10 Tips for Better Mixes Through Panning

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10 Tips for Better Mixes Through Panning

by Nick Messitte, iZotope Contributor July 15, 2021

This article is all about panning—specifically, it will give you tips to keep in mind when figuring out how to pan elements in your mix. Though the kick, snare, bass, and vocals often sit in the middle of a mix (commonly referred to as C or 0 in most DAWs), everything else is pretty much up for grabs.

Mastering 2-Bus Compression To Improve Your Mixes | Pro Tools | Production Expert

Mastering 2-Bus Compression To Improve Your Mixes | Pro Tools | Production Expert

In this article Steve DeMott explains his approach to Bus Compression. Why is it important and what does it achieve?

2-Bus compression makes a lot of sense to me. Putting a compressor on every track of a recording does not. I am from the school of performance. Music is performed, not constructed (produced).

Always good to learn how to use the tools.

Close Track Stack ⌃⌘← — Logic Pro keyboard command of the day (KCotD)

  Close Track Stack    ⌃⌘←

Closes the currently selected track stack. I use summing track stacks to work with “stems”, and to help organize the tracks. When I want to work on a stack I simple select the stack and switch the mixer view to ‘Single’. This places the AUX, all the channels that route to the AUX, and the output path from the AUX (mix, sends, stereo out). Very handy.

Folder stacks (VCA groups) provide a simple visual way to control volume, solo, and mute for the group.

Summing stacks work like sub-mixes with inserts and sends.

Many options.

Create and edit Track Stacks in Logic Pro — Apple Support

You can hide the subtracks of a Track Stack to save space in the Tracks area, or show them in order to record or edit. You can add or remove tracks from a Track Stack, and reorder tracks in a Track Stack (reordering tracks doesn’t affect the sound).

Snare-drum Multimiking: Four Recommended Microphone Positions To Mix & Match

Mike Senior at Cambridge Music Technology.

Snare-drum Multimiking: Four Recommended Microphone Positions To Mix & Match

In this video I demonstrate the sound of four different recommended microphone positions you might use when multimiking a snare drum, showcasing the sound characteristics of each mic position with audio examples. In addition, I discuss how you might go about combining them at mixdown.

His books — “Recording Secrets for the Small Studio” and “Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio” are excellent sources of information.

Recording Secrets For The Small Studio

Recording Secrets For The Small Studio is an intensive training course specifically designed for small-studio enthusiasts who want a fast track to release-quality results. Based on the backroom strategies of more than 200 famous names, this thorough and down-to-earth guide leads you through a logical sequence of practical tasks to build your live-room skills progressively from the ground up. On the way, you’ll unravel the mysteries of many specialist studio tactics and gain the confidence to tackle a full range of real-world recording situations. User-friendly explanations introduce technical concepts on a strictly need-to-know basis, while chapter summaries, assignments, and extensive online resources are perfect for school and college use.

Mixing Secrets For The Small Studio (2nd Edition)

Mixing Secrets For The Small Studio is a best-selling primer for small-studio enthusiasts who want chart-ready sonics in a hurry. Drawing on the back-room strategies of more than 160 famous names, this entertaining and down-to-earth guide leads you step-by-step through the entire mixing process. On the way, you’ll unravel the mysteries of every type of mix processing, from simple EQ and compression through to advanced spectral dynamics and ‘fairy dust’ effects. User-friendly explanations introduce technical concepts on a strictly need-to-know basis, while chapter summaries, assignments, and extensive on-line resources are perfect for school and college use.

Open/Close Audio Insert 7 Plug-in Window of focused Track — Logic Pro keyboard command of the day

  Open/Close Audio Insert 7 Plug-in Window of focused Track

Opens or closes the plug-in window of the seventh insert on the channel. We’re almost beyond easy recognition of which insert this will actually work with.

Work in the plug-in window in Logic Pro — Apple Support

The header area at the top of a plug-in window is common to all plug-ins. You can use it to adjust the size of the window, link plug-in windows when more than one is open, switch the plug-in parameter view, and route side chain source signals.

NB These are Global Commands. You can open the plugin windows for a track even if you can’t see the channel strip in any of the visible views. It’s kind of nice to be able to work with a plugin without the distraction of the standard mixer or channel views.