Apple Logic Pro /LogicExpress Discussion

Hey

Man Parrish here. I've mixed and produced over 80 released records in my 25+ year career. A few even hit the top of the charts. I ONLY mix and Dj on headphones ( currently Sony MDR series). Any one that tells you that you need to spend major money on monitors, doesn't know what they are saying, flat out wrong.   

Mixing is an artform, like composing. Do you need an orchestra to write a symphony? Not at all. You can look at it this way for simplicity. If composing is a relationship of notes, then mixing is a relationship of levels, frequencies and stereo imaging. If you know your mixing craft, you can mix on a huge system or tiny speakers. We used to do that back in the 80's. I've mixed many a commercial release record on AuraTone speakers (5 inch populat speaker cubes). I can tell you honestly, I had better mixes on the small speakers that the huge ones. 

Yeah it's great to blast away on a big rig. I LOVE it, but mixing on the small set forced me to be more aware of what's going on. Here's a great tip I learned from a famous engineer.... Turn you mix way down in volume, I mean way down. Now listen to you track. Are the levels and relationships where you want them? You may be suprised. Tweak it and turn it back up. 8 out of 10 times it's better. Why? Psychologically as humans, we hear differently at different frequencies and differently volumes. 

For instance evolution has made us more sensitive to frequencies in the human speech range. You know, that annoying harsh mid-range that can drive you nuts. Ever heard of shreaking bass? No.. 

Bigger louder systems can fatigue your ears quickly. We used to take breaks every hour or two to "refresh" our ears while mixing in the studio.

So, basically what I'm saying is that it is WAY more importiant to learn your craft then rely on fancy stuff to fix it for you. I own fancy stuff, but that's after years of learning my craft and making some great choices.  Look at it this way.. If it sounds like sh*t in the first place, a bigger system will only put lipstick on that pig. You're the one who has to fix it, not the speakers. 

How do you know what works? Do a few test mixes. Listen on your iPod, in your car, on your home computer import it into iTunes, etc.. You'll get an idea of what's going on. Also give it a rest! I do a few test mixes and give it 24 hours till I listen again. My ears and brain are refreshed. You'd be shocked what you missed. That's an absolute rule on anything serious I mix.

Mixing is all about POINT OF REFERENCE and once you learn the limits of your system, headphones or huge concert rig, then you're good to go.  I too get hung up in the "gear thing" so you're not alone...

This has been a long post, but hopefully it can help.

Thanks!

Man Parrish

www.ManParrish.com



--- In Logic_Cafe@yahoogroups.com, Andy Brook <bbgrove@...> wrote:
>
> Sorry, this isn't a strictly Logic query, but I am looking for  
> monitors to use with logic, which I am running on my imac:
> 
>   Model Name:	iMac
>    Model Identifier:	iMac9,1
>    Processor Name:	Intel Core 2 Duo
>    Processor Speed:	2.93 GHz
>    Number Of Processors:	1
>    Total Number Of Cores:	2
>    L2 Cache:	6 MB
>    Memory:	4 GB
>    Bus Speed:	1.07 GHz
>    Boot ROM Version:	IM91.008D.B00
>    SMC Version (system):	1.37f3
> 
> I was told by an audio engineer that you need to spend £400 a speaker  
> or its money down the drain, which rather made me gulp (I guess that's  
> about $400) so I did some research and got totally and utterly  
> confused. In the end the speakers that I guessed might be best are these
> 
> http://store.solutions-inc.co.uk/product/krk-rp8-g2-monitors-pair
> 
> The KRK RP8 from Rokit
> 
> I would anticipate having them about three feet away from me, in a  
> room that is about 12' x 20'. I don't have a studio to work in, and  
> the room has wooden floors and lots of windows. That, I know, is far  
> from ideal but there's not much I can do about it.
> 
> Given that, does anyone have any advice as to what speakers I should  
> get. I don't even know if the ones above are right for using with an  
> imac, so any help would as always be much appreciated
> 
> thanks in advance
> 
> Andy
>