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Christopher "Czar" Smith

This course I mix a song from scratch in Studio One. I use all Studio One plugins. Though I use studio one the mixing techniques in this course can be applied to basically any DAW. I have included a before and after file so you can compare. I am also attaching a file with my contact info. Make sure your listening on a good pair of headphones or speakers for best results.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Students will have better understanding of how to mix a song
  • Students will have a better understanding of how to use compression during mixing
  • Students will have a better understanding of how to use eq during mixing

Syllabus

Introduction

This is the introduction to the course. 

This section shows how to set up the song before you begin mixing.

In this lecture I will cover setting up a song to be mixed. Organization and gain staging will be covered. 

Read more

In this section I cover mixing the drums in the song. 

In this section I cover mixing the music in the song. 

In this section I cover mixing the vocals in the song. 

This section covers adding effects like reverb and delay. I also go over adding automation. 

This section concludes this course. 

This quiz covers the tips I gave at the end of the course.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides hands-on experience in mixing a song from scratch using Studio One, a popular digital audio workstation
Focuses on core mixing techniques such as compression and EQ, which are fundamental skills in audio engineering
Emphasizes the applicability of mixing techniques across different DAWs, making the skills transferable to other software
Includes a 'before and after' file for comparison, allowing learners to critically evaluate the impact of mixing decisions
Requires learners to have access to good quality headphones or speakers, which may be an additional cost for some students
Covers essential effects like reverb and delay, alongside automation, which are crucial for adding depth and character to mixes

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Reviews summary

Practical audio mixing in studio one

According to learners, this course provides a clear, step-by-step workflow for mixing within Studio One, making it accessible for beginners wanting to grasp the basics of EQ and compression. Many appreciate the practical demonstrations and the inclusion of useful practice files. However, some students found the content to be too basic, seeking more advanced techniques or deeper theoretical explanations. Additionally, a few reviewers noted concerns about the audio quality of the course lessons themselves.
Provides audio files for hands-on practice.
"The included before and after audio files are excellent for comparison and practice."
"Being able to download and work with the same song files used in the course was great."
"Appreciated having the demo track to mix along with step-by-step."
Effectively explains EQ and compression basics.
"Helped me understand how to use EQ and compression on different tracks in a mix."
"The explanations of compression and EQ were clear and easy to grasp for a beginner."
"Gave me a solid foundation on the core mixing tools like EQ and compression."
Practical tips for Studio One users.
"Great for learning how to mix in Studio One specifically, using its built-in plugins."
"Uses only Studio One plugins which is perfect for me as that's my main DAW."
"Helped me understand how to use features specific to Studio One effectively for mixing."
Easy-to-follow, step-by-step process.
"The course structure is step-by-step, making it easy to follow along."
"Liked the clear flow of mixing drums, then music, then vocals."
"It gave me a clear process to follow when mixing, which was very helpful."
Some reviews mention poor audio in lessons.
"The audio quality of the course itself was poor, which made it hard to hear examples clearly."
"Sometimes the instructor's voice or the audio examples provided were unclear or distorted."
"Could definitely improve the audio quality of the video lessons for better understanding."
Content may be too basic for some learners.
"Found this course very basic, didn't learn much new as an intermediate mixer."
"Good for absolute beginners, but it definitely lacks depth for those with some experience."
"Wish it covered more advanced techniques or the 'why' behind certain steps in more detail."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Audio Engineering: Mixing with Studio One with these activities:
Review Compression Techniques
Reviewing compression techniques will help you better understand the use of compression during mixing, as covered in the course.
Show steps
  • Read articles and watch videos on different compression types.
  • Experiment with compression on different audio sources.
  • Practice identifying the sonic characteristics of each compressor type.
Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio
Reading 'Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio' will provide a deeper understanding of mixing principles and techniques, complementing the course material.
Show steps
  • Read the book, focusing on chapters relevant to the course topics.
  • Take notes on key concepts and techniques.
  • Experiment with the techniques in Studio One.
EQ Practice with Studio One Plugins
Practicing EQ techniques with Studio One plugins will reinforce your understanding of EQ during mixing, a key component of the course.
Show steps
  • Download practice audio stems.
  • Use Studio One's Pro EQ to correct and enhance the audio.
  • Compare your results to professionally mixed tracks.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
The Art of Mixing: A Visual Guide to Recording, Engineering, and Production
Reviewing 'The Art of Mixing' will provide a visual understanding of mixing concepts, enhancing your ability to apply them in Studio One.
View The Art of Mixing on Amazon
Show steps
  • Study the diagrams and illustrations in the book.
  • Relate the visual concepts to the audio signals in Studio One.
  • Experiment with panning, EQ, and effects to create a sense of space.
Explore Advanced Studio One Mixing Tutorials
Following advanced tutorials will expose you to more complex mixing techniques and workflows within Studio One, expanding on the course material.
Show steps
  • Search for tutorials on specific mixing techniques in Studio One.
  • Follow along with the tutorials, applying the techniques to your own mixes.
  • Take notes on new workflows and plugin settings.
Mixing Challenge: Recreate a Famous Mix
Recreating a famous mix will allow you to apply the mixing techniques learned in the course and analyze the choices made by professional engineers.
Show steps
  • Select a well-known song with readily available stems.
  • Analyze the original mix for EQ, compression, and effects choices.
  • Recreate the mix using Studio One and its plugins.
  • Compare your mix to the original and identify areas for improvement.
Mix a Song for a Band or Artist
Mixing a real song for a band or artist provides practical experience and allows you to apply all the mixing techniques learned in the course in a real-world scenario.
Show steps
  • Find a band or artist in need of mixing services.
  • Discuss their vision for the song and gather the necessary audio files.
  • Mix the song using Studio One, incorporating the techniques learned in the course.
  • Get feedback from the band or artist and revise the mix accordingly.

