Sound for Video Session: Mixing Music with Andrew Masters

In this week's session, we're honored to have Andrew Masters join us for a conversation on mixing music. Andrew is a producer, engineer, and drummer with some great experience as an engineer at the legendary EastWest Studios in Hollywood. We cover a bit about Rupert Neve's audio equipment, recording various instruments, and how to approach and solve various recording problems.

You can learn more from Andrew:

YouTube​ Website​

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses​ including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. We also just added a course on sound for live-streaming with the ATEM Mini.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Earthworks SR314 - B&H, Sweetwater

- Canon C70 Camera - B&H

- ATEM Mini Pro ISO - B&H, Amazon

- Allen & Heath SQ5 Digital Mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel, pre-amp, EQ, compressor - Sweetwater, B&H​

Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2021, Curtis Judd

Learning to Record Acoustic Instruments - RODE TF-5 and Harp with Riley Johnson

In this week’s Sound for Video Session, I put my very first efforts at recording acoustic harp on display to illustrate that the best learning happens when you do a bit of research, then go try to do it yourself.

Hear more of Riley Johnson’s music over at Bandcamp.

Please consider my sound, post processing, and recording classes.

Gear used to record this episode:

RODE TF-5 Cardioid Condenser Microphone - Used to record the reverb dialogue sample

Amazon

B&H

Shure SM7B Dynamic Broadcast Microphone - My voiceover

Amazon

B&H

Sound Devices 633 Audio Recorder

B&H

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are affiliate links which means that if you click on them and buy, I get a small commission. You don't pay more by clicking these links than if you just went to the retailer’s web site on your own. I use the proceeds to buy additional gear to review and help you improve your sound, lighting, and video. Thanks for your support!

Sound for Video Session: MixPre or MixPre M for Music? Music Plugin

A question I’ve received many times is, “If I record sound for video and studio style multitrack music projects, should I get the MixPre M instead of the MixPre?” In this session, we answer that question and also demonstrate the music plugin for the MixPre 10T, 6, & 3.

Special thanks to Cary Judd for making up a song, on the spot, with no preparation. I hope he wins a Grammy. Thanks also to Sound Devices for providing the music Plugin for my MixPre-10T. I bought the MixPre, they gave me the plugin for this video. No other payment provided and they did not review this before I posted it. They’re those kind of cool people.

Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode: 

If you’re recording sound for film and multitrack music projects:
Sound Devices MixPre-10T
Sound Devices MixPre-6
Sound Devices MixPre-3

MixPre Music Plugin

For Musicians Only:
Sound Devices MixPre-10M
Sound Devices MixPre-6M
Sound Devices MixPre-3M

Electrovoice RE20 Broadcast Microphone

Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd

Music Copyright 2018 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.

Sound for Video Session: Mixing a Commercial - Foley, Effects, Music

In this week's Sound for Video Session we have a quick look at a commercial mix I’m working on at the moment. We run through each sound effect/foley, and music track, the effects applied and talk briefly about fader automation.

Links to gear we discussed or used to record this session:

Presonus Faderport Motorized Fader and Control Surface:

Focal CMS 65 Near Field Monitors - Same as the 40s but with 6.5 inch woofers and bass response that reaches a little lower on the spectrum. These are on closeout so a good time to buy if you’re in the market.

Focal Shape 65 Near Field Monitors - These are the newer versions of the CMS. Will be included in our upcoming comparison

Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Broadcast Microphone (this is the mic I used for this session)

Antelope Audio Orion Studio Audio Interface (This is what I used to record my sound for this session)

Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd

Demo: Mixing Sound for a Short Film in Adobe Audition

In this week’s sound for video session I demonstrate how I mixed a recent short film from my friend Levi Whitney with Uphill Cinema - http://uphillcinema.com

I recorded the production sound. Levi directed and DP’d.

In this demo, I quickly demonstrate the overall idea of mixing dialogue, music, and effects for a short film. For serious projects I would definitely spend more time on the details but wanted to give you a quick example to show the basics. I hope you find it useful!

Gear Used:

Audio Technica AT4053b Hyper-Cardioid Microphone (the dialogue and effects in the film were recorded with this)

Sound Devices 633 Field Mixer/Recorder (the film sound was recorded with the 633)

Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Microphone (Voiceover for this demo was recorded with this)

Antelope Orion Studio Audio Interface (Voiceover for this demo was recorded with this)

Sound for Video Session: Reduce Reverb, Lavalier Clothing Noise, Record Live Acoustic Bands

In this week's episode, we cover questions on these topics and more:

- How to reduce reverb in rooms with lots of hard surfaces
- Are there any special techniques for reducing clothing noise when hiding a lavalier mic under clothes
- Thoughts on recording live acoustic music groups

Here are links to a few videos we mentioned:

Using sound blankets to reduce reverb

Audio Recorders

Microphones