24
A BIT OF MIXING THEORY
Any mix can be separated into 5 parts or "Elements". It is the balance between these elements
that is responsible for the mix balance. The five mix Elements can be broken down as follows:
ELEMENT 1 - RHYTHM
The Rhythm is usually just the bass guitar and drums but really can be any instruments that
keeps steady time. Too many instruments in the Rhythm element causes a mix to be too "busy"
and as few as 1 instrument can be more than sufficient in some cases. The Rhythm instruments
in our example are: Kick, Snare, and Bass.
ELEMENT 2 - MOTION
Motion is distinctly different from Rhythm. Where the Rhythm Element is responsible for
keeping the beat (and time), the Motion Element usually fills in the rhythmical spaces where the
Rhythm instruments are not playing. Motion instruments are usually Rhythm Guitars, Percussive
Keyboards such as Clavinets or pianos, or Percussion instruments. Motion instruments tend to
play double-time of the Rhythm instruments.
ELEMENT 3 - PAD
The Pad Element is usually only one instrument that plays long sustaining notes or chords that
support the other elements. These instruments are usually strings, organs, sustained guitar
chords, or a synthesizer.
ELEMENT 4 - MELODY
The Melody Element is the focal point of the mix. This is usually a lead vocal or solo instrument.
ELEMENT 5 - FILLS
Fills are instrumental or percussion (occasionally vocal) passages that occur between the melody
line.
Most of the time, only 4 Elements should occur at any one time, with the Melody and Fills
alternating between each other (they may overlap a bit) but usually never occurring at the same
time.
LET'S MIX
To create your mix, just do the following. Remember that this is only a reference point; each
song is unique and calls for different balances. Use the following as a starting point.
1) Begin with all Faders in the "Off" position. Set the MASTER Faders to the
"0" point on their travel.
2) Raise the Kick Drum Channel Fader until the LED meters read "-2".
3) Now mute the Kick Drum Channel by switching the Mute Switch to the
"Off" position so the Kick can no longer be heard. DO NOT MOVE THE
FADER! Just mute the Kick Channel.
4) Raise the Snare Drum Fader until the LED meters read "0".
5) Mute the Snare Drum the same as the Kick.
6) Raise the High Hat Fader until it reads "-15" on the LED meter. If any
cymbals (ride or crashes) occur in the song, set them also to read "-15".
7) Mute the High Hat and Cymbals.
8) Raise the Tom Channel Faders. Set so that the LED meter indicates "0".
9) Mute the Toms
To Next Page