Bass Guitar

• Most engineers DI the bass via an active DI box and a compressor. This provides a clearer sound.
• Use the compressor to keep signal peaks under control.
• Check the player’s technique; the harder the instrument is played, the brighter the tone.
• Consider the use of a budget graphic EQ.

Recommended effects/processor settings:

• EQ: Boost: at 80-100Hz to add more weight and punch, between 2 and 4kHz to add edge. Cut: below 50Hz to reduce unwanted rumble, between 180 and 250Hz to reduce boxiness.
• Compressor: Attack around 50mS; Release, around 0.4S, Ratio, between 4:1 and 12:1.

Keyboards

• Most electronic keyboards can be plugged directly into the line inputs of the mixing console.
• Bear in mind that the majority of contemporary synthesizers etc, have stereo outputs and will require two mixer channels.
• Most synthesizer sounds can be used without compression, though they do benefit from effects such as reverb or chorus.
• Overdriven keyboard sound may be created by feeding the signal via guitar recording preamp.

Planning a Session

• You have a lot to remember during a session, so create a track sheet to keep a log of what instrument is recorded onto what tape track, plus other relevant information.
• Record rhythm sections first; drums, bass, and rhythm guitar.
• Add vocals, solos, and additional instrumentation as overdubs.
• Decide whether you want to add effects at the mixing stage or while recording. If you can, try to keep a copy of the original “dry signal” on tape. You may wish to remix at a later date!
• When recording vocals, ask the singer what instruments they most need to hear in the headphone mix.

Creating a Mix

Go into ‘neutral’ before you start off

• Set all the Aux Sends to zero.
• Set all EQ controls to their central positions.
• Pull all the faders down.
• All routing buttons ‘up’.

Organize your Subgroups

• Put logical groups of sounds together
• Route drums to a stereo sub-group.
• Consider grouping backing vocals.
• Group multiple keyboards.

Metering...

• Use the PFL metering system for each channel in turn to optimize the gain setting.
• The PFL should just go into yellow band of the meter section, although peaking into the red area is acceptable.
• Check all the effects units for correct input levels.
• If fitted, use the Solo In Place function to check individual channels in isolation while retaining their original pan and level settings.

Balancing the Mix

If you don’t have a lot of mixing experience, it can help to set up the drums and bass balance first, then move onto the vocals and the other instruments. Don’t worry about fine tuning the EQ or effects until your dry mix is somewhere near right.

• Satisfy yourself that the mix is working in mono. Check for Phase problems.
• Pan bass drums, bass guitar and lead vocals to centre -this will stabilize the mix.
• Spread other instruments across the stereo stage as required, including backing singers.
• EQ the mix as required.
• Now add stereo effects as necessary to add to the illusion of space and width.
• Check the balance of your final mix by listening to it from the next room through the adjoining door: for some reason, this often shows up whether the vocals are too loud or quiet.

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