For this project we decided to write something emulating early 70s folk music. Isaac wrote a fairly complex but simple sounding chord progression in an open D tuning and we all decided to build off that. We used 2 microphones, allowing us to capture different aspects of the acoustic guitar’s sound as well as widen the stereo image.
Using the stereo micing technique on the guitars greatly enhanced the overall sound providing natural width and depth to the tone, accompanied by a room mic 2 metres from the guitar creating a full natural reverberated sound without the use of external plugins. Which in turn helped with emulating the studio recordings of Nick Drake whos album ‘Pink Moon’ was one of my chosen mix references.
As the track varied in tempo, we used teamwork to change the speed of the metronome as Isaac played through the song so we could overdub instruments easily, improving our problem solving skills and increasing our collaborative creativity It helped to keep the song interesting to the listener providing a segue into a new faster upbeat section.
We didn’t do anything new with the bass, using micing techniques that we had used multiple times already in previous sessions. Why change something that works? We recorded him playing and produced a dark sound that suited the vibe of the track we were going for.
During reflection of the final rough mix we realised we weren’t overly happy with the main vocals and decided to head back to the studio once more to re-record Isaac’s main vocal using an sm7b which provided a much warmer tone that emphasised his baritone vocal range and aided in bringing the vocals to the forefront of the song as well as tightening up the quantisation of the take.
For the mixing side of the project I aimed to keep things simple, using little plugins and keeping the mix fairly dry worked well in keeping with the 70s aesthetic. I initially had more vocal takes and reverb in the mix but after listening back a few times and consulting my mix references
I cut back to better suit the tone I was going for and add a slight build to the track that would engage with the listener. Cutting and pasting Hojis vocal takes to create a seamless sound that emphasises the harmony with Isaac. Along with this i used echo and reverb sends to enhance the stereo image and depth of their mellow singing voices.
After sending a first draft to my tutor, He gave me some constructive feedback on what I could do to improve my mix. This was highly useful for me as when you’ve been working on a mix for a few hours or a couple days it can be easy to become biased to my creation. Fresh ears can provide a different perspective and identify areas that can spark new ideas and creative approaches.
I incorporated Matt’s feedback into my work accordingly and as a whole, I felt the mix was just that little bit more cohesive.
On top of my stereo mix, I also completed a 7:1 surround mix. As I had never used surround sound to mix ever, it took me a while to get used to and learn to effectively utilise it. It was like opening a whole new can of worms with mixing. I could pan tracks in a complete 360 degree image. I used this new playback system to greatly enhance the subtleties of my mix, for example I had automated the tape echo samples pan and swirl around the listeners head.
Collaborating with my peers has provided a supportive environment where I’ve been able to explore and express my musical ideas with great success, providing me with newfound knowledge on recording, mastering and most importantly, teamwork. It also helped to refine my technical skills and obtain higher levels of precision in my mixes. Learning about mew techniques such as mic placement or surround mixing will prove a great skill for me to utilise down the line, opening up new possibilities in the world of creative mixing.