How I Mix Music_Part #3, The Meat

Group Masters allow a mixer to combine multiple I/O volume controls at one location.

 I combine my Bass and Drum faders to a group master and label it, “Meat”. That combination of instruments, in most styles of music mixing, will form the foundation the mix is built around. I used to label the Group Master as “Fund.” Honestly, Fund labeled on the fader strip of a six-figure console just doesn’t look as cool as ...Meat. They both say the same thing. My personal hook is being colorful.

There is no right or correct way to start a mix, which is why this series is titled “How I mix music”. I personally start at the beginning. If it was a structure I was building, I’d start forming its foundation first. I’m just weird like that. As fun as it would be to have forms or people hold windows in place as you build a house around them ...it is just not practical.

By habit I initially put all the faders at -20 and listen to what the song and players are saying to me as I “bullshit” with other people in the room. It is my peripheral hearing vision I first listen too. I do this even if I’ve recorded the entire project.

 My friend & record producer David Gross, his track sheets label and note his title's building order as well as the inspiration/mix ideas he has me perform for him. It is my template for building the Meat for David or for building a foundation for mixing David's musical presentations. It is one hell of a responsibility. 

In a mix, life in general, there is only so much airspace available for a clear sonic definition of an individual sound. When to many sounds occupy the same air space the brain reclassifies the whole mess as ...noise.

Next up …Raising faders.