Wade Nichols Dolby Certified Atmos Mixing. Audio Recording, Mixing, Mastering, & Education
Audio Recording
Recording. I use best practices when recording audio for my clients—setting incoming levels at 0Vu or -18dB in ProTools. This insures that the A/D converter passes audio between digital and analog gear in its sweet spot. This way, when faders are set to 0, you can start a mix. Gain staging is essential to achieving a solid mix and master from setting proper recording levels. This stage is critical to the success of the mix and master.
Audio Mixing
Mixing. After gain staging the recording and setting proper levels, a mix can begin. I Use an analog summing box, or bus audio in the DAW, to a return track with plugins is used to achieve the overall sound of the song. When working in the CPU, I use plugin versions of my analog gear to maintain consistency between my rooms and or at another studio. It is in the mix stage that we remove audio masking and get the right blend of instruments.
Audio Mastering
Mastering. The final stage of the song. I bus the mix return track to another AUX track with three utility plugins. Izotope’s Ozone 9 EQ, Tonal Balance, and Process Audio’s Decibel. Together they provide the perfect tools to ensure the song is genre-specific and LUFS perfect for delivery. Each social media LUFS standard is achieved. I provide you with a master for every platform with its LUFS standard met. This way the platform does not alter your music.
Audio Education
Education is critical to me as I am an elementary school teacher. I teach 5th grade. I also teach about audio. I educate my clients on the recording process and how important using the methods described above is. When this understanding is achieved, the recording, mixing, and mastering process is so much easier. I have also created the Cleveland Recording Summit. It is a paid recording masterclass designed to help educate artists or other audio engineers on the recording, mixing, and mastering process. It is how I learned, and I look to pay it forward to help others as I was fortunate enough to be helped along the way.
Video & Audio Examples
Wade Nichols Audio: Video tutorial of how to record vocals.
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