I answered as I always do: 80 percent of the job is getting the levels right - not only the individual elements, but the whole mix.
Yes, EQ, effects and compression can help make things better, but when it comes down to the meat and potatoes, getting the levels right is the majority of the craft.
Achieving this takes a process of good production judgment.
But that judgment can only be properly made when you have the solid foundation of a personal quantification system.
As humans, we’re wired for communication. The one absolute that we all have is knowing exactly how loud we have to speak for someone else to hear us clearly.
Learning how to use that instinctive knowledge for judging the loudness of a system, and understanding where various types of events belong in that reference, can be a powerful tool.
Now, I’m not going to talk badly about those in our business who set an objective loudness standard and use SPL meters to stick to it.
Mainly, because I have absolutely no objection to this line of thinking.
But speaking from experience, if you’re doing this, make sure it’s loudness you’re trying to keep a handle on - and not earlash.
The worst thing you can do to treat earlash is to deprive the audience of the appropriate listening experience.
Solve the earlash issue and you’ll probably find that the need for an objective loudness standard isn’t so rigorously necessary. Good? Again, yes, but not so absolute.
Since his start 29 years ago on a Shure Vocalmaster system, James Cadwallader remains in love with live sound. Based in the western U.S., he’s held a wide range of professional audio positions, performing mixing, recording, and technician duties.
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More articles on PSW by James Cadwallader:
Techniques, Experiences & Philosophies With Live Multitrack Recording
Accidental Electrician: Eliminating Dreaded Sound System Hum & Buzz
Coffee Beans & Microphone Techniques: The Desired Result Determines The Method
Feedback: A Big Necessity In Developing Quality Live Mixing Skills
How And Why Unity Mixing Can Make All The Difference In The World
Yes, Virginia, System Gain Structure Matters - Here’s Why
No Slave to Gear: Maximizing What You Get Out Of What You Have
An in-depth yet easy-to-understand discussion of wireless systems, how they operate, issues that can plague performance, and solutions that do the trick in the vast majority of situations.
