The Art of the Mix

Mixing is like painting a sonic picture. Instead of using different colors to make this picture we are using frequencies. Different instruments produce sounds at different frequencies. Just like with painting sometimes we want the colors to be spereate and distinct and other times we blend the colors together to make a new color or shade from two or more colors.

Picture the low frequencies like the bass guitar and the body of the kick drum at the bottom of the canvas. The left side of the canvas representing the sound that comes from the left speaker and the right side of the canvas representing the sound that comes from the right speaker. As you move up to the top of the canvas the frequencies change and we have the piano, the guitars, the snare drum, the vocals, and then as we go still higher we eventually come to the hi hats and cymbals.

The different instruments are the colors we use to paint our sonic picture. Certain colors like a piano and a guitar when applied to the mix will occupy the same space on the canvas. So if the guitar is blue and the keyboards are red, if you put them on the canvas in the same space they will blend and form a purple color. That's great if you wanted to make a purple color. It's not so great if you actually wanted an area of red and a seperate distinct area of blue. So how do we seaprate the two colors? Well we can paint the guitars on the left of the canvas and the piano on the right side of the canvas. That way we will discinctly hear the guitar from one speaker and the piano from the other.

But what if you want both of these sounds to come from both speakers at the same time? What tool do we use to accomplish this? An equalizer will allow us to make changes to the sounds so that they fit together better. But some amount of blending will always occur. The only way to prevent this clashing of the two sounds entirely is to plan ahead. If the guitar and piano play a different rythym pattern or they play at opposite parts of thier range this clashing problem can be avoided.

Just like painting a picture the process of mixing audio is an artistic expression and there is no right or wrong. Just like painting the better you become at choosing and blending your colors, the more you'll be able to make your finished mix sound the way you want it to.