Chapter fifteen: Time Based Effects - Posted on 2017-04-07 by Sonya Glaessner

During observation we were in the Mezz with both Chailean and Jeet. We were working on a track that Mark had recorded featuring legendary drummer Shawn Pelton. Mark was allowing us to mix the track, which was an incredible opportunity. The song would fall into the folk rock category, with a Mumford and Sons mixed with Bob Dylan vibe. We decided the overall sound needed to be much brighter. Each of the students took turns working with EQs and Compressors on the various different tracks within the mix. It was interesting to really experience how all of these little changes and tweaks could result in such a huge change. The song went from sort of muddy and heavy to light an bright. It was almost as if the song flowed more easily after we applied these effects. I am constantly shocked by how much of a difference these effects make during a mix. When you solo a track and work on it individually, you can go back and forth, or by pass the track to see the difference between the original sound and the sound after an effect has been placed on the track. The difference is always so slight. Yes, it is still noticeable, but I never think it is going to result in the total shift of the songs's overall sound. This was a fantastic learning experience because it allowed me to not only work within ProTools and grain more experience, but it also highlighted the simple creative measures one can take when editing their mix.