STILL TRYING THINGS OUT
Did my first mixes through the new console last night-three songs for Viv Savage's demo, which they hope will get them some live gigs. I think they're ready to play live, although they've only been together since late November, they're pretty tight and their songs are pretty good. Their demo is far better than the one we had for Happy Boy, the old band Ted and I were in; Happy Boy inflicted plenty of out of tune rock and roll on our friends back in the day, and our recordings were always a bit weak.
Mixing through the board was fun. No automation, so i actually performed the mix, something which happens less and less often these days. Alan Parsons says this is one of the things we've lost in modern production, and of course he's always right. It also means that clients need to decide if its worth doing another mix, as it's not just a question of fixing one level and reprinting the entire thing (although, with automation on Digital Performer, it could be). I think I'll end up using automation in DP for complex things and still ride some faders. It's organic and makes me feel like each mix is a performance, which is a good thing.
3 Comments:
I look forward to an 'all hands on deck' mixdown.
I think the direction you're taking your studio set up in is one that George and I have always been a big fan of because it offers you the best of both worlds really. You're absolutely right when you said each mix is a performance, and selfishly, more fun with the tactile element of a console. I have very fond memories of as many as three guys at the console during stereo mixdowns riding faders during eight track mixes at our old studio back in the eighties. With the automation DP/PT offers, the hard stuff (timed mutes, out fades, effects, etc...) can be handled with ease.
A console is a very inclusive device as well for both tracking and mixdown. It invites folks to roll a chair up to the padded arm rest and make adjustments, where as a computer is a single driver device exclusively. This can be an advantage sometimes, but constraining at others. Overall, you've got the best of both worlds really and are exactly where I want Grey Cat Sound to be.
Add a cool mic pre (Avalon/Focusrite) and you guys are definately living the dream, if not already.
If I can make my purchases soon and we can get our two studios networked to swap files across the net, we'll both be living the dream. What could possibly be better!
I think the direction you're taking your studio set up in is one that George and I have always been a big fan of because it offers you the best of both worlds really. You're absolutely right when you said each mix is a performance, and selfishly, more fun with the tactile element of a console. I have very fond memories of as many as three guys at the console during stereo mixdowns riding faders during eight track mixes at our old studio back in the eighties. With the automation DP/PT offers, the hard stuff (timed mutes, out fades, effects, etc...) can be handled with ease.
A console is a very inclusive device as well for both tracking and mixdown. It invites folks to roll a chair up to the padded arm rest and make adjustments, where as a computer is a single driver device exclusively. This can be an advantage sometimes, but constraining at others. Overall, you've got the best of both worlds really and are exactly where I want Grey Cat Sound to be.
Add a cool mic pre (Avalon/Focusrite) and you guys are definately living the dream, if not already.
If I can make my purchases soon and we can get our two studios networked to swap files across the net, we'll both be living the dream. What could possibly be better!
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