Book: mixing with your mind

[fuzzface777]

I have heard that this book from Australia is supposed to be Killer! It is pricy that is for sure. Has anyone read it or heard good things?

[cosmos]

Originally Posted by fuzzface777

I have heard that this book from Australia is supposed to be Killer! It is pricy that is for sure. Has anyone read it or heard good things?

I just orderd one last week from australis, i also heard that this book got some realy good secrets ... should be here in a few days ...

[ctms777]

I found it very inspirational, but it may not be everyone's cup of tea. It's kinda filosofical. It made me rethink how I mix/record.
To me it was defenately worth it's high price.

[Marlowe]

An excellent read and, to my mind, very worth the money. The book is full of information I've read nowhere else.

[TanTan]

a great book highly recommended

[Reptil]

Originally Posted by Sound Bloke

Don't believe the Hype! And don't waste your money - the man is a complete frigging ******. Americans can look that word up on wilkipedia - then again it may simply be defined as AMERICAN LIVING IN AUSTRALIA! Just like Mike Stavrou. Have you checked out his Smart AV "mixing console" - big bucks for a mouse and keyboard!

hmm not that I'll ever buy one, but, I thought this Smart AV passed audio? I like the layout, but if it is just a controller .... hmmm

[mhartman]

I bought it recently. I thought that it was an interesting read. Some of the ideas are pretty out there, but if you read it with an open mind, you will probably learn a thing or two.

[Levi]

From my own experience, the book is great. Everything I've tried in the book (drum micing, guitar micing, compression...) has worked and achieved great results. I've passed it on to several of my producer/engineering/mix colleagues and they all found it useful, or at least sections of it, and have applied some of the practices in their own work. Yes, it's pricey, but it's not a book of 2 or 3 good gems every 50 pages. It's full of good, solid info. Not too deep of a read, but it still has some "hefty" concepts. If my copy were lost or destroyed, I'd buy another for sure.

[ctms777]

Originally Posted by Sound Bloke

Don't believe the Hype! And don't waste your money - the man is a complete frigging ******. Americans can look that word up on wilkipedia - then again it may simply be defined as AMERICAN LIVING IN AUSTRALIA! Just like Mike Stavrou. Have you checked out his Smart AV "mixing console" - big bucks for a mouse and keyboard!

I really like the book. I bought it after I met him on an AES convention. Seemed like a nice guy. What's your problem? It's stupid to badmouth people without saying why you have a problem with them. How would you feel if I'd call you a ****** without explaning why?

[Mike H]

A great book, my favorite. Different from any other you'll read, a different way of approaching mixing. Worth the price just to shake up your perspective a bit.

[frans]

I have the book, I recommend it. Lots of thoughts you don't read elsewhere. Concepts. Some sure fire words to understand the compressor, digital audio, the relation of the position of the mic to the source, etc. In short: a good book. I don't care if the man itself is eating children for breakfast or even a member of a hair band.
He recorded Siouxsie and the banshees, by the way.

[Levi]

I think it's pretty evident that most people like the book. Yes, it's pricey, but most of the above posts also show that they've received valuable knowledge from it. Sound Bloke, I'd encourage you (seriously, I might add) to write a book with YOUR concepts of recording, mic placement, mixing, etc. It sounds as though you have your opinions, and perhaps tried and true techniques. On the bright side, you become heralded and make a ton of cash. The bad side... well... And please don't say "I'm a purist who would NEVER write a book and share my secrets!"

[Midlandmorgan]

Bought it a few years back...superlative reference and teaching tool for people already versed but needing/wanting better results....highly recommended....

FWIW: In the forward, Sir George Martin comments he had this book years ago...and since Sir George has worked with a couple of lesser known acts (like the friggin Beatles) there is a tremendous credibility to the contents and techniques in the book.

What I got out of it (and still do): how to develop reference points from which to build...anyone who can't learn something from this book hasn't bothered to read it or is incapable of understanding it.

(BTW: I think the book originated in New Zealand)

[overclock]

Stav is great, the book is great. He gave me a signed copy (no 90 dollar demands that i can recall). For those who are interested, here are some notes....

The smartav console is Stav's conceptual brainchild. His idea was put into hardware by other people. He never said 'let's make an expensive controller', he simply had this terrific concept for the arc metere bridge, getting TONS of channels into a handful of faders, and some of the other really cool features. And yes, he has some good magic tricks he can perform on the console.

The book is great, I recomend it to anyone that likes to read books and is into audio. If you are looking for something heady like an MIT Press book, it's not that. If you are looking for tips on the latest plug-ins, it's not that either. In the book he deals with some concepts that you will be familiar with and some that you aren't, maybe some that you don't agree with. But it will certainly illuminate his methods to you and that's all you can really expect from a book like this.

Cheers.

- b

[Levi]

Then cool... cheers!

[never174]

Where can you buy it? Is there a web site?

