7.1 Introduction
In this chapter we will examine, analyse and deconstruct a mix of one of our sample project files, Pelverata Frost.
Kind: concept (reamix-section) Chapter: 7 Case Study 2: Pelverata Frost Source: ReaMix (October 2009)
In this chapter we will examine, analyse and deconstruct a mix of one of our sample project files, Pelverata Frost. You will then have the opportunity to create your own mix for this project.
The mix puts into practice many of the topics covered in this mixing primer, but there is one aspect especially which you might find interesting. This project is a simple arrangement of only five instruments, but it uses multiple sends to build the song so that by the time it nears the end it achieves a remarkably full bodied sound. Especially with acoustic music, this can often be a much more natural and dynamic approach to filling out a mix than, say, the use of multiband compression.
So, let’s get started. Open the file Pelverata Frost MIX 1A and immediately save it as Pelverata Frost 1B. This will make it easy for you, should you experiment with any changes, to recover the file in its original state at any time.
Play the song. Notice how the song builds. By about the 1 minute 25 second mark the sound becomes remarkably full, yet each individual instrument can still be heard with great clarity.
For comparison purposes, compare this with the sound of the original file as recorded, Pelverata Frost MIX 1. You’ll notice straight away that the sound of the original file is much less full than is the mixed version. In analysing this mix, you should develop confidence in your ability to create a very full sound from even the sparsest of arrangements, if that is what you want.
Now let’s examine the mixed file Pelverata Frost MIX 1A a little more closely.