COLOR VISUAL SECTION
These color visuals are representations of particular
moments in the mix. In order to represent a true
mixing process, they would be flashing on and off to
the music. Therefore, some of the visuals may look
busier than the mix really is.
Of course, every song has its own personality
and is mixed based on that. Therefore, don't assume
that there is only one way to mix any style of music.
These visuals are only a reference point from which
you can begin to study what is done in mixes for
various types of music.
With all this in mind . . . enjoy.
Visual A.
Hip Hop Mix
Generally a pretty busy mix
with an 808 boom loud and
out front. Note the fattening
on the bass and the doubling
on each of the keys. Note
the delay on the synth and
hi-hat. Especially unique is
the doubling of the hi-synth
with another instrument. The
super high strings are
flanged for a subtle, spacey
effect. The snare is not very
loud in this particular mix.
Visual B.
Blues Mix
Generally a pretty clean,
clear, out front mix. Note the
bass is quite loud overall,
with the kick drum not far
behind. The rhythm guitar,
the sax, and especially the
lead guitar are right out
front. The vocal is set back
in the mix a bit, but this is
not always the case. The
piano is set further back
but is spread in complete
stereo. The toms, hi-hat,
and cymbals are all set
back a bit, and the snare is
a bit low, which is not
necessarily typical of blues.
Visual C.
Rap Mix
The rap mix commonly has
the 808 boom boom'n and a
loud vocal (though this does
vary). The key, guitar, and
scratch'n are all spread in
stereo with fattening. Note
the extremely loud clap and
hi-hat; the kick is also right
out front. In this mix, the
snare is back a little. Also
cool is the delay on the synth
panned next to it. Finally,
note the shaker panned
opposite the hi-hat.
Visual D.
Reggae Mix
These days, reggae mixes
tend to have a huge bass
with the kick not far behind
and the vocal right out front.
Note the clarity of the sax.
Both the guitar and the
skank'n key are spread in
stereo so they overlap a
large amount. The snare is
set back a little but not
always, and the hi-hat is
right out front.
Visual 167C.
Heavy Metal Mix
A very full arrangement and
mix. Note the clarity of the
lowend(kickandbass),
even though it is an
extremely busy mix. The hihat,the
snare, and especially
the lead guitar are right out
front. Note the multiple
guitar parts with a few
panned in stereo. The reverb
is present but not so loud
that it muddies everything.
There isn't much room left
for effects unless there is a
breakdown section in the
song. The overall effect is a
massive, powerful wall of
sound.
Visual 203C.
New Age Mix
This mix is extremely full
with nothing too sharp or
cutting (although often
individual lead sounds are
extremely strong). Note the
fattening on the keys and
strings, filling out the space.
The stereo flanged synth is
quite prominent here, and
the bass is huge. The low
end is keptnice and clean,
and the high-frequency
cymbalsareplacedabove
it all.
Visual 168C.
Alternative
Rock Mix
Quite full with lots of
fattening and overlapping
sounds. The lead guitar is
spread in stereo with a
rhythm guitar right behind it
and another stereo guitar
in the background. A nice,
clean low end, even though
the mix is full. The kick and
bass are quite strong.
Visual 198C.
Acoustic Jazz Mix
Note the incredible
cleanliness and clarity of the
overall mix. The bass is
panned to the right and
doesn't have much high end.
The guitar is right out front
with the piano and the hi-hat.
The kick is quite loud, which
is not typical.
Visual 199C.
Folk Music Mix
This type of music is
typically mixed very clean
and clear. The vocal is
extremely loud. Note the
presence and complete left
and right panning of the
acoustic guitars. The snare
is set back, and the bass
guitar and kick are not too
overwhelming.
Visual 166C.
Big Band Mix
A very clean and clear mix.
It's typical for the vocal to be
extremely loud. The horns
are loud compared to the rest
of the band. The hi-hat is
sometimes right out front,
while the piano, the guitar,
the snare, the bass, and
especially the kick are often
quite low in volume.
Visual 200C.
Bluegrass Mix
Extremely clear and crispy
mix. The volume is relatively
even in all the instruments.
