[Dixielandjazz] Re: Expain what mixing does

[James Kashishian]

Russ says.....
I've never quite understood the concept of "mixing".
If I set up the band with one mic, there can be no mixing. Right?

Kash:  that´s correct, or even two mikes to get a stereo sound.  That is so
either in recording or live.

Russ:  If  I set up the band with one mic per instruments, the music can be
mixed,
right?

Kash:  Obviously.  The color (eq) and levels can be controlled by the mixer.
Even effects, such as reverb, can be added to some mics, and more or less of
it on different mics.  In a recording situation, even the placement of the
different mics and their effects returns can be "placed" in different areas
of the audio field (between the speakers).

Russ:  Does mixing change the sound of the musical product?  Instead of
sounding
like my band, it can sound like something else?

Kash:  it won't sound like another band, but it can change your overall
sound and balance.

Russ:  By mixing the engineer can reduce the sound of certain instruments
and
increase the sound of others?  Thus the art of the band is lost?

Kash:  see above.

Russ:  Is the purpose of the mixing to create a part electronic product and
part
artist?

Kash:  No, it should be, in the case of our type of music, the reproduction
of the artist, only a bit louder.

Jim Kash