How to PREPARE your RECORDINGS for MIXING

Introduction

Preparing your recordings for mixing is a crucial step in music production that can significantly enhance the mixing experience. In this tutorial, we will outline the process of organizing and preparing your tracks, ensuring you have a smooth and efficient mixing session.

Step 1: Organize Your Tracks

• Label Each Track Clearly: Use descriptive names for each track (e.g., "Vocals", "Guitar", "Drums") to avoid confusion during mixing.
• Color Code Tracks: Assign colors to different types of instruments or elements. This visual aid helps in quickly identifying tracks.
• Group Similar Tracks: Create folders or groups for similar instruments (e.g., all drum tracks in one folder) to keep the session tidy.

Step 2: Clean Up Your Audio

• Remove Unwanted Noise: Before mixing, listen to each track and cut out any unwanted noise or silence at the beginning and end of audio clips.
• Edit Out Mistakes: If you have any obvious mistakes or unwanted sections, edit them out to ensure a clean workflow.

Step 3: Set Levels and Panning

• Initial Level Setting: Adjust the volume levels of each track to get a rough mix. This helps in identifying which elements stand out and which need adjustments.
• Panning: Start panning instruments to create a stereo image. For example, pan guitars slightly left and right to create space in the mix.

Step 4: Apply Basic Processing

• Add Basic EQ: Apply a high-pass filter to remove unnecessary low frequencies from tracks like vocals and guitars.
• Use Compression: For dynamic control, consider applying light compression to tracks that need it, such as vocals or drums.

Step 5: Save and Backup Your Session

• Save Your Project: Regularly save your work to prevent loss of changes. Use a clear naming convention for your project files.
• Create Backups: Consider backing up your session on an external drive or cloud service to ensure you don't lose your work.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you will have well-organized, clean, and balanced tracks ready for mixing. Remember, preparation is key to a successful mixing session. After completing these steps, you can confidently move into the mixing phase, focusing on crafting your sound. Happy mixing!