When there is a vocal, it is
right out front. The bass is
set back and is sometimes
panned to one side. The lead
solos on any instrument
might be bumped up some.
Visual 1C. Sound Imaging Visual 2C. Structuring Mix
Visual 3C. 11 Aspects of Recorded Piece of Music
Visual 20C. Large Orchestra Crowded Between
Speakers
(above) Visual 29C. Fattening: <30ms Delay Time
/right) Visual 36C. Stereo Reverb on Sound
Visual 21C. 3 Violins With Plenty of Space in Between
Visual 42C. Even Volumes Visual 43C. Uneven Volumes
Visual 44C. Balanced (Symmetrical) Mix Visual 45C. Lopsided (Asymmetrical) Mix
Visual 46C. Natural EQ Visual 47C. Interesting EQ
Visual 48C. Sparse Mix Visual 49C, Full (Wall of Sound) Mix
Visual 50C. Virtual Mixer EQ
Visual 61C. Sound Fading Out Past Threshold on
Noise Gate
Visual 59C. Sound Smashing Into Threshold on
Compressor-/Limiter
Visual 88C. Virtual Mixer Flanging
Visual 109C. Reverb Filling in Space Between Speakers Visual 128C. Pyramid of Tools and Dynamics
Visual 129C. 6 Apparent Volume Levels Visual 136C. Apparent Volume Level 2 Vocals
Visual 138C. Apparent Volume Level 4 Vocals Visual 139C. Apparent Volume Level 2 Snare
Visual 141C. Apparent Volume Level 4 Snare
Visual 146C. Apparent Volume Level 4 Kick
Visual 143C. Apparent Volume Level 1 Kick
Visual 148C. Apparent Volume Level 1 Bass
Visual 150C. Apparent Volume Level 3 Bass Visual 152C. Apparent Volume Level 2 Toms
Visual 154C. Apparent Volume Level 4 Toms
Visual 157C. Apparent Volume Level 5 Hi-Hat
Visual 155C. Apparent Volume Level 2 Hi-Hat
Visual 158C. Apparent Volume Level 2 Cymbals
Visual 159C. Apparent Volume Level 4 Cymbals Visual 160C. Apparent Volume Level 1 Effects
Visual 161C. Apparent Volume Level 2 Effects Visual 162C. Apparent Volume Level 4 Effects
Visual 163C. Apparent Volume Level 5 Effects Visual 176C. Hi-Hat Panned Halfway Between Left Side
and Middle
Visual 177C. Toms Panned Completely Left to Right Visual 178C. Toms Panned Same As on Drum Kit
Visual 180C. Toms Panned Right to Left Visual 183C. Mix With Drums Panned to One Side
Visual 185C, Lead Vocals Panned at 11:00 and 1:00 Visual 189C. 3 Background Vocals Panned Separately
Visual 190C. 7 Background Vocals Panned to
7 Different Places Combined With
Variety of Fattening
Visual 191C. Panning With High End of Piano on Right
and Hi-Hat on Left
Visual 192C. Panning As If Onstage
Visual 193C. Natural Panning of Drum Kit
Visual 1960. Mix Balanced at Each Frequency Range Visual 197C. Unbalanced Mix at Each Frequency Range
Visual 204C. Mix With Extremely Wide Panning Overall Visual 205C. Mix With Panning Not So Wide Overall
Visual 210C. Mix With Lots of Different Delays Filling
Out Mix
Visual 218C. Clean and Clear Mix
Visual 214C. Extremely Busy Mix With No Effects Visual 215C. Extremely Busy Mix With Lots of Effects
Visual 216C. Extremely Sparse Mix With Fattening and
Reverb
Visual 217C. Extremely Sparse Mix With No Fattening
and Reverb
Visual L. "Blinded Me With Science" on Wireless by
Thomas Dolby
Visual M. The Alarm Clock Section in "Time" on Dark
Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
Visual N. "Sledgehammer" on So by Peter Gabriel
Visual O. "Babylon Sisters" on Gaucho by Steely Dan Visual P. The Four Seasons by Vivaldi