CMC7
- Surround Monitor Controller
11
Mix Checking Tips
Due to the versatility of the CMC7 some very useful techniques for checking your
mix can easily be achieved, that can help improve the balance within a mix, pinpoint
stereo width, phase and mono problems, and also aid when monogising.
The following are a few handy tips to help eradicate problems and bring about a
balance within the mix:
Not too loud...
Give your ears a break. Do not have the volume too loud - frequent monitoring at
anything above 90dB will only make your ears tired, meaning that you won’t really
hear the problems that may be occurring, and give you a false sense that the mix
sounds nice and loud. Also, constant listening at anything above 100dB will probably
have a long term detrimental effect on your hearing.
Shhhh...
Get into a habit of listening to your mix at very low levels quite often. Remember that
not everyone listening to your song has music blasting out. As well as giving your
ears a break, it will heighten problems in the mix - Do the key elements have a
good balance, or are some instruments more prominent than they should be? If
something is too quiet or loud adjust its volume or use E.Q. to fix it. If the mix
sounds good at low levels it’s likely that it will when loud.
Note that on the CMC7 it is better to lower the volume level using the DIM switch
and then turn the volume up, rather than only turning the volume down, as you
maintain greater control over the volume as well as better left/right channel
matching.
Increase the Volume of Quiet Passages.
Because the CMC7 circuitry is active it allows for the signal level to be increased,
rather than only attenuated, making subtle problems within the mix, such as noise
at low levels, or unwanted harmonics, more obvious and easier to iron out, especially
during passages that would normally be quiet.
Here, There and Everywhere......
Listen to your mix on as many systems as possible. Try it on the high end studio
system that you use for recording but also on a consumer quality systems too. In
such conditions you may find that an instrument drops out of the mix, or another is
too prominent, and adjustment to the mix need to be made.
Not so Sweet
Your mix may sound perfect when sat in the centre of the mix, but bare in mind that
many people in the theatre or in front of their home entertainment system will not
be sat in the ‘sweet spot’. Move around the room - does the audio still have the
same impact, do you notice audio dropping out, or that’s too prominent. Make
adjustments to the mix as you see fit.
Take two
Test your mix in stereo every once in a while. It’s easy with the CMC7, just activate
the ‘Stereo Mix Active’ switch. Remember the majority of users still listen in stereo
so it’s important that your mix sounds good in these situations. Adjust the mix as
you see fit.
