Mixing and recording secrets

Secrets

The following books I can highly recommend.

Mike Senior (2018)  Mixing Secrets For The Small Studio, Focal Press, Taylor & Francis, New York.

This book  provided me with my current mixing skills. Listen to some of my mixes to see if you like them.  Mike senior maintains a large archive with tracks that you can use to practice your skills and links to (free) software to use for mixing (www.cambridge-mt.com).

Abstract. Discover how to achieve release-quality mixes even in the smallest studios by applying power-user techniques from the world’s most successful producers. Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio is a primer for small-studio enthusiasts who want chart-ready sonics in a hurry. Drawing on the back-room strategies of more than 160 famous names, this entertaining and down-to-earth guide leads you step-by-step through the entire mixing process. On the way, you’ll unravel the mysteries of every type of mix processing, from simple EQ and compression through to advanced spectral dynamics and “fairy dust” effects. User-friendly explanations introduce technical concepts on a strictly need-to-know basis, while chapter summaries and assignments are perfect for school and college use. Now extensively expanded and updated, including new sections on mix-buss processing, mastering, and the latest advances in plug-in technology.

Mike Senior (2014)  Recording Secrets For The Small Studio, Focal Press, Taylor & Francis, New York.

I used this book to get some basic skills and knowledge about recording.

Abstract. Discover how to achieve commercial-grade recordings, even in the smallest studios, by applying power-user techniques from the world’s most successful producers. Recording Secrets for the Small Studio is an intensive training course specifically designed for small-studio enthusiasts who want a fast track to release-quality results. Based on the backroom strategies of more than 200 famous names, this thorough and down-to-earth guide leads you through a logical sequence of practical tasks to build your live-room skills progressively from the ground up. On the way, you’ll unravel the mysteries of many specialist studio tactics and gain the confidence to tackle a full range of real-world recording situations. User-friendly explanations introduce technical concepts on a strictly need-to-know basis, while chapter summaries, assignments, and extensive online resources are perfect for school and college use.

• Learn the fundamental principles of mic technique that you can apply in any recording scenario — and how to avoid those rookie mistakes that all too often compromise the sonics of lower-budget productions.
• Explore advanced techniques which help industry insiders maintain their competitive edge even under the most adverse conditions: creative phase manipulation, improvised acoustics tweaks, inventive monitoring workarounds, subtle psychological tricks.

Mike Senior is an award-winning mix engineer who discovered his vocation while studying music at Cambridge University. Following stints at various London studios (RG Jones, West Side, Angell Sound), he became in-house engineer at Great Linford Manor, working with artists such as The Charlatans, Reef, Therapy, Nigel Kennedy, and Wet Wet Wet. For six years he was Reviews Editor for Sound On Sound, the world’s best-selling music recording magazine, and now uses his regular ‘Mix Rescue’ columns to prove time and again that you can achieve pro results with affordable gear — once you know how! Check out www.cambridge-mt.com for examples of Mike’s work, as well as an extensive library of free mixing resources.