[Allen Wrench]

Now about the book…

I’m a beginner engineer and rock icon… recording records in my house and all that. One of the most difficult things to do is obtain recording tips and producing concepts from someone that ACTUALLY knows what he’s talking about. Most people here have ‘instructional’ recording books. The biggest problem is that most of these books are books of DEFINITIONS and basic concepts and really don’t go over REAL WORLD techniques. Mixing With Your Mind – DOES.

The great thing about Mixing With Your Mind is all of it’s ANTI-INTUITIVE concepts and techniques… things you would NEVER come up with on your own.

Now is it worth it to pay $80 to learn VALUABLE info that you would NEVER be able to come up with?
F U C K yes it is!

As a beginner, this book changed my engineering life and it’ll change yours also.

Now as far as it being expensive… well compared to a $ 30 book yes… but you won’t pick up a lot of truly usable info for that $ 30 book. I’m also under the impression that the book is self-released and didn’t get manufactured by any major publishing house. So I would imagine that the start up costs would be considerable.

A quick note on indy book publishing… a friend of mine just did 2 books with one of the major publishing houses. CHECK THIS OUT… on a book that sells in the stores for $ 19.95… he gets ¢ .32 per unit ! Now THAT’s a rip off!

I’d bet that you’d NEVER find this book used. When people buy it… they’ll never let it go. Just order it off the website, you won’t be sorry!


- ALLEN WRENCH –
international superstar

[Jazz Thieves]

I bought it. Good book.

Particularly good section on compression.


Dunno why everyone is hating on the author. You have a choice...buy it or don't buy it.

[BeepBeep]

Actually only one person is knocking the book.

They don't seem to carry it on Amazon, besides the author are there any other venders?

[Meriphew]

Originally Posted by shangoe

yes Soundbloke could you please piss of this thread.

I second the sentiments for Soundbloke to piss off. tutt

[sedohr]

Originally Posted by Meriphew

I second the sentiments for Soundbloke to piss off. tutt

They seem to be "sound" asleep down under. But the book sure looks interesting!

[Allen Wrench]

HEY! Soundbloke’s totally entertaining! It’s actually kind of boring if everyone sits around agreeing with each other. I saw another post he did… talking shit about SSLs… totally on the mark. However he is incorrect on Mixing With Your Mind.

Have I told everyone how much I love George Bush?

- AW

[DeepSpace]

Mixing with your mind is one of a small number of books that contain concepts and understanding along with techniques and facts. It's well written and thought provoking and contains a lot that will be of interest to anyone who's striving to gain mastery over both the craft and the artistry of sound recording.

Even for those who may not appreciate the wealth of ideas and insights in the book, it contains enough techniques and practical advice to be worth the selling price IMO.

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by never174

Where can you buy it? Is there a web site?

http://www.mixingwithyourmind.com/

[Jimbo]

...and I paid $98.

I'd pay it again too!

Great reference, great techniques (note: I haven't finished it yet).

While his discription of Analog vs. Digital are correct, it implies that we should be trying to get our recording levels as hot as possible -- I disagree.

However, everything else I've read is quite compelling.

On the other hand, I'm a punk who has to spend $98 to learn shit the expensive way

- Jim

[DAWgEAR]

Great book!

A little unusual if you were expecting a "method" for mixing (which it is not), but lots of insightful gems. The chapter on compressors is worth the price of admission, IMO. In most every other book/magazine, the author regurgitates what the 5 controls do ... as if the reader does not know this information already. Stav takes a totally unique approach, emphasizing the sequence in which you set the controls.

If nothing else, it will really make you intelligently and methodically re-think a lot of stuff.

And it is unique in the sense that very little of its contents is covered in the other books/magazines on recording and mixing. It is a good complement.

Now, if only someone could help me better understand "hardness". LOL.

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by DAWgEAR

Now, if only someone could help me better understand "hardness". LOL.

Yeah, been trying to figure that one out myself. I get "hardness" as it relates to the source, but not as it relates to the mic.

- Jim

[DeepSpace]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

While his discription of Analog vs. Digital are correct, it implies that we should be trying to get our recording levels as hot as possible -- I disagree.

With the ready availability of 24bit technology I'm more inclined to agree with you. But Stav is correct to make the point that the resolution of a digital recording goes down as the signal gets quiter - so a cold signal is a grainy/gritty sounding signal. With 16 bit, recording a 5 to 10 dB colder makes a quite audible difference to the character of the sound - not in a good way.

[DeepSpace]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Yeah, been trying to figure that one out myself. I get "hardness" as it relates to the source, but not as it relates to the mic.

Some mics give a sound gentler or softer characteristic quality (softness as a "quality" of the sound, not amplitude), others give it a more brittle, edgy quality. Hardness.

It's not so "hard" to hear if you listen for it.

[Allen Wrench]

Hey soundbloke, do you like that TV show Prisoner (here in the US it was called Prisoner: Cell Block H)?