FRONTOFHOUSE
THE SILENCE OF SOUND : HOW TO CREATE A CLEAN MIX
Worship music , in its current form , presents a complex mix environment . While the various iterations of the 80 ’ s and 90 ’ s Maranatha ! Praise Band provided a simple , straightforward musical palette ; today ’ s Hillsong , Tomlin , and Bethel music-scapes are highly textured and multifaceted . Delivering a detailed mix , then , has become more difficult as the space between each instrument and vocal has narrowed considerably . Just like traffic at rush hour , there are times when the song is overwhelmed by the score . So , to make it easier for the congregation to participate and engage , here are some mix tips .
RULE # 1 – VOCALS ALWAYS WIN In our attempt to include everything in the mix , the important can override the essential . In a worship mix , guitar is important , but the lead vocal is essential . Part of the issue can arise from our tendency to start rehearsal with the kick drum and work through the drum kit , on to the bass , guitars , keys , and BGVs and then , finally the worship leader vocal . Unfortunately , by the time we attempt to lay the WL in the mix , there is no room left . So , one option is to start rehearsal with the WL , then bring in the keys and later add the rhythm section . This top-down approach makes is easier to focus on the primary aspects of the song and bring ancillary pieces in as needed .
RULE # 2 – NOBODY CARES ABOUT EFFECTS Digital consoles are wonderful because they have multiple effect engines and dynamics controllers for every input and output . These features also contribute to control-overload . Try leaving all the processing out of the mix during rehearsal and wring a great mix out of the board with gain and tone . After all , that ’ s how great music was mixed for decades .
RULE # 3 – THERE ISN ’ T ROOM FOR EVERYONE ALL THE TIME Live music is dynamic ; it ebbs and flows . So , too , the instrumentation should roll in and out as appropriate tonalities are brought in and pushed back . The better the band , the more they understand this principle and apply it . For less advanced teams , the tech can assist by downplaying certain sections and then later highlighting them via fader control .
RULE # 4 – THE SUBS ARE NOT A WRECKING BALL Just because we can doesn ’ t mean we should . Subs add dramatic impact when used appropriately , but just as too much sauce can hide a great steak , the overuse of subwoofers is counterproductive . Subs can be reduced during intros , verses , and bridges and brought to bear in choruses and endings . Also , ( assuming dual 18s properly amp ’ d ) keep them tight by using an HPF at 34Hz and a L / R set at 90Hz . Aux fed subs eliminate issues with headset mics and guitars , but can quickly get the mix out of balance so check out some cool John Mills solutions at www . theavmill . com .
RULE # 5 – IT ’ S NOT ABOUT LOUD , IT ’ S ABOUT IRRITATING “ It ’ s too loud ” is a common refrain directed toward the sound booth by people with genuine concerns . Responding with “ You ’ re too old ” doesn ’ t help the situation . Instead , listen , with discretion , to what people are saying when they comment . If they focus on
harshness , brittleness , or piercing tones , they may have a point for you to consider . First , get a comprehensive hearing exam and note your discrepancies from what the doctor uncovers . If there is a loss at 4KHz , you may find you tend to boost that range . Get a proper ear cleaning every six months and protect your ears when working around machinery . Finally , walk the room during the mix and listen for deviations from the level at FOH . Each congregation has their own definition of “ loud ”, but a good rule of thumb for current music is at or below 95dB-A-slow SPL for average songs with peaks around 100 dB-A-slow SPL . Again , YMMV ( Your Mileage May Vary ), but it ’ s a start .
KENT MORRIS 35 year veteran of the worship technology arena with a passion for excellence balanced by the knowledge digital is a temporary state .
photo : Diana Rush
34 Jul � Aug 2016 WorshipMusician . com