Audio mixing is an electronic signal manipulation process that combines multiple recorded sounds into a single track/channel. The purpose of mixing is to make the presentation more harmonious and pleasing to the ears. The quality of mixing may dramatically affect the performance of the recorded songs — good mixing engineering mitigates flaws in the original performance while enhancing the merits. As the conductor is to an orchestra, the mixing engineer blends his artistic interpretation, creativity, and ingenuity into the recorded performance to make the final product more lively and appealing to listeners.

The mixing stage manipulates the following features of the recording: sound-track editing, pitch adjustment (ex: auto-tune), frequency analysis and correction,、audio spectrum allocation , dynamic range adjustment, instrumental virtual stage positioning, sound-field locating, sound/audio FX, taping tracks、tone adjustment...

Sound-track editing

Polishes flaws and defects contained in each recorded track, for example, the removal of distracting voices arising from breathing, and the adjustment of relative volume level from different sources.

Pitch adjustment

For optimizing the voices of vocal origins or different musical instruments. It is not uncommon that slight off-keys happen to even experienced vocalists under their best conditions. After proper pitch adjustment, the pitches of the principle singer and that of the accompanists will sound smoother and more pleasing, and the artistic performance will become fuller and richer.

Frequency analysis and correction

Adjust individual sound tracks with respect to their frequency coverage so as to emphasize the characteristic frequency spectrum. In professional mixing procedure, frequency correction takes into consideration the frequency spectrum of all sources of sound. Devices used include filters, equalizers, and THD generators. The assignment of frequency spectra is performed for each sound-track and/or each musical instrument.

Audio spectrum allocation

Optimize allocation of acoustic spectrum according to varying characteristics of each component of the sound field so as to passively avoid distortion or discordance in acoustic signals falling in overlapped frequency spectrum, and to actively enhance the special features of individual sound-track or instrument.

Dynamic range processing

The features of each sound-track is composed of acoustic spectrum and dynamic presentation. Appropriate adjustment of dynamic range allows the fine features of the sound-track to stand out and the instrumental sounds more appealing. Dynamic range adjustment is typically accomplished with compressors, limiters, gates, and expanders in conjunction with considerations of frequency response effects.

Instrumental virtual stage positioning

This process fixes the location of each individual instrument in the acoustic image and defines the sonic source of each piece of instrument, this recreates a vivid on-the-scene environment to the listener. In making the adjustments the mixing engineer needs to pay special consideration to the characteristic acoustic frequency responses of all instruments being processed to achieve a well-balanced acoustic image.

Sound-field locating

In the recording stage, each sound-track may be generated with different recording platforms in drastically different environment, and with different instruments as sources producing the desired acoustic signals. In the mixing stage, however, the mixing engineer needs to blend all signals extracted from each primary sound-track so that to a listener the mixed piece appear to have been synchronously played in a common environment. Through appropriate sound-field locating and mixing, the resultant playback of all sound-tracks is removed of the mismatching sound-field effects present in the primary recorded tracks.

Tone Adjustment

Unique sound and antiquity features are frequently found in classically produced albums, and these feats may be reserved by means of tracking and use of conventional analogue devices, singular sound quality may be vividly recreated.

Sound/audio FX

Electronic music、Dance music、Films Soundtrack、7.1/5.1 Surround Sound Music etc.，may be given a unique lively spirit in play back.

Mixing engineering is comprised of many seemingly independent steps that are actually highly interdependent. The mixing engineer does his job by smoothing out the corners of a triangle and make it into a smooth circle that rolls smoothly in the ears of the audience. The apexes of the starting triangle in his hand — the interpretation of the music and hence the way of presentation of the performing artists, the producer's demands that typically tend to put more focus on marketing , and the engineer's personal comprehension of the music score. Instead of cutting out the apexes and make a small inscribed circle, the mixing engineer should manage to fill in elements at his disposal to make a larger circumscribed circle that contains the three original apexes that represented the strong points of the roles involved. As it should be, the mixing engineer needs artistic gifts on top of his mastering the equipments used in mixing works. Audio mixing is thus at the crossing point of performing art and electronic technology.

 Cautionary reminder for our customers:

1. When you submit your sound-tracks to be mixed by MuScene, please confirm that all tracks are properly synchronized. After removing all labels marked on your sound-tracks, rename your tracks to reflect their contents, for example, Bass, EGtr1, an so forth.

2. MuScene will inform you with updated progress in MP3 format and your input over ensuing mixing operation is most welcome. At the completion of mixing operation, the completed work can be offered in Wave or AIFF format. You may also request Stem Mix files at additional charge.

3. The completed mixing work you receive is going to be inferior in quality to what you usually expect for a commercial album. This is so because there is the so called Mastering process with commercial albums, and we are more than honored to provide you with this post-processing mastering service. Please refer to the listing of services provided by MuScene.

Pricing

Demo Mix-down:Suitable for routine demo and band demo purposes.

US $169.99 per song

Standard Mix-Down:Suitable for routine publishing, commercial publishing, broadcasting, animation/image dubbing, and post-processing operation. Two free modifications after completion. The Producer is welcome to join our team in final mix down.

US $76 per hour/US $294~690 per song