Mixdown
10
Tutorial
Step 2. Setting up a rough mix
The rough mix is just a starting point for the final mix,
and does not need to be perfect. The purpose of creat-
ing a rough mix by adjusting only level and pan is to
have a reference point from which you can make
more detailed adjustments, and apply effects and
automation, so don’t spend too much time on this. Of
course if the fader or pan settings bother you in a way
that would affect your judgment during the remainder
of the mixing process, go ahead and make the neces-
sary adjustments. Mixing is a process of trial and error,
so you will keep making adjustments as many times
as necessary until you are satisfied.
• The preset rough mix
If you do not want to set up your own rough mix, or if
you would like to listen to the existing rough mix,
recall scene number 02 “STEP2 MIX.” Press the
[SCENE] key, and use the [DATA/JOG] dial to select
scene number 02 “STEP2 MIX.” Next, move the cur-
sor to “RECALL” and press the [ENTER] key. When the
confirmation message appears, select “OK” and press
the [ENTER] key. To return to the VIEW screen, press
the MIXER section [VIEW] key.
If you want to leave the VIEW screen displayed while
doing this, use the SCENE MEMORY section [
]/
[
] keys to select the scene that you want to recall.
(The scene number and title will be displayed in the
upper right of the screen.) Next press the [RECALL]
key, and when the confirmation message appears,
select “OK” and press the [ENTER] key.
You can make settings so that the entire song or a por-
tion of it continues looping while you set up the rough
mix. This will make it easier to adjust level and pan.
Use MARK A and B to specify the beginning and end
of the loop, and press the [REPEAT] key make the
playback repeat. (For details refer to the AW2816
“Owner’s Manual.”)
■
Start with the kick and snare
Use the channel [ON] keys to turn off all tracks except
for the kick and snare (tracks 1 and 2). Leave the STE-
REO channel on. The kick and snare are recorded on
tracks 1 and 2 respectively.
■
Adding the drum overhead tracks
Use the following procedure to pair the monitor chan-
nels.
1
Hold down the channel 3 [SEL] key and
press the channel 4 [SEL] key.
2
When the CHANNEL PAIRING window
appears, select “MONITOR 3
→
4” and
press the [ENTER] key.
This will pair the two channels so that operating
the fader of one channel will cause the other
fader to move in the same way. The MIXER VIEW
screen will display the pan and routing controls
for both channels.
Next we will pan the stereo drum tracks to left and
right to create a stereo image. Use the following pro-
cedure to adjust the pan settings of channels 3 and 4.
1
Use the [SEL] key to select the channel
whose pan you want to adjust. (Since the
channels are paired, selecting a channel
will cause the [SEL] key of the other chan-
nel to blink.)
2
While you watch the pan control in the
screen, use the [PAN] control in the upper
right of the screen to make adjustments.
■
Adding the hi-hat
Turn channel 5 “ON,” and listen. This will sound bet-
ter with the pan adjusted toward the right. If the hi-hat
is a bit obtrusive when the kick and snare track faders
and the overhead track faders are all at nominal level,
you can use fader 5 to lower the hi-hat level about
5 dB (the fader screen will indicate –5.0).
■
Adding the acoustic bass
Turn channel 6 “ON” and listen. There’s no need to
adjust the pan, since the bass is normally placed in
the center, but if the bass is too loud relative to the
drums when the drum track faders are at nominal
level, use fader 6 to lower the bass level about 5 dB
(the fader screen will indicate –5.0).
■
Adding the percussion
Turn channel 7 “ON” and listen. If the percussion
(handclaps) is too loud for the drum set and acoustic
bass, use fader 7 to lower the percussion level about
5 dB (the fader screen will indicate –5.0).
■
Adding the acoustic guitar
Turn channel 8 “ON”. If the guitar is too loud for the
other tracks, use fader 8 to lower the level about
10 dB.
■
Adding the piano
Turn channel 9 “ON”. If the piano is too loud for the
other tracks, use fader 9 to lower the level about 5 dB.
