My MILAR DVD came in and I spent the weekend watching it - about 2 times -then jumping to sections that interested me the most.
To preface this review, let me say that I have had experience recording and mixing in a major studio on a SSL - not as an engineer but as an artist. I know what a big studio can bring to the table when run by pros and how that experience can humble you. You think you kind of know how to mix then you come to find out you don't know anything. I don't pretend to be an engineer. My skills are namely in song writing and performance, not engineering or mixing, hence the interest in Charles Dye's DVD. I run ProTools LE through a Mbox at home. I have been an amateur mixer for about 5 years. Needless to say, I was tired of going nowhere with my sound, finding that I could do nothing to increase the quality of my recordings, and it never sounded close to a record at all. I am not naive to think a DVD is the answer - just always wanting to know more about things that I am passionate about. Enough of that bullshit - onto the review.
First off - the DVD is worth the money. Not because it gives you some magic formula to mix by. It just helps you understand the mix in a DAW environment. From saturation/distortion to automation based on dynamics and emotion of a mix - Dye really demistifies the mixing process.
Now, Dye's method does rely heavily on plugins - but learning what those plugins do - how to set them up - that is invaluable. I new the basics, but Dye really shows you how to maximize them and get the best results. I don't have but third of the ones he uses - but you get the idea and its not about a particular plugin but using something similar to arrive at those results.
And I need to add that Dye uses one song throughout the mix. So keep in mind this is one example of a mix - not YOUR song. You need to think how some of the methods can apply to your style or song. He is giving basic guidelines. I found that it more confirmed what I thought in some areas, EQ'ing in particular. Same for automation - how to really make a mix progressivly move along and deliver an emotion and resolve.
Between the setup of effects, the processing of instruments and voice, and the automation - Dye brings the mix together to a pro standard. I believe that some of these methods will immediately help the average mixer. For those who know more - it may seem remedial. For the rest of us, well we need the help!
Plus, I think Dye's opinions on mixing, the approach, the lack of rules - as in, find your own style and embrace it, that was great. There is NO such way to mix something perfectly. You can emulate a style and use proven tips to get a pro sound - but its not the only thing that goes into a song. He encourages you to do things against the grain, break rules, use old rules to new ends. He is also more about emotional impact than sheer technical obsession. I have heard this from other engineers - so it was good to see that its held as a good practice by Dye himself.
Ok - some have flamed the production style. Yes, it was a little cheesy at times. Over processing the video, trying to be edgy and shit, whatever. But the locations were cool, used to good effect. It kept you interested. They need to ditch the shitty backgound music during Dye's discourse on techniques. It got annoying. But other than that, it's a indie produced instructional DVD appealing to the "rock" audience. I guess that was a style they were after. What's important is what's on the DVD - a cool sit in session with a pro engineer.
So, if you got the money, I think its a good investment. I started using some of the techniques on a dead mix and found it shaping up great.
To preface this review, let me say that I have had experience recording and mixing in a major studio on a SSL - not as an engineer but as an artist. I know what a big studio can bring to the table when run by pros and how that experience can humble you. You think you kind of know how to mix then you come to find out you don't know anything. I don't pretend to be an engineer. My skills are namely in song writing and performance, not engineering or mixing, hence the interest in Charles Dye's DVD. I run ProTools LE through a Mbox at home. I have been an amateur mixer for about 5 years. Needless to say, I was tired of going nowhere with my sound, finding that I could do nothing to increase the quality of my recordings, and it never sounded close to a record at all. I am not naive to think a DVD is the answer - just always wanting to know more about things that I am passionate about. Enough of that bullshit - onto the review.
First off - the DVD is worth the money. Not because it gives you some magic formula to mix by. It just helps you understand the mix in a DAW environment. From saturation/distortion to automation based on dynamics and emotion of a mix - Dye really demistifies the mixing process.
Now, Dye's method does rely heavily on plugins - but learning what those plugins do - how to set them up - that is invaluable. I new the basics, but Dye really shows you how to maximize them and get the best results. I don't have but third of the ones he uses - but you get the idea and its not about a particular plugin but using something similar to arrive at those results.
And I need to add that Dye uses one song throughout the mix. So keep in mind this is one example of a mix - not YOUR song. You need to think how some of the methods can apply to your style or song. He is giving basic guidelines. I found that it more confirmed what I thought in some areas, EQ'ing in particular. Same for automation - how to really make a mix progressivly move along and deliver an emotion and resolve.
Between the setup of effects, the processing of instruments and voice, and the automation - Dye brings the mix together to a pro standard. I believe that some of these methods will immediately help the average mixer. For those who know more - it may seem remedial. For the rest of us, well we need the help!
Plus, I think Dye's opinions on mixing, the approach, the lack of rules - as in, find your own style and embrace it, that was great. There is NO such way to mix something perfectly. You can emulate a style and use proven tips to get a pro sound - but its not the only thing that goes into a song. He encourages you to do things against the grain, break rules, use old rules to new ends. He is also more about emotional impact than sheer technical obsession. I have heard this from other engineers - so it was good to see that its held as a good practice by Dye himself.
Ok - some have flamed the production style. Yes, it was a little cheesy at times. Over processing the video, trying to be edgy and shit, whatever. But the locations were cool, used to good effect. It kept you interested. They need to ditch the shitty backgound music during Dye's discourse on techniques. It got annoying. But other than that, it's a indie produced instructional DVD appealing to the "rock" audience. I guess that was a style they were after. What's important is what's on the DVD - a cool sit in session with a pro engineer.
So, if you got the money, I think its a good investment. I started using some of the techniques on a dead mix and found it shaping up great.
