Recording, editing, mixing, mastering

What is recording?

Recording in a recording studio typically involves capturing audio performances onto a digital or analog medium, often with the goal of producing a high-quality final product for release. This can involve recording individual instruments or vocals separately, or capturing a full band performance all at once. The recording process may involve several stages, including setting up microphones, adjusting levels and tone, overdubbing, editing, and mixing. The recording studio will typically have a control room where the producer, engineer, or other personnel can monitor and adjust the recording, and an isolated recording booth or room where the musicians perform. The aim is to create a clean and controlled environment for capturing audio that accurately represents the desired sound.

There is another approach called live-room recording, where the band and recording engineer are in the same room. This approach aims to capture the energy and interaction of a live performance by recording the band playing together in one room, rather than recording each instrument separately. At ASV we mainly use this approach. The band may perform in a large room with good acoustics, and the recording equipment is set up to capture the sound of the room as well as each instrument. This approach can produce a raw, natural sound that captures the essence of the live performance, but it may also result in more room noise and bleed between instruments, which may need to be addressed during the mixing process. Live-room recording is often used for genres that prioritize live performance energy and feel, such as rock, blues, jazz or singer-songwriter.

What is Mixing?

The mixing process in a recording studio involves balancing and shaping the individual audio tracks recorded during the tracking stage to create a cohesive final mix. The steps in the mixing process can vary depending on the specific project and the engineer’s preferred methods, but a typical mixing process might include the following steps:

• Preparation: This involves organizing the tracks and setting up the mixing environment, such as creating a mixing template and importing the recorded tracks into the digital audio workstation.
• Level Balancing: This involves adjusting the volume of each track so that the mix is balanced and all instruments and vocals are clearly audible.
• Equalization: This involves adjusting the tone of each track using equalization (EQ) to remove unwanted frequencies or to enhance specific frequencies to help the tracks fit together in the mix.
• Panning: This involves adjusting the stereo placement of each track in the mix to create a sense of space and separation between instruments.
• Dynamics Processing: This involves using dynamic processing, such as compression and limiting, to control the dynamic range of each track and to even out the levels of each performance.
• Effects Processing: This involves adding effects, such as reverb, delay, and modulation effects, to enhance the sound of the mix.
• Automation: This involves making changes to levels, panning, effects, and other mix parameters over time to create a more engaging mix.
• Finalizing the Mix: This involves checking the mix for any technical issues, such as clipping or phase problems, and making final adjustments to the mix.

These steps are typically repeated multiple times, with the engineer making adjustments and revisions until they are satisfied with the final mix. The mixing process can take several hours to several days to complete, depending on the complexity of the project.