The Mixing Engineer's Handbook

More about the book

Mixing music—combining and shaping song components into a polished recording—was once deemed an unteachable art. The first edition of Bobby Owsinski's guide shattered this myth, breaking down the craft into clear, manageable steps for musicians, audio engineers, and producers to achieve great studio results. This essential text has become a staple in recording programs at colleges and universities worldwide. Now in a thoroughly revised fourth edition, it remains the most current resource for mastering the art and science of professional-quality mixes. Key topics include the six main elements of a mix that every engineer should know, the secrets of equalization and "magic frequencies" that enhance vocals and instruments, and the crucial rules of arrangement that significantly impact mixes. Advanced techniques expected of today's mixers, such as track cleanup, timing adjustments, pitch correction, sound replacement, and automation tricks are also covered. Additionally, the book offers tips for adding effects, sonic layering, and calculating delay. It features interviews with 25 of the music industry's most successful engineers, who share their insights and philosophies on mixing the hits they’ve worked on.