The Mixing Engineer's Handbook

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Source Of Reference
Review: This book does not tell you specific mechanics of how to do a mix: after all, that's the signature of the engineer. Rather, it explains the mechanics of the tools you'll be using to do your mixes. In addition, it's filled with interviews with a variety of top-notch engineers in a variety of different musical genres. You'll find that the insight that they provide will become invaluable when applied to those genres in which they specialize. Lots of tips and tricks reside in these pages as well as a variety of methods whether they are considered to be generally acceptable techniques or not. Covers a wide scope and provides a good knowledge base for the beginner/intermediate without bias to particular techniques.

Rating:
Summary: Ain't a handbook.
Review: This book has 2 parts.

One for mixing basics and things treated with half deepness in the matter. No math, which lacks in an engineer's handbook, since this increase the deepness. No precise algorithms at all, even lots of general ideas. Has good glosary, and decay time charts, wich are usefull. 2 half, comments of people at business about specific questions, some with the vaguest answers you can spect. The total book is a review of all the autor knows and don't want to tell. All the time say what you should do, but not how, and ending everything with "...anyway, there's not rules about it, you can check othere ways...", so, or is sometimes vague, or is extremely encouraging 'till the point it's all up to you. Big problem: doesn't say what you should do, even it seems it does, naming lots of hits and the people beind them. This book Is Very informative, but Never is a handbook about mixing. If you want something more detailed, with more substance and less chit-chat, go for "...a visual guide of mixing..." also by Owsinsky, most of all in the " Stereo Imaging" which is a sacred grial of all the sound research. The book is also pretty honest, and say things other don't, so, it's a must, but never your only and first resource. If I'd loose it, I'll buy it again.

Rating:
Summary: Getting Golden Ears
Review: This book is really about the things that top mix engineers say they pay attention to most in mixing. It gives the reader insight into the ideas that have moulded their thinking, and listening skills. Equipment lists are supplied, but there is not a lot of discussion about how to set up the gear in detail. This is a good thing, because a book can not deliver the kind of understanding that listening to recordings can give. You can easily get the CDs that are discussed to hear what each mix engineer is talking about. There is more than enough information to duplicate some of the best mixes ever made if you want to.

If you are constantly searching the net, or magazines for mix trix, and you want the best collection of these tricks available, stuff people hang out in studios for months, or years to acquire, then this book is for you.

Rating:
Summary: Improved mixing skill
Review: This book takes you through the six (6) steps on how to succeed with a great mix. * Balance - the volume level relationship between musical elements * Frequency Range - having all frequencies properly represented * Panaorama - placing a musical element in the sound field * Dimension - adding ambience to a musical elememt * Interest - making the mix special

Within each step the author also has put in comments from famous producers like Bruce Swedien, David Sussman, George Massenburg, Joe Chiccarelli and more covering the actual topic. A good thing because you get the feeling that the methods in the book also has a practical use and that they work. And they do! Each step has it's own chapter and is filled with tips and tricks both from the author and the producers.

A chapter explaining the basics of mixing in surround is included in the book too. Though the author is not going into any depths it's good to get started on the topic. Some links to websites about surround mixing are there so maybe there will be more in future releases of this book.

At the end of the book there is a chapter with exclusive interviews with 20! top producers. The interview questions are connected to the 6 steps you learned earlier in the book so it is a very good finish. The questions can be like "Where do you build your mix from?", Do you use a lot of compression?", What's is your approach to panning?", "Do you have any listening tricks?" and lots of others.

Well, what can I say. I have improved my mixing skill a lot by reading this book. It is so great because you know other people are doing successful hitmusic using the methods described in this book. You don't get anything for free without practice but you know you are on the right track! I don't give it five stars, just 4 because I feel that a CD-rom with audio examples connected to the book would be awesome here! Maybe in the future? I seriously recommend this book!

Johan Salomonsson, Sweden Email: [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: After going back through the book, changed to 5 stars!
Review: Upon deeper inspection of the contents of this book, I had to change my review. I am finding this book absolutely phenomenal.
I thought at first that there were too many interviews (nearly half the book) and not enough real tips and guidelines. I was wrong. The first half of the book gives some good starting points and tips (EQ settings, Compression ratios/settings, mixing in effects etc...) What I have found to be almost more valuable are the interviews. They are full of tips and "here's how I achieve this sound" type of comments.

This is only my second day I've really been digging in to this book and applying it to my work. I've already seen drastic improvements. I wish I had found this book when it first came out! This is cetainly not the end all solution to every recording question you may have, but I have found this book to be worth every cent I spent on it.

Rating:
Summary: After going back through the book, changed to 5 stars!
Review: Upon deeper inspection of the contents of this book, I had to change my review. I am finding this book absolutely phenomenal.
I thought at first that there were too many interviews (nearly half the book) and not enough real tips and guidelines. I was wrong. The first half of the book gives some good starting points and tips (EQ settings, Compression ratios/settings, mixing in effects etc...) What I have found to be almost more valuable are the interviews. They are full of tips and "here's how I achieve this sound" type of comments.

This is only my second day I've really been digging in to this book and applying it to my work. I've already seen drastic improvements. I wish I had found this book when it first came out! This is cetainly not the end all solution to every recording question you may have, but I have found this book to be worth every cent I spent on it.