Career center

Learners who complete Audio Engineering: Mixing with Studio One will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Audio Engineer
The role of an audio engineer involves recording, mixing, and mastering audio. This course provides a practical introduction to mixing using Studio One, a popular Digital Audio Workstation. While the course focuses on Studio One, it emphasizes that the mixing techniques taught are broadly applicable across different DAWs. The time spent learning about compression and equalization may be useful as these are essential skills for audio engineers. The course's structured approach to mixing drums, music, and vocals, along with the inclusion of effects and automation, builds a foundation for a career as an audio engineer.
Mixer
A mixer is responsible for the process of blending individual tracks in a recording to create a cohesive and balanced final product. This course offers valuable insights into mixing using Studio One. It may be useful to a mixer because it covers setting up the song, gain staging, mixing drums, music, and vocals, and adding effects and automation. The course provides practical experience that is directly applicable to the role of a mixer. Learning how to use compression and equalization may be useful as these are essential tools for a mixer to achieve the desired sonic characteristics.
Music Producer
A music producer oversees the entire music creation process, from songwriting to final mastering. This course may be useful to a music producer as the ability to mix effectively is important for shaping the sound of a song. Understanding how to use compression, equalization, and effects can help a Music Producer to realize their artistic vision. This course's practical approach to mixing drums, music, and vocals builds the skills to create a polished final product.
Mastering Engineer
A mastering engineer polishes the final mixed tracks to ensure they sound their best across various playback systems. This course may be useful to a mastering engineer as the course provides a strong understanding of how to mix a song from the ground up, which is valuable context that a mastering engineer can rely on. Such a background may be helpful when making critical decisions about the overall sonic aesthetic. The course's emphasis on using compression and equalization, combined with techniques for adding effects and automation can help elevate one's grasp of the fundamentals of music production.
Sound Designer
Sound designers create and manipulate audio for various media, including film, video games, and theater. While this course focuses primarily on mixing, its comprehensive coverage of audio processing techniques may be useful to a sound designer. The focus on EQ, compression, reverb, and delay may be useful as these tools are essential for shaping and manipulating sounds. Specifically, learning how to apply effects and automation within Studio One is helpful as these skills translate to other digital audio workstations.
Recording Engineer
A recording engineer is responsible for capturing high-quality audio during recording sessions. While the course centers on mixing, it may be useful to a recording engineer as it teaches about gain staging and organization of music projects. You may find that gain staging ensures that all elements of the song are recorded and mixed with optimal signal-to-noise ratio for the highest quality. The practical approach will help the recording engineer to establish an organized workflow leading to a good mix. This may be helpful for capturing high-quality audio at the source.
Audio Editor
An audio editor manipulates and refines audio recordings, often cleaning up imperfections and enhancing clarity. This course may be useful to an audio editor because it covers essential techniques like equalization and compression. These skills are directly applicable to cleaning up audio tracks and ensuring a balanced and professional sound. The focus on mixing drums, music, and vocals may be useful to an audio editor, providing a holistic perspective on how individual tracks contribute to the final product. This may improve the editor's ability to isolate and address specific issues within a recording.
Podcast Editor
