How many band members should be present at mixing?

[FlogRock]

 

Originally posted by lefchr +1 Thats what I was thinking... Just have someone you know and trust do the mixing. The musicians should be present during setting the eq of their instrument, so it sounds the way they like though.

 

I'm not sure about that... I have heard recordings where the mix was skewed because apparently the guitarist was present at mixing, and insisted on having the Ultra-Big Guitar Sound. Surprisingly, this doesn't often work in a full mix. The same is true for other instruments. This is exactly why you shouldn't have musicians that focus on the sound of their own instrument present at mixing.

 

The instrument sounds should be close to what the musicians want, but that's why you should use reference CDs and an engineer that's familiar with your style.

[Blackwatch]

My last CD project I did mostly by myself but had a profesional friend do the mastering. This time I'll have him in on the last of the mixing too. It helps to have another set of ears sometimes as long as it isn't disruptive to the process........

[Narcosynthesis]

If you have any of the musicians present, naturally they will be wanting to hear themselves better in the mix, so will eq and boost themselves to stand out a bit more than they should be in a neutral mix, and having everyone there just means more people getting in the way

 

I would say its best to get someone neutral to do it, preferably someone who really knows what he is doing

give them a good idea of the sound you are looking for and rough mix (ie example tracks on albums you like or whatever) and leave them to it. When it is done, get all the band to listen to it and check it is ok and suggest minor improvements and so on, then give the engineer another shot (repeat until fixed)

 

David