Understanding and Crafting the Mix: The Art of Recording

by William Moylan

Overview

Understanding and Crafting the Mix, 3^rd edition provides the framework to identify, evaluate, and shape your recordings with clear and systematic methods. Featuring numerous exercises, this third edition allows you to develop critical listening and analytical skills to gain greater control over the quality of your recordings. Sample production sequences and descriptions of the recording engineer’s role as composer, conductor, and performer provide you with a clear view of the entire recording process.

Dr. William Moylan takes an inside look into a range of iconic popular music, thus offering insights into making meaningful sound judgments during recording. His unique focus on the aesthetic of recording and mixing will allow you to immediately and artfully apply his expertise while at the mixing desk. A companion website features recorded tracks to use in exercises, reference materials, additional examples of mixes and sound qualities, and mixed tracks.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415842815
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/29/2014
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	518
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr. William Moylan has worked with leading artists across the full spectrum of jazz, popular, and classical genres. His recordings have been released by major and independent record labels, resulting in wide recognition, including several GRAMMY award nominations. A leading educator and an active recording engineer and producer for over 30 years, he is a Professor and Coordinator of Sound Recording Technology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Table of Contents

Introduction- Overview of Organization and Materials Establishing an Accurate Playback of Recordings- Part One. Defining the Art of Recording: The Sound Characteristics and the Aesthetic Qualities of Audio Recordings Chapter 1. The Elements of Sound and Audio Recording Chapter 2. The Aesthetic and Artistic Elements of Sound in Audio Recordings Chapter 3. The Musical Message and the Listener Part Two. Learning to Listen, Beginning to Hear: Acquiring Fundamental Listening Skills and Establishing an Effective Approach to Listening Chapter 4. Listening and Evaluating Sound for the Aspiring Audio Professional Chapter 5. Fundamental Listening Skills Chapter 6. A System for Evaluating Sound Chapter 7. Evaluating Pitch in Audio and Music Recordings Chapter 8. Evaluating Loudness in Audio and Music Recordings Chapter 9. Evaluating Sound Quality Chapter 10. Evaluating the Spatial Elements of Two Channel Sound Chapter 11. Evaluating the Spatial Elements of Surround Sound Chapter 12. Complete Evaluations and Understanding Observations Chapter 13. The Roles of the Recordist and the Aesthetics of Recording Production Chapter 14. The Sounds of Recordings: Shaping Musical Ideas and Musical Expression Chapter 15. Preproduction and Preliminary Stages: Embracing Reality and Defining the Materials of the Project Chapter 16. Recording and Tracking: Capturing and Shaping the Performance Chapter 17. Crafting the Mix, and Finalizing the Production

Editorial Reviews

"While there have been numerous books published about the various technical and theoretical elements of recording, very few have addressed the more artistic and craft-based aspects of creating the mix.

I enjoyed reading Moylan's book, mainly for the way it presents familiar ideas and concepts in a completely new light, but also because it introduced me to new ways of thinking and new approaches to recording and production. Thoroughly recommended." - Sound on Sound (May 2007)

Praise for previous edition:
'Dr Moylan's methods and techniques for training of the ear for artistic and technical evaluation of sound, and his development of parameters for a common "language" should be adopted by all professionals and aspiring professionals in the field.'
Raul Valery, Valencia Community College

From the Publisher