What is the smallest increment of volume change humans can detect? Brian talks about the biggest—and most obvious tool—in the mixers toolbox to affect changes in volume. He also shares a warning about how panning can fool you.
- [Narrator] The most basic form adjusting the loudness…or apparent loudness…of an instrument within a mix is obviously the volume pot.…As we talked about…in the very first movie,…volume changes by a half a dB or more are noticeable,…below a half a dB, they're not.…And early on in this series on volume,…I want to express the importance…of comparing one mix to another…in terms of its overall volume,…whereby, a half a dB of difference,…up or down,…makes an incredibly big impact on the listener.…
It's part of the reason we've experienced the volume wars…that have gone on in the digital age of mastering,…because even just a half a dB…of gain can completely change the perception…of a mix to a listener comparing it…to something that came before it.…In measuring...…in comparing mixes,…when you've been given a new mix to listen to,…all of you and our people and managers out there,…please make sure you've set yourself up…to really give yourself an AB comparison…and are not fooled by the change in volume.…
We're also going to talk about…
Author
Brian Malouf
Released
3/30/2017Join multiplatinum producer, engineer, and mixer Brian Malouf as he covers the many terms that musicians and non-musicians use to describe music. Brian explains the meaning behind the comments and also demonstrates techniques that can be applied to a mix in response to the notes. He covers lo-fi mix techniques, EQ techniques, changes to levels, adapting the ambience, making vibe and energy adjustments, working with compression options, and revising the placement location of elements in the sonic sphere.
- Lo-fi glossary
- Volume glossary
- Ambience glossary
- Location glossary
- Attitude adjustment glossary
- Compression glossary
Skill Level Beginner
Duration
Views
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Introduction
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Welcome1m 8s
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1. Lo-Fi Mix Techniques
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Lo-fi glossary1m 7s
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Make it lo-fi6m 42s
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Make it distorted4m 29s
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Add some grit5m 15s
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Add more saturation2m 55s
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Overdrive it7m 20s
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Drum destruction2m 19s
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2. EQ Mix Techniques
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EQ glossary6m 6s
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Brightening something6m 18s
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Add more presence5m 40s
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Darken the bass guitar5m 40s
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Make it warmer4m 23s
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Make it more edgy3m 54s
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The vocal is too harsh4m 10s
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Add body to the snare drum3m 46s
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3. Volume/Level Mix Techniques
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Volume glossary1m 58s
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Faders and pan pots3m 55s
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Specific frequency EQ boost2m 55s
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4. Ambience Mix Techniques
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Make it wider11m 36s
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Give it more space4m 26s
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5. Location Mix Techniques
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Location glossary1m 49s
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6. Vibe/Attitude/Energy Adjustment Mix Techniques
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Make the vocal crunchier3m 33s
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Augmenting the production3m 50s
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7. Compression Mix Techniques
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Compression glossary5m 55s
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8. Other General Mix Requests
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Relating to transients5m 38s
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Other terms you should know9m 37s
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Conclusion
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Next steps37s
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Video: Faders and pan pots