the volume of louder sections, making softer sounds more prominent. This technique is often applied to vocals and instruments to provide a more consistent level in the mix.
Low-Pass Filter (LPF)
A Low-Pass Filter allows frequencies below a certain cutoff point to pass through while attenuating higher frequencies. It's used to remove high frequency noise or to make a sound seem farther away or muffled.
Multiband Compression
Multiband Compression divides the frequency spectrum into separate bands and compresses them independently. It's applied when different frequency ranges require different amounts of compression, often used for mastering.
Phase Alignment
Phase Alignment is the adjustment of multiple tracks to ensure phase coherence, which can improve the clarity and impact of combined sounds, particularly important for multi-microphone recordings like drums.
Send/Return Tracks
Send/Return Tracks are auxiliary channels used to apply the same effect to multiple tracks in a mix without needing individual effects for each track, often used for reverb, delay, or parallel processing.
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