APPLICATIONS: CHAPTER 2
Do the vocals need some reverb? With AUXRETURN 2 set to its Unity Gain position, turn up AUX SEND 4 on the vocal tracks. Remember, you’re working with mixer channels
Keep an eye on the LEFT/RIGHT meters as you’re mixing. Levels tend to creep upward as you work. It’s a fact of life. You may need to drop all the channels by a few dB in order to keep the mix level peaking around 0 VU. If you’ve added a lot of EQ boost on a channel, SOLO the channel and
Our example shows a stereo equalizer and compressor in the MAIN inserts. Once you have a pretty good mix, that’s the time to put those into service to see if you can make the mix any clearer or “hotter” (if that’s your preference). There are some pretty remarkable digital “final processors” available today that can add a lot of punch and sparkle to a mix, but they’re power tools, and a little goes a long way.
Once your mix sounds good enough to show off, check the record level on the mixdown recorder and let ‘er rip.
Other Cue Mixes
If you’re recording bands in the studio, they may want to hear something other than a well balanced mix that you’re creating in the control room. A headphone amplifier would be a good addition to your system. A headphone amplifier typically has several phone jacks, each with its own volume control so the musicians can adjust their own level without blasting each other or driving you out of the control room. See the hookup diagram on the next page for a headphone amplifier suggestion.
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Compact Mixer Reference Guide | 71 |
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