Advances in digital technology have made it possible to produce records from your computer; gone are the days when you needed a huge analog studio and record label budget!  Now, it is possible for independent music artists around the world to produce major-label quality records without depending on a deal and connections.   With endless plug-ins available from software companies, you can even do more with your computer than in an analog studio.      

What is mixing? Music mixing is the process of combining and optimizing multitrack recordings into a final sound recording. 

Mixing can make or break your track.  Production quality is the first sign of a professional record, and often what determines whether a label, playlist curator, DJ, or even casual listener will listen to more than a few seconds of your song.  A great mix can allow people to melt into the feel and experience of your music; it can take listeners out of their heads and into their hearts. 

Every track is unique and has its own mixing needs.  However, here are some simple best practices to use for your record: 

1. Use EQ to cut out extra frequencies in tracks.  It is unnecessary to capture the full frequency of every instrument.  In fact, low frequencies on guitars, pianos, synths or even vocals can drag down and muddy the entire track.  A reductive EQ on these instrumental tracks can make the low end of the bass and kick pop more. 
2. Put bass and kick in mono.  The original recording of the bass and kick should be as close to mono as possible.  If they are not, there are software plugins that reduce the stereo spread of any frequency band.  A mono bass and kick will ground a record and make it danceable.  
3. Apply stereo spread to higher frequencies.  By contrast, higher frequencies are great to use for ambiance and to create fullness in your tracks.  This can be achieved by panning individual tracks, or by using a plug-in to create stereo spread for the entire mix. 
4. Avoid phasing.  Phasing is when audio sources of the same frequency cancel each other out and reduce the strength of the sound.  This can happen when similar instruments take up the same frequency or stereo space, or when you duplicate the same audio file.  Leave each instrument its own space in the frequency and stereo spectrum, and try not to layer too many tracks with the same frequencies.    
5. Compress the bass by sidechaining the kick.  Sidechaining is when you use the volume of one track to trigger a reduction of volume in another.  Sidechaining works for many genres, not just EDM.  It can make a track pump and gel.  Many digital compressors offer a sidechain setting, where you can select a source (such as a kick drum) to alter the volume of your bass track.  
6. Volume balance is half the battle.  Sometimes when a mix sounds off, all you have to do is change a few volume levels. For many pop, electronic and rock records, it is important that a listener can hear the vocal, bass and kick, because they carry the track.  Sometimes reducing the volume of a synth or guitar will actually improve the groove of the track. 
7. Content below 60 Hz isn’t always necessary and can muddy the mix.  The human ear cannot even hear frequencies below 20 Hz. Experiment with cutting out the very low of your track with a high-pass filter at various frequency cutoffs. 
8. Keep vocals, except for harmonies, in the center of the track.  In a pop or rock song, the vocal is what ties the song together, and what most listeners first latch onto.  Since it is such an important part of the song, it should be in the center of the stereo field.  As long as there is a central lead vocal, you can experiment with panning harmonies to make the vocal sound fuller and more interesting. 
9. Make space for vocals and other instrumental sections to shine.  Each instrument should occupy its own space in terms of frequency and stereo spread.  This way, each can contribute to the song and serve a purpose.   
10. Remember that each song is unique and calls for a different type of mix; there is no exact formula.  Mixing is more than a technical science; you need to use your imagination and intuition to make your mix fit the style and feel of the song.  

As a music producer, I have been using digital technology to create records since 2008.  My self-produced songs have been streamed on FM radio and released by record labels around the world.   

If you have more questions about mixing, or want me to mix your record, please email me at info@annaawe.com or contact me through this form.

Happy music making!

AA

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a language used to represent and communicate musical information. It is read, recorded and played by digital devices such as computers and electronic instruments. Since its invention in the 1980s, MIDI technology has introduced a whole new range of artistic options and musical styles. 

MIDI devices do not record sounds, but, rather, the following information about a musical event:

• Pitch: What notes on the scale are being played? 
• Timing: When are these notes being played?
• Velocity: How forcefully is each note being played? 
• Control signals: What panning, vibrato and volume settings are being used?  

After MIDI information is created, a sound generator such as a computer or synthesizer can read it and play listenable songs. 

MIDI information is recorded on and read by: 

MIDI instruments: These look like regular instruments, such as guitars and pianos, but have built-in electronic interfaces to record and play back MIDI information. 

Computers: A DAW (digital audio workstation) installed on a computer can record and play back MIDI information. 

How to Use MIDI: 

One of the easiest and most efficient ways to use MIDI is to purchase any classic DAW, such as ProTools, and a MIDI instrument, such as a keyboard. A user can attach the MIDI keyboard to the computer with a USB cord. Then, within the DAW, (s)he can create and record a MIDI sequence by playing the MIDI instrument or by drawing notes with a mouse. The DAW typically has built-in software synthesizers that can read and play this information. The user can also purchase third-party software synthesizers for the DAW, or the computer can play the MIDI information through hardware synthesizers. 

Benefits of MIDI: 

Errors can easily be corrected. In the old days of studio recording, a musician may have had to play the same part 100s of times to get it exactly right. Now, if (s)he plays the part once and makes an error, (s)he or the studio engineer can fix the error with one mouse click. 

Complex musical arrangements can be made rapidly and efficiently. The same MIDI sequence can be played by any instrument anywhere at any time, without additional recording. Repetitive parts of a song only have to be recorded once, even if the instrumentation is different. One part can be played through many instruments and layered in a DAW to form a complex arrangement. 

MIDI information can automatically be translated into sheet music by DAWs. This is especially useful for composers who can’t read music but write parts for classically trained musicians. 

Timing can be altered while maintaining other elements of the song, such as note length and instrument timbre. If a composer wants to listen to a song with different grooves (swing, reggae, etc.), these groove templates can be applied to an entire song in one click. 

Melodic themes and alterations can easily be created. To develop a song, a composer may want to create slight variations to a musical idea throughout the piece. To do this, (s)he can play just one line of melody on a MIDI instrument. Then, rather than playing all of the notes again with new variations, (s)he can simply duplicate the sequence, edit one or two notes, and play back the revised sequence to see if it suits the song. 

Transposition is not only easy, but addresses sound quality issues. With digital technology, it is possible to transpose (change the pitch of) audio files without using MIDI. However, at certain pitches, a transposed instrument sample might sound odd or unnatural. To address this issue, audio software manufacturers record samples of real instruments at all different pitches. If a composer wants to transpose a piece of music, then, (s)he can transpose the MIDI notes rather than the audio file. The computer can then play real instrument samples in the new key, rather than distorted versions of the original samples. 

Things to be aware of when using MIDI: 

Music often sounds best with an organic, natural feel. Fixing the timing using the quantize feature or drawing notes in a DAW may make the music sound too stilted and mechanical. 

Since MIDI information is not actual audio, it is important that an artist has access to a sound source, such as a virtual instrument, to hear the song. 

Programming MIDI is not a substitute for musicianship and practice!