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Art of Mixing Course

Overview

Detailed and comprehensive, the Art of Mixing Course is designed to equip you with the skills of an advanced mix engineer and features real multi-tracks (for demonstration purposes) from The Rogue Element, Jony Rockstar, New Yorkers Jupiter One and Paris's own Axel and the Farmers. Art of Mixing is taught on Logic, spans 8 weeks and is part of the Complete Guide to Mixing programme. This course is jam-packed full of classic and innovative mix techniques. You will gain access to a new world of creative possibilities along with the knowledge to create your own techniques and apply these to any genre of music. This course contains an unprecedented selection of practical video tutorials including some very special exclusives with top industry professionals sharing their own mixing tips, tricks and techniques. Balancing, panning, aural perception, EQ, compression, limiting, gates, and effects are covered in detail. You will also learn to listen to music from a critical perspective and understand the science behind the sound. As with all Point Blank Online music production courses, you upload your assignment each week for DVR™- expert video feedback from professional sound engineers who have worked with La Roux, Primal Scream, Sugababes, Freemasons. Lily Allen, Brand New Heavies, Stevie Wonder, Dave Stewart, Sade, Tina Turner and Jamelia. In his early career, tutor Phil Bodger also worked with legends like Thin Lizzy, The Jam and The Sex Pistols, Trevor Horn on Frankie Goes To Hollywood, the Housemartins and The Proclaimers. Nuff said! If you want to learn how professionals mix records, enrol now.

Includes a minimum of 480 mins video / 8 x DVR™ (1-2-1 video feedback)/ 8 hours live masterclasses /1 year access / over 160 pages of course notes / 24/7 access to forum / exclusive audio resources to download. Optional: sign your track to Point Blank Music distributed by iTunes, beatport, Juno Download and Amazon.

Course Preview

Course Contents

Week 1: Critical Listening

What is a Mix? Learning to listen
Environment: monitoring, acoustic treatment
Mix Technology: analogue and 'inside the box'
DAW Mixer: mix environment, signal routing
Automation: offline vs online, automation modes

Week 2: Image and Balance

Metering: optimising headroom at master bus
Level Balancing: balancing your tracks
Panning: creating stereo images with panning
Balance/Pan in Practice: different sound sources
Enhancing Stereo Image with width and pan

Week 3: Dynamics

Dynamic Range: compression and its uses
How Compressors work: parameters explained
Compression in Practice:practical tutorials
Limiters: using Limiters within a mix
Noise Gates: parameters, practical tutorials

Week 4: Equalisation

The physics behind sound and music
EQ in Practice: assessing your audio
How EQ works and why we use it
Different EQ types and designs explained
Sound of EQ: analogue v digital

Week 5: Reverberation and Spatial Delays

Natural Space: ambience, reflections and reverb
The Technology and Anatomy of Reverb
Editing parameters, 3D mixes, blending, EQing
Editing delays, Tempo Sync and Note Values
Depth: using Delays to create depth in your mix

Week 6: Creative Mixing

Using FX for sonic textures and fluid transitions
Tape Delays, Ping Pong, Dub-Style and Filtered
Modulation FX: Chorus, Phasers and Flangers
Distortion FX: Overdrive and Amp Simulation
FX Automation: for creative/technical purposes

Week 7: Mixing Vocals

Assessing how to present the vocal in your mix
Cleaning up Pops, Clicks, Breaths and Stomps
EQ, Compression, tricks & advanced processing
Vocal Rides: using Automation to perfect vocals
How to treat Backing Vocals in the mix

Week 8: The Mix Process

Mix Process: using all tools and techniques
Creating “Mix Dynamic” with Volume Automation
Mix Bus Compression, choosing the right one
Mix Bus EQ: Linear Phase EQ vs 'Character'
Bouncing your mix for Mastering

Featured Student

Alfonso Pisanelli

Just going through week 2 and it's fantastic & frigging eye opening ... learnt more here in 2 weeks than i did in 12 weeks at another online music school ....

Course Reviews

Matthew Wells

Course rating: 9/10

This is third PB course and my favourite so far. 8 weeks ago when Ian turned that attack knob I heard no difference what so ever. But after his patience and insight in the DVR's I feel I can now identify the different elements of a mix and know how to use the tools to make the sound that I want. The approach is perfect in that you learn the core principles of sound and mixing - that you can then go away and apply to any genre. I wish I'd taken this course earlier instead of trying to learn from only text books and forums - I'd wasted a lot of time. Thanks Ian I'm really looking forward to using my new skills! Although in a way you have ruined my life unless mixing suddenly starts involving more women and more sunshine...

Sjoerd van Setten

Course rating: 10/10

That is very simple. It was amazing, awesome, great, etc. This is by far the best course here on Point Blank i followed. And ofcourse all the credits to Ian and the rest of Point Blank to make a course like this happen. Can't wait for part two:) Stuart

Gavin Hackman

Course rating: 10/10

brilliant course where I have learnt all the skills ive been trying too online for ages, best course ive done at PB yet

chad imes

Course rating: 10/10

good vibes -great course material -for the most part really great assignment material (the songs we were given to mix were really great songs which makes a big difference) -the instructor was always kind, humble and inviting as well as knowledgable instilling an air of openness and confidence in the group. I don't like the "pick one" format for questions 10 and 2 -it hurts my brain to try and make any one of those answers kind of work.

Toby Stafford

Course rating: 10/10

I thought the course was brilliant, i've learnt so much in a short space of time that would have taken years to learn on my own so in that sense its been amazing, alot of the very basic stuff i'd already read about but not fully understood and having a tutor to take you through it visually and answer any questions has been a massive help for me. Its been 100% worth the money and Ian's been awesome and super helpful with every query i've had. Its been an absolute pleasure learning from him. I know with mixing its all about the practice practice pratice but even after 8 weeks i feel like my mixing has improved massivley. Its also helped my production as I know more about how to get sounds and instruments to do what i want them to. I also know more about what you can do production wise to make the mix stage easier and come together alot better. thanks for all the knowledge!

Dominic Quaye

Course rating: 10/10

First of all i will take this opportunity to thank Ian Sherwin my wonderful tutor and all at Point Blank .The Art Of Mixing course is a well designed course which took me not only through an adventurous journey but a very good learning experience .My only regret is that i waited for so long before taking the course .I should have done that several years ago, but with the masterful guidance of Ian Sherwin i am back on track and here (PB) to stay for a very long time .

Course details