Blog 1: Using Reference Material

What does it mean to use reference material for mixing?

How can it help our mixes?

Can you give an example of reference material that might be suitable for your production?

Blog 2: Analysing & Visual Representation of a Mix

Read the chapter “Visual Representation of Imaging” from the Art of Mixing (link below)

Then create a visual representation of one of your reference tracks. You can draw it digitally or by hand and take a photo.

Then, discuss how and why this process of visually representing the spatial imaging of a mix can be helpful in your future mixing.

Also, you could discuss any interesting things that you find out about the stereo image of the chosen reference mix that you analysed.

Give a brief overview of the history of stereo sound and how it has developed over the years.

This discussion could also include a little bit about the topic of binaural sound.

Remember to include research and references in your work.

Summarise by stating how this knowledge could inform your future mixing work.

Give a brief overview of the history of EQ and how it has developed and used over the years.

This discussion could also include more techniques such as Dynamic EQ.

Remember to include research and references in your work.

Then summarise by stating how this knowledge will inform your future mixing work.

Blog 5 should be focused on the Loudness Wars and how they have impacted the subjective quality of music.

Begin by briefly outlining what the ‘loudness wars’ are and their impact on music
This can be followed with some suitable examples of tracks and songs
The blog should include some research from articles, videos and interviews (please use Harvard referencing)
Finally, conclude by discussing how this new knowledge will impact your future work

Blog 6 should be focused on the future of Mastering.

Begin by briefly discussing what mastering is, and what it is like now
This can be followed with a discussion and critical review of the future of mastering, such as Online Services and Ozone tools which use machine learning and neural networks (commonly referred to as AI) to create masters
You could also discuss Spatial Audio mastering and the developments in this area
The blog should include some research from articles, videos and interviews (please use Harvard referencing)
Finally, conclude by discussing how this new knowledge will impact your future work

Research on different immersive multichanel audio solutions, its history and reflect on it’s usage.
Listen to some examples (available online in binaural mode) and reflect on how could this impact the way you produce music.

Blog 9 should research a professional mixing engineer and highlight their mixing techniques and approach.

Begin by choosing a professional mixing engineer and listening to some of their mixing work.
Then discuss the mixing engineer and highlight their mixing techniques, workflow, approach to mixing and signature sound.
The blog should include some research from articles, videos and interviews (please use Harvard referencing)
Finally, conclude by discussing how this new knowledge will impact your future work