Mixing With iZotope

Introducing Mixing with iZotope: Principles, Tips and Techniques!


Your ultimate guide to all things mixing, this free eBook breaks down the art, aesthetic and theory behind the audio mixing process. 


With simple explanations and visualizations to help illustrate how audio tools such as Equalizers, Compressors and FX can transform your mix, this guide is valuable for anyone...no matter what level you are at, or what gear you have.


Written by the award-winning Sean McLaughlin (Elliott Smith, Rush, Queensryche, Matchbox Twenty, Seal, Dwight Yoakam, Scott Storch), and with tips and advice from other renowned mix engineers, there's something for everyone in every musical genre.


WHAT IS MIXING?

Mixing is the craft of taking multiple audio tracks and combining them together onto a final master track - be it a 2-channel stereo master, or 6+ channels in the case of surround mixing. The way we combine tracks is equal parts art and science, and involves utilizing a variety of tools to bring out the most emotional impact from the song.


Mixing can be as simple as presenting great-sounding tracks in a more impactful way. Other times, mixing may require repairing tracks that sound sub-par. Each mix presents its own problems and challenges—it’s your job as the mixer to not only solve these problems, but to present the song the way it sounds in the client’s imagination.


This guide will demonstrate how to utilize these tools to achieve the best possible mixes. So what are we waiting for? Let’s get started!


INTENDED AUDIENCE FOR THIS GUIDE

If you don’t know anything about mixing or mixing software, this Guide is a great place to start. Sure, we think you should use iZotope mixing tools, such as Alloy® 2, Trash® 2 and Nectar® 2 (www.izotope.com) to mix your audio... you certainly could. But we’ve learned so much from the audio community over the past 10+ years that we’re happy to give something back in return: a Guide that’s useful for everyone who wants to learn more about mixing. As a result, this Guide can be freely copied or distributed for non-commercial purposes.


If you don’t fully understand mixing, but already have some iZotope mixing software, this Guide can

help you better understand the powerful sound-shaping tools at your disposal. Each chapter demonstrates many useful concepts that you can apply to your next mixing project. You can also follow along with the free 10-day trials of Alloy 2, Trash 2 and Nectar 2 available at www.izotope.com.


If you already have any of the products mentioned above and already know the basics of mixing, this guide can show you new tricks or techniques that are possible. Just read through and say “Yeah, I knew that” when appropriate for the other parts.