Mix Instructions
The goal of this project is to work with the audio files provided to create a mix of the live performance. You should start with a careful analysis of the individual tracks as well as an assessment of how they work together to represent the live performance of the ensemble. You have a number of choices and different mic options for many of the sound sources.
Your mix should focus on ensemble balance, blend, and stereo image. For this mix, please try to represent the ensemble as accurately and realistically (and musically?) as possible, given your understanding of the materials and the genre. You may use plug-ins, but please do so with caution, and only use what is absolutely necessary. If you do use plug-ins, please use only the ones that come standard with Protools.
If possible, please do this session in Protools. Again, your main technical tools will be level, pan, automation, and perhaps a few plug-ins, if needed. You may need to use level automation, depending on the dynamics of the tracking session. If you don't have your own system, you are welcome to work in the Music Department lab, the EMF labs, or the SCS lab, all of which have Protools.
It is often helpful to listen to representative recordings of groups similar to the ones you are working with. This gives you the chance to see how others have approached a similar ensemble and genre. There will be a range of approaches, but it will help you to hear some of the options. Some of the approaches will depend on how long ago the recording was made. I would highly recommend that you listen to at least three representative recordings as you work on your current mix, since there are a lot of examples of good recordings similar to the one you are mixing. If you have a good music collection, or use spotify, rdio, etc, you should be all set.
Please submit the following materials as part of this project:
1. a concise one page write up (word doc or pdf) that discusses your work on this project. How did you approach the mix? How did you decide on the level and pan settings? What were the challenges in this project? If you used any plug-ins, what were you hoping to accomplish? Please list specific recordings you listened to that informed your work. How might you approach a session like this in the future, and so on...
2. the project file from your DAW. You do not need to include the original audio files.
3. an uncompressed 16 bit 44.1 kHz interleaved stereo audio file at the proper level (aiff or wave).
Once you have all the materials above in a folder (each file clearly labeled) please compress the folder. On the Mac this id done by selecting the folder, and the selecting 'compress' from the file menu. This creates a .zip compressed file. If you are using windows, instructions for making a zip file are here. Make sure it is named something like this: yourname_mix1.zip
If you have a slow internet connection, you may want to do your file upload while on the university network. Check the size of your zip folder before attempting an upload. It should be less than 75 meg.
You can upload this file to my dropbox by going to the following web site:
Enter the upload password: student_upload
You can then click 'select to upload' and navigate to your .zip file or drag the .zip file to the browser
When you file has uploaded, you should see a check mark next to the file.
Close your browser windows and then you are done! - please write with any questions.