Chapter 22 Main Points
►Mixing and rerecording are the phases of postproductionwhen the separately recorded elements are combined intoa natural and integrated whole.
►The term mixing is used generally in radio, television, andmusic recording to describe the process of combiningindividual audio tracks into two (stereo) or more (surroundsound)master tracks. In theatrical film and television, thedialogue, music, and sound-effect (DME) tracks are premixedand then rerecorded.
►Rerecording is the process of combining the DME tracksinto their final form—stereo or surround sound.
►Mixing, premixing, and rerecording have the same purposes:to enhance the sound quality and the style of theexisting audio tracks through digital signal processing(DSP) and other means; to balance levels; to create theacoustic space, artificially if necessary; to establish auralperspective; to position the sounds within the aural frame;to preserve the intelligibility of each sound or group ofsounds; to add special effects (SFX); and to maintain thesonic integrity of the audio overall, regardless of howmany sounds are heard simultaneously.
►The general purposes of mixing and rerecording notwithstanding,the overriding challenge is to maintain aestheticperspective.
►In proceeding with a mix, it is necessary to know on whattype of delivery system it will be reproduced. Radio, television,film, digital disc, and multimedia—all have differentsonic requirements.
►Networks and studios have delivery requirements thatspecify technical standards.
►In layering sound it is important to establish the main andsupporting sounds to create focus or point of view; positionthe sounds to create relationships of space and distanceand, in music, cohesion; maintain spectral balance sothat the aural space is properly weighted; and maintain thedefinition of each sound without losing definition overall.
►To help maintain definition as well as intelligibility in a mix,the various sounds should have different sonic features.These features can be varied in pitch, tempo, loudness,intensity, envelope, timbre, style, and positioning in thestereo or surround-sound aural frames.
►In layering sounds it is also important to establish perspective.Some sounds are more important than others; thepredominant one usually establishes the focus or pointof view.
►It is important to use meters to help identify and avoidsonic problems. There are times when they can indicatean issue that the ear cannot perceive.
►When dealing with program materials for the variousbroadcasting networks, unless those materials match thenetworks’ established metering specifications they willbe rejected.
►The boundary between editing and mixing is blurring.Today’s technology allows sound mixers to cross over intothe editorial realm and vice versa.