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What does it take to create a good live mix? This is a question as endless as “What is God like?” It is a question that I ask myself every time I stand behind a mixing console, and I hope I never stop asking it. Audio (to me) has the personality of God Himself. Let me explain: You will never know all there is to know about audio or even get close. You will never have the same exact experience twice; it will always be a little different. When you become invisible, you truly become effective!
Each learning experience will be different from person to person; however, these are some of the things that I feel are necessary to achieve a great mix.
- The first and most important thing is to have the heart of a servant and the ears and mind of the driest sponge you have ever found. You must be a great listener and as pride-less as humanly possible!
- The second thing is to have a deep and almost idealistic love for music. This will help you make choices that are from God verses your mind or arrogance. You must feel what you are mixing, or the best thing you ever mix will still be sterile and lifeless. You can never think your way through a good mix; you must use your heart and have sensitivity to the Holy Spirit!
- The third is to have a strong knowledge of frequencies. This did not come easily for me; it is very much like pitch training for vocalist. When a vocalist is able to pick out harmony parts a whole new world is open to them, much like in audio. When you achieve a strong knowledge of frequencies you are more able to create a workable pocket in your mix for the various instruments and the different frequency responses they have. Assuming the musicians are not overplaying, all the instruments should be heard
- The fourth thing is to keep your book open, always! You will never know it all, and if you begin to think that, God will humble you, so you might as well be as humble as you can from the start.
Brian Ricke
Former Audio Ministry Director |
