Mixing and mastering are the final challenges in creating great recordings. Great mixes require both creativity and a practical understanding of process, while final masters require both a clear sense for purpose and specialized ears for achieving artistic goals. Mixing and Mastering in the Box gives readers the practical tools for accomplishing both of these tasks while highlighting the artistry of the creative process. While much of the information presented in Mixing and Mastering in the Box is applicable to those using analog mixing gear, or a hybrid of digital and analog tools, the book focuses directly on working completely within the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). Author Steve Savage lets readers in on such topics as the secrets of collaboration and using EQ, compression, delay, reverb, and brickwall limiting to improve the sound of records, each topic illustrated with a myriad of concrete examples.

Mixing and Mastering in the Box is the ultimate reference manual for the home recordist and the perfect basic to intermediate text for any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) training class in mixing or mastering. The book is also ideal for readers who handle their own mixing and mastering or who wish - or are professionally required - to be better informed when collaborating on mixes and masters.

Table of Contents

Part I: Mixing and Mastering

1 The Starting Point: Fundamentals of Mixing and Mastering

2 Quick Guide to Great Mixes and Masters: Five Best Practices

3 Quick Guide to Great Mixes and Masters: Four Common Mistakes

Part II: Mixing

4 Building a Mix: The Concepts and Tools in Detail

5 Automation and Recall: Fine-Tuning

6 Mixing Piece by Piece: How to Approach Individual Elements

7 Mix Collaboration: The Mix Team

8 Delivering Mixes: Formats, Mix Types, and Multiple Mixes

PART Ill: Mastering

9 Setting Up to Master: Tools and Files

10 How to listen for Mastering: From Your Ear to Action

11 Creating a Master: The Concepts and Tools in Detail

12 The Final Master: Creating and Delivering

13 Mastering Collaboration: The Mastering Team

Appendix A: Notes on Surround Mixing and Mastering

Appendix B: Why Mixing and Mastering Can No Longer Be Separated

Review

"Steve Savage is not only a superb music producer, mixer and mastering engineer, but also an excellent educator and communicator. His books manage to cover the most complex aspects of music production in a manner that is engaging and clear, bringing expert insight to both beginners and advanced music makers. Steve manages to find a perfect blend between discussing the creative and technical aspects of music technology, whilst keeping things concise, relevant and up to date. Everyone interested in creating and producing music can learn something from Steve Savage!" --Dr. Rob Toulson, Music Producer and Director of the Cultures of the Digital Economy Research Institute at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge UK"Steve and I have worked on countless records together; he's mixed and mastered most of the records I've produced, including my own. He also taught me a lot about mixing and mastering - he's one of those rare guys who works at a very high level but can also explain what it is he's doing and why. If you want to know more about making your recorded music sound better, get this book!" --Bonnie Hayes, Chair of Songwriting, Berklee College of Music

Book Description

The ultimate reference manual for the home recordist and the perfect basic to intermediate text for any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) training class in mixing or mastering.

About the Author

An active producer, recording engineer, and music technology instructor, Steve Savage has been the primary engineer on seven Grammy-nominated CDs. He is the author of numerous books, including The Art of Digital Audio Recording: A Practical Guide for Home and Studio (OUP, 2011) and Bytes & Backbeats: Repurposing Audio in the Digital Age (Michigan, 2011).