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As a home recordist who has resigned himself to working with the benefits and limits of the DAW alone (i.e. no console, external summing or busing), I am always looking for ways to maximize the sound quality of the music I make.

I have noticed a common notion among the experienced, that very good sounds can be made and (from there) maintained in the digital domain alone. But there always seems to be caveats attached to such statements like:

. . . if you understand how to mix ITB
. . . if you gain stage properly in the plugins
. . . if you know the differences between analog and digital
. . . if you know where the "VERY small sweetspot is in PT"
. . . if you know how the digital mixing bus works
. . . etc.

So I'm wondering, specifically, how YOU approach mixing ITB? (or would approach it if you weren't hindered by that $600,000 Neve console :)

How is it different in practice/theory for you than analog mixing?

What do you pay more/less attention to ITB?

"How much harder do you have to work?"

What are your "secrets?"

Looking forward to your thoughts,
Mike

Comments

audiokid Thu, 07/08/2021 - 18:01

Old topic that was never answered.

Assuming we have good ears and good taste in sound. 

Before all the above, the secret to recording, mixing and mastering is more about hearing everything accurately than any secret piece of gear or trick ... I suppose I would say my secret is:

  1. properly sized and acoustically treated room
  2. independent monitor controller that can control at least 2 sets of near field monitors (one preferably avatone) and a sub to check low freq
  3. Have the ability to check a mix in mono at all levels without effecting phase
  4. well recorded music always mixes easy

Any DAW will do.