Mixing and Mastering in the Box: The Guide to Making Great Mixes and Final Masters on Your Computer - Hardcover

Savage, Steve

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0199929300 ISBN 13: 9780199929306

Publisher: OUP USA, 2014

Synopsis

Mixing and mastering, the two final steps in the complex process of sound engineering, require both artistic finesse and technical facility. Even the slightest difference in the way a sound is processed can lead to a shift in the overall aesthetic of a piece, and so sound engineers must work towards an understanding of sound engineering that is particularly oriented towards the artistic and aesthetic. In order to create effective mixes, a sound engineer must maintain a distinct set of artistic goals while drawing on an in-depth understanding of the software involved in the process. Creating final masters requires specialized aural skills and a similarly advanced understanding of the software in order to fine-tune the product with respect to these goals. Mixingand Mastering in the Box addresses the practical and technological necessities of these two final steps without neglecting the creative process that is integral to the creation of high-quality recordings. Savage focuses primarily on creating mixes and masters in the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), or "in the box," currently a popular platform in the field of sound engineering due to the creative advantages and advanced technological capabilities it offers to its users. However, much of the information presented in Mixing and Mastering in the Box is also applicable to analog mixing gear or a hybrid system of digital and analog tools. This book, which features over one hundred illustrations and a comprehensive companion website, is ideal for beginning or intermediate students in sound engineering with a focus on DAW, recording artists who do their own mixing and mastering, or musicians who wish to be better informed when collaborating on mixes and masters.

About this title

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)

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).

Edition details

• Publisher: OUP USA
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0199929300
• ISBN 13: 9780199929306
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 318