Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio (Sound On Sound Presents...)

This book is a fantastic resource that I expect will dramatically improve my mixing abilities. What more could you ask for than that?I've now read the book from cover to cover. I plan to read it a second time, working through each chapter's lessons, and then I'm sure it will become a fairly constant reference in my studio after that.I don't think the book is necessarily for everyone, which works out great for people like me. I think a complete novice would probably struggle with this dense book, while a pro can write their own (though I suspect that they would still learn from this book, just as the author - and his readers - profit by his many interviews with top mixing engineers). But if you're situated somewhere in-between rookie and pro, this book is pitched perfectly for your needs. That's me, and I've read a lot of books on the subject, but none this good.What I most appreciate about the book is that it is strategic, methodical, rigorous, and straightforward.By strategic, I mean that the author has a vision to which all the advice of the book is oriented: producing commercial grade audio mixes. Yes, there are lots of tactical tips sprinkled throughout the text, and they're quite helpful, but these are always in service to the greater goal. This is not a 'mixing tips' book, per se - it's something much better than that, a mixing strategy book.The book is also very methodical in its approach. The author walks you through the process from beginning to end, explaining what is important and what is less so, showing how each step needs to build on prior work, and helping readers understand why his procedural order makes more sense than whatever method (or none at all) people might be employing on their own.The author's approach is rigorous as well. Mike Senior clearly takes the art and science of mixing seriously, and he encourages his readers to do the same. He doesn't pull punches in telling us the scale of effort required to mix at the level to which he's trying to get his readers. I appreciated those benchmarks. They help give me a sense of what is required, and inspire me to go the extra distance in order to get there.Finally, the book is straightforward in the sense that Mr. Senior seems to be free of faddish biases or particular hardware/software fetishes. He's not selling anything other than better mixes. He is simply devoted to telling his readers what works.And, as an extra added bonus, he does so with humor. And some days, when it's just you and that recalcitrant song mix punching each other silly in the arena, you need that!But here's the most amazing thing of all. Mike includes his email address in the book. So I thought, what the heck, and I emailed him some questions. He responded promptly and thoroughly. That's really amazing. It's like having a company provide great customer support for their complicated product - only it's not hardware or software, it's a book! His willingness to support those of us in the field (see his website, Cambridge Music Technology) demonstrates a real love for the art itself combined with a rare generosity of spirit. Massive kudos for that!In short, here's the bottom line: If much improved mixing is your aspiration, and if you're serious about it, buy this book pronto.

This is by far the best book I've read on mixing. I have read a couple of other books on mixing and mastering and hundreds of magazine articles on the subject. Mike Senior tells you not only what problems to look for but gives you multiple detailed solutions for fixing them! A lot of other books will go into long winded descriptions of the problems you may face, but rarely explain them in a way as easy to understand and most often they don't give you clear instruction on how to fix them. And, other resources are often DAW specific whereas Mike Senior gives you the tools regardless of the DAW you're working in.Let me tell what this book is not. It's not a manual for recording. This book assumes that you already have your project recorded (often from the perspective that you're working on someone else's project) and that you're ready to start mixing. It does not discuss proper micing technique, effects during recording, or basically anything to do with the recording process. This book also does not cover mastering in any form. Senior goes to great lengths to explain exactly how to get a commercially viable mix completed that's ready for mastering. Look elsewhere to learn about mastering.This book was a pleasure to read. While there is no lack of specific technical explanation, Mike Senior keeps it at a minimum for need to know topics only. Actually most of the technical jargon will be during the first 80 pages when he is explaining why it is so important for your monitoring environment to be up to par. But, I wouldn't recommend skipping over the beginning even if you think you know all about having the proper treatment for your mixing room. There is tons of excellent info in this section and Mike even calls it the most important part of his book. Otherwise, he often tries to throw in a few jokes and some witty banter to help keep it light. And, all of his advice is backed up by quotes from some of the top names in the recording industry.I'd like to mention that Senior also recommends a bunch of free plugins that can help you achieve the results he is. So, don't think that this is going to be a lesson in "you don't have the cash to get the gear necessary to get the job done."Seriously, if you've read my entire review then you're ready to click add to cart and check out. You can forgo reading any other source about mixing. Everything you need to know is right in this book. From monitoring, to timing and pitch, arrangement editing, and every type of plugin processing. Honestly, I didn't know there were so many different uses for reverb.FYI: I've been home recording, mixing, and mastering as an enthusiast for over 15 yrs. From techno to hip hop, and now rock with a live 6-piece band. We record 20 tracks simultaneously in our home bedroom studio. Since finishing this book my mixes are already 10x better than before and I've barely scratched the surface on implementing the techniques detailed in this book.

When you get this book, read it right when you get it. Admittedly some of the concepts would’ve went over my head when I first got it (I had barely really gotten into mixing then as I’m still mainly a producer). But I still wish I would’ve dug in because it’s really like being an engineer’s assistant and being taught SO much. Whether you’re strictly mixing or also a producer that mixes for clients as well.. this book has so many practical examples I’m sure you’ll get so much out of it. More than you think.By the way, this isn’t just about mixing. It’s helped me become a better producer as well with the other ideas in this book - arrangement being a key one.My only gripe? The material the cover is made out of should be changed (any other material?? All other books I own are fine haha). Any oil on your hands will eventually cake on and you’ll absolutely have to find a way to wipe it off. And, no, I’m not pouring olive oil on my hands before reaching for this book I promise.

Está muy bien escrito y explicado. Viene con imágenes y muchos ejemplos, marcas, modelos, técnicas, opiniones… de todo. Marca un antes y un después. Buena inversión

Not for beginners,Beginners u can go for audio engineering 101 by Timothy A. Dittmar

Excelente libro, son de esos libros que no puedes solo leer una vez y va siempre al grano con los problemas que los estudios en casa tienen en cuanto a problemas derivados del incorrecto (o hasta nulo) tratamiento acustico de un cuarto común y corriente, recomendaciones para obtener el mejor sonido en cuanto a monitores, audífonos de referencia y sobre todo el detalle de cada pasó en el proceso del mixing en un contexto exclusivamente de home studios.Un libro que me ha abierto la mente en cosas que desconocía sobre el proceso del mixing y sobre todo que está respaldado por comentarios de grandes personalidades de la producción en audio.

Penso che sia uno dei migliori libri mai scritti sul tema! Ma non solo. Questo libro ti da una miriade di informazioni che ti permettono di perfezionare le tue abilità nel missaggio. Tratta veramente tantissimi aspetti e ti da le informazioni per poterti costruire uno studio che suoni abbastanza bene da poter missare un brano che poi suoni bene in qualsiasi ascolto e circostanza. Il tipo ne sa veramente tanto!!! Lo consiglio veramente tanto a chi è interessato alle produzioni sonore.

This book teaches you very well that mixing isn't just turning some knobs here and there. It demystifies all the hard work and understanding of sound and technology that is required to mix in commercial quality.It took me a long time to work through this book and I certainly can't remember everything I've learned but I'm going through it again now and make concrete notes to come up with my own mixing checklist.The learning effect of this book is works best when applying the covered techniques on a real world project. So if you have some sample songs to mix, those can go very well with you as you go through the book.