Mixing Thru

[ElectriK Noize]

Something I've been pondering lately. I once witnessed an engineer listen to the outputs of the DAT machine he was mixing to. The DAT machine didn't have the best converters and there were no outboard converters to patch in. His "logic" was that he could listen thru the converters and overcome any deficiencies in the mix. i.e. The DAT converters would mess with the high end and he could compensate for it while mixing.

Do any of you do this. Or do you just listen to the raw output of the 2buss, print your mix, then listen back to the print and make any necessary changes.

-John

[Jules]

I always 'listen through' any digital device while mixing..

And have done so for about 6 or 7 years now...

Lessens any shock on playback!

Good idea!



Only reason for not doing it might be if you are using 1/2" or 1" tape...

[Jay Kahrs]

Jules, I need to totally disagree with that. It's way more important to listen through the mixdown deck if it's analog. Tape changes the sound a bit or a lot depending on how it's aligned, how hard it's being hit etc. You know that, or have you forgotten since you switched to PT?

I always listen through the 2-track, analog or digital. Mostly to make sure that something stupid didn't happen, like cutting off the beginning or end of the song, some chucklehead hitting stop etc. The only time I listen right off the 2-buss is if I'm doing manual mutes & rides without automation and I'm printing to analog. The 1/2 second delay between the record and repro heads is enough to be late on cues.

[Tim L]

Originally posted by Jay Kahrs
... I always listen through the 2-track, analog or digital...

Most definitely a sound practice (pun intended... ). A side from listening for possible technical glitches, whatever format the mix goes down to is part of the chain and contributes to the sound of the product... always a good idea to hear exactly what's going down.

[Drumsound]

I'm with Jay 100%.

[Jules]

Well I did say 'might be"

Back when I was doing 1/2" mixes, I dont remember always listening in 'repro' for the following reasons.

1) it was unwise / a PITA to always have tape rolling,

2) in repro you get a time delay that f**ks up timing on any live echo send moves that need to be done etc.....

3) listening thru a tape recorder in INPUT was pretty much useless (as I recall)

So I will stick with my pervious statement!

[Jay Kahrs]

Originally posted by Jules
Back when I was doing 1/2" mixes, I dont remember always listening in 'repro' for the following reasons.

1) it was unwise / a PITA to always have tape rolling,

I don't keep it rolling the whole time, but when the mix is damn close to done I'll roll tape and see how it sounds and possibly make some changes to the mix. The biggest varible is how hard or not hard I'm hitting the tape. I'd say that 95% of the time the only thing I change is the master fader by 2dB or so. Hit tape too hard and you get mush, for the stuff I do I like it to be right on the edge.

One good reason to monitor through the deck when printing? To make sure it's actually armed. There have been one or two times I hit record and forgot to actually arm the tracks.

[Wiggy Neve Slut]

Ditto...

100% allways monitor the mix from start to finnish from the master 2 track source,be it DAT which is still mix to as a safety measures as well, or 1/4" or 1/2". I like to hear how its gona sound fromthe get go and not make changes at the end when im 'in the pocket' of the mix.

Cheers
Wiggy