A podcast editor refines raw audio recordings into polished, engaging podcast episodes. This course may be useful to a podcast editor as it covers core audio mixing techniques. The emphasis on equalization and compression directly applies to enhancing vocal clarity and ensuring consistent audio levels. The lessons on adding effects and automation may be useful to a podcast editor. This assists in creating transitions, sound design elements, and other enhancements that elevate the listening experience.
Educator
An educator works as an instructor in academic institutions. This course may be useful to an educator who wants to teach mixing with Studio One. The course covers how to set up the song, gain staging, mixing drums, music, and vocals, and adding effects and automation. The course may be useful to those who plan on teaching the fundamentals of mixing with Studio One.
Studio Assistant
Studio assistants provide support to engineers and producers in a recording studio environment. This course may be useful to a studio assistant because it provides an understanding of how to mix a song. The course's coverage of essential mixing techniques such as compression, equalization, and automation can help a studio assistant to understand the signal flow as well as the function of various equipment. This can make them a valuable asset during recording and mixing sessions.
Game Audio Designer
A game audio designer creates and integrates sound effects, music, and dialogue for video games, contributing to the immersive experience of the game. While mixing is not the sole focus, understanding the mixing techniques may be useful to a game audio designer. Techniques learned may be helpful for ensuring that all the audio elements, from sound effects to music, work harmoniously together. The knowledge of compression, EQ, and automation may be useful for shaping the sonic landscape.
Multimedia Specialist
A multimedia specialist works with various media formats, including audio and video, to create engaging content. This course may be useful to a multimedia specialist, since skill in audio mixing helps balance and refine audio tracks within multimedia projects. A multimedia specialist can use it to apply effects and automation, enhancing the overall impact. Students of this course will be well-equipped to deliver high-quality multimedia experiences.
Content Creator
Content creators produce material for various platforms, like YouTube. This course may be useful to content creators because good audio can improve the quality of the content, and the course teaches how to mix audio properly. Specifically, the course's focus on compression and equalization can help ensure vocals and other audio elements are clear and well-balanced. The course also may give content creators the ability to polish their audio tracks, leading to a more professional final product.
DJ
A DJ mixes music live for an audience. While the primary focus of this course is not live performance, the principles of mixing and EQ may be useful to a DJ. The course addresses techniques for creating a balanced and cohesive sound. A DJ may find the sections on compression and equalization particularly useful for adjusting the sonic characteristics of tracks in real time. This can lead to a smoother and more professional DJ set.
Studio Manager
A studio manager oversees the daily operations of a recording studio. This includes scheduling sessions, managing equipment, and coordinating with clients. While not directly involved in the creative process, a studio manager who takes this course can develop a deeper understanding of the processes of setting up a song, gain staging, mixing drums, music, and vocals, and adding effects and automation. This background may be useful when communicating with engineers and producers, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring the studio runs smoothly.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Audio Engineering: Mixing with Studio One.
Uses visual representations to explain complex mixing concepts, making it accessible to beginners. It covers topics like EQ, compression, reverb, and delay, providing a solid foundation for understanding the tools used in the course. The visual approach can be particularly helpful for students who learn best through diagrams and illustrations.
Focuses on the recording process, which crucial precursor to mixing. Understanding how to capture high-quality recordings is essential for creating great mixes. It complements the course by providing a foundation in recording techniques, ensuring that students have good source material to work with.

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