3.9 Time (Length)
Time as a separate dimension – real time that is – is a concept that may seem difficult to grasp at first.
Kind: concept (reamix-section) Chapter: 3 Spatial Mixing Source: ReaMix (October 2009)
Time as a separate dimension – real time that is – is a concept that may seem difficult to grasp at first. It is certainly one that is often overlooked. In fact, it is probably the simplest dimension of all to use in mixing, as well as arguably being the most under-used. It is simply this:
Any song or tune is played in and through time. A three minute song will play for three minutes. Those three minutes are dynamic, not stationary. Therefore, neither should your mix be stationary. The mixes that will leave most impression on your listeners are likely to be those where changes, often subtle changes, will occur to various elements of the mix through time. These might be changes in panning, or in EQ emphasis, or in volume, or in some combination of these, or in many other aspects of sound. Usually they will require the use of automation envelopes.
Sometimes the most effective uses of automation in a mix can be to add subtle changes of which the listener may not even be consciously aware. Many of the examples that follow will encourage you to do this.