Static Mix

Static mix is simply setting all the faders so you have set levels so you have a rough mix of where you want everything to sit , once you have a rough mix you can start to bring in things louder and your not going to clip if you don’t do static mix and start mixing clipping could happen on your master fader and another good reason to do a static mix is so you can do some sort of gut mix so you can set all the levels with no plugins and bounce it and refer back to it as I'm going through my mix just so you remember what ur initial thoughts on the track was going to be.

Even before we recorded we tested the levels of each input to make sure they weren't clipping, this is my recording at it highest and its not clipping.

Headroom

Headroom is the empty space between the highest peak on your audio signal and 0db on your meter, an acceptable recording level would be –6db with peaks up to –12db. We need headroom to eliminate digital distortion and to allow great sounding gain, dynamics and EQ application and for it to be properly mastered.

When recording our track we checked all the inputs separately at the loudest the musician could play so when recording the whole track we wouldn’t have any clipping and there would be no digital distortion we also made sure there was some headroom in the piece this is my piece at it loudest and its not clipping and its got headroom.

Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR)

SNR is the measurement of the level of an audio signal as compared to the level of noise that is present in that signal. SNR specifications are important sound level measurements used in describing the capabilities and qualities of many electronic sound components.

All electronic devices such as microphones CD players ect. produce background noise and the signal which is noise you actually want on your track the problem with background noise is when you compress your track your be boosting your signal as well as the noise which is not what you want but sometimes people like a bit of background noise.

Ways to stop background noise would be to switch of anything that makes noise like fans or a tv shut windows and doors also in a vocal recording speak directly into the microphone and make sure your using the right microphone for what your doing there's also noise reduction softwares.

DBFS

Decibels relative to full scale is where 0db and it goes down in –db, 0db is the maximum peak and you shouldn’t reach that in a recording as it’s the digital audio limit and a good recording level would be -6db to –12db to give yourself plenty of headroom and if you went over 0bd that would be clipping and cause digital distortion.

I made sure I didn’t go over 0db as I did a static mix so I had no digital distortion in my mix.

Dynamic Range

Dynamic range is the measurement of the softest sound to the loudest sound in a musical instrument or piece of electronic equipment, dynamic range measurements are used in audio equipment to indicate a component's maximum output signal.

Dynamic range would differ between genres as some artist would want their tracks to be bright with a wide dynamic range and some could want it different, I would say my track has a wide dynamic range there parts that are loud and parts that are quite there isn't a steady dynamic range.

A compressor is a processing devices that is used in audio to alter the dynamic range of a given signal. This is done to achieve a fuller sound when recording.

EQ / Frequency Spectrum

Every instrument works in a different frequency spectrum for example bass guitar and kick drum are at the low end of the frequency spectrum so if you play lead guitar with a lot of bass then it will be masked by the bass guitar and drums and you can use EQ to be able to hear and define the separate instruments and add more clarity to the recording.

In my track I used EQ to define the key parts in the tracks like I boosted the lower frequencies to match the video as my tracks had quite a dark videos to it, I also used EQ to take away the background noise like the sounds from other instruments.

Digital Distortion (as opposed to analogue)

Digital distortion would happen when you go over the maximum peak which is 0db this would cause your track to clip and create digital distortion this would be a bad mix as its wouldn’t be clear a good recording although some guitarists intentionally clip to get desired sound but all round level would be –6db to –12db this would also leave a good amount of headroom.

Compression Threshold

The threshold reduces the level of an audio signal if it exceeds a certain threshold this threshold is set by the producer. you do this to balance the volume of each instrument in a recording for example curtailing the volume of the symbols so it's less harsh this producers a balanced more fuller sound.

Compression I used on all my tracks to just create a fuller sound like on the vocals as they where abit up and down throughout the track.

Compression Output / Make Up Gain

When using the threshold your also turning down the overall volume so to compensate for this you can turn up the gain which will turn up the volume all together.

After your signal undergoes the gain reduction process of compression you need some way to bring the average overall level backup so the signal sits in the mix appropriately.

Compression Ratio

Is the ratio of how much compression is applied to the recording for example if the compression ratio is set at 4:1 then the signal or input would have to exceed the threshold by 4db for the output to increse by 1db.

Compression Attack / Release

The attack and release will control how the sound is curtailed to the threshold.

The producer can also change the transition to the threshold by increasing the time for the attack and release and change the shape of the sound wave as it approaches and decays from the threshold