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10. Mixing further processing

1

Now let’s move through some more processing. With the Mixer open we can simply use the plus icon on each strip to add plugins. First up some EQ for the Percussion hi-hats. We’re adding some high mid frequencies and removing some of the lower frequencies and lowering the overall level in the mix.

2

For the piano, we’ve added an EQ to boost the high frequencies at about 8kHz and shelve away the frequencies below 1kHz. After this we’ve added a compressor with a ratio of 4:1 and attack and release at around 30ms. The overall result is a more punchy, processed sounding piano.

3

For audio clips we can apply clip specific processing. Here we’re going to add a phaser to the Shaker just during the Drop section. Right click on the clip and, from the menu, select Plugin from the Add Clip Effect section. Once loaded, we launch the Phaser with the cog icon on the clip and adjust settings to taste.

4

Our percussive sequence sound is getting a bit lost sonically, and we also want to bring up the noise in the sound. We need a fast compressor and from the CM Plugin Suite we’re using HoRNet FatFet. Settings are: Ratio 8:1, Attack 0.13ms, Release 50ms, Threshold -52dB.

5

Time to add some of the reverb and delay auxiliaries. One thing we didn’t do when setting up the aux returns was to solo isolate them. To do this select each aux return track and in its Properties panel check the Solo Isolate option. Now when we solo a send track we’ll automatically hear the return track as well.

6

First load an Aux Send plugin for the Piano track, placing it after the Volume and Pan plugin so the send level changes if we move the fader. We’ve added a small amount of the large reverb (send level is at -13dB), but the reverb isn’t right so adjust that as well: Size 9, Damping 60%.

7

For our electric guitar part starting in the Drop section we’re going to add both the delay auxiliaries. To do this, load two aux send plugins and once again these go after the Volume and Pan module. Levels for the sends are -21dB to the Aux 1 and -9dB to Aux 2.

8

The Ethereal synth sound needs some more space and smearing so we’re adding the large reverb and the panning delay (auxiliaries 2 and 4). The send levels are about -1dB for each. We’ve adjusted the level of the Ethereal track down slightly as well so it’s at about -15dB.

9

Finally, further effects we’ve added are Small Rev on the Bass (-18dB Send level), Large Rev on the Arpeggiator (-13dB Send), Small Rev on the Shaker (-13dB Send). That’s it for effects and on the next page we’re going to finish up with some automation and mastering.