Unit 49- Mixing and Mastering

Task 1

Setting up a project

This is how you create a project in Cubase 6. We then add the different tracks with the different instruments on it.

We downloaded the different types of tracks from the VLE so then we can import them on cubase.

Here are the options that you can use to import the different types of tips. Whether you want them on the different tracks and whether you want them copied to the directory.

This is how we can play all of the tracks that we downloaded into cubase.

Colour coded and label tracks

Colour for the ‘stick together’ I used colour to keep it so then it is easier to keep track of each instrument. I also labelled my tracks to tell what instrument it is.  

This is the same premise for my composition piece as the stick together piece. It is all about the organisation and making sure that the instruments are the same colour and they are in the same family.

Removing unnecessary sound

In the stick together piece I removed the sound that was not being recorded. So then it wouldn’t sound bad. Combining with this, you could also hear the essex breathing. Most of this was removed. All of the breathing wasn’t removed because if I removed all of the breathing it would sound robotic, this is bad because it wouldn’t show a realistic feel to the track.

For my composition I broke up the unnecessary sound because either I was trying to think of something to play or I stopped playing because a separate sections were in use.

Grouping

Grouping is where you can add different types of instruments. Grouping makes it easier to add effects such as reverb and compression.

This is how I used the different types of groups that I used in my composition. I used this to make it quick and easy to mute my tracks.

Limiting

For my stick together cover I limited the brass instruments. This is because originally there were extremely overpowering. This will also cut out background noise that would have been recorded from the studio. This was also used in the vocals, while she was breathing.

I limited the clean slate synth because originally I thought that it was overpowering. Limiting is essentially limiting the sound that is played. This is how I used limiting in my composition.

Equalisation

Equalisation is manipulating the sound. In my work I have used this by making the bass sound a bit louder so then it is a bass heavy song. For my composition I used this to raise the violin sound and quieten it.  

Compression

Compression is where you can compress the sound to point out different points of the song. This is how I used compression in the guitar part of the song. The bottom image shows how I used compression in my composition. This is making the louder sounds quieter and the quieter sounds more loud.

 

Pan/Balance Track Out

I used pan in my work, this is essentially transmitting the sound either through the right side of the headphones or the left side. For my guitar part I put the audio more to the right more than anything. This is used in my work to get more for of the stereo feel to it.

In my composition I used this to produce a stereo feel to the tracks. This gives a better feels the SkyDrops parts to my composition

FX- Reverb, Distortion.

This is how I used reverb in the Pan flute for my composition. I essentially simulated a room and made the size of the room smaller so then it has a better effect. Distortion as well as a gate. A distortion guitar adds effect to the guitar and gate removes any unnecessary noise.

Expansion

Expansion is essentially the opposite of compression, this involves making the notes more louder. This is used in a decrease in pressure. We are expanding the dynamic range of the track rather than compressing it. In the two pieces I didn’t use this technique.

Exporting Methods

This method was used for both of my pieces. The essentially selects whatever is highlighted in blue.

While there is something selected on the track, we then have to export the track that is select. File >

     Export >

                 Audio Mixdown
For the format that we exported the tracks in we used a sample rate of 44.100khz. This is because most CD quality is in this sample rate. Also having it in a 16 Bit Bit Depth. This is also the normal standard for CD quality. We then exported it in the .wav file type. This is because .wav is a much higher quality as apose to over file types such as .mp3.