Mixing Night with Ken Lewis – 04/14/2021

Live Q&A with Ken Lewis

Join Ken Lewis, who has credits on 103 Gold & Platinum records and 28+ years experience in the major label music industry. In his free live broadcasts, he answers a wide range of questions on music production, mixing, career development, demonstrates some cool techniques, shares insights and offers practical advice.

This episode covers:

0:00​ – Intro
6:16​ – What is Sprint Mixing?

9:05​ – Sprint Mix: “Down On Me” by Jeremih ft. 50 Cent

19:56​ – Tactics for Sprint Mixing
20:54​ – Have you been asked to fix vocals in Melodyne note by note?

22:49​ – Has drugs or alcohol ever compromised the recording process?
23:38​ – Remix Breakdown: Jamie Heatlie’s Beat Challenge Entry
37:21​ – Are panning reverbs the best tools to create space, like in “Down On Me” or Jamie’s track?
38:59​ – Introducing Harlor’s “Heart Games,” and streaming playlist algorithm tips

41:01​ – Memories of DMX, featuring the FBI, CIA, and BTS
46:39​ – How important is the overall level of stems? And, do you prefer stems for each mic used or consolidated and combined?
48:13​ – What’s the longest time you’ve spent working on a song?
49:56​ – When finishing a mix, which values of integrated loudness and/or true peak do you target before mastering?
51:27​ – Do you discuss business before creating with someone, like splits payments royalties etceteras, or are contracts stifling to the creative process?

52:53​ – “Does analog gear sound different over time?
55:23​ – Marcus Manderson, Mixing Night Man of Mystery – Cymatics Diablo Plugin
59:13​ – Have you mixed any Bollywood songs?

59:55​ – Slight Reprise of “Heart Games” by Harlor
1:01:18​ – Ear Training – Rapid Fire Frequencies
1:15:50​ – Mixing Night DISCORD Beat Challenge Results
1:30:39​ – Breakdown: Mix Buss Mastering of a few Beat Challenge Entries
1:38:36​ – What things do you have to consider when you start companies like your production company, KATALYST, or the show, Mixing Night?

1:39:22​ – What is the most valuable skill that you possess in mixing, the one skill that you knew you were going to be successful now that you had it?
1:40:12​ – How do you avoid phasing issues when eq-ing?
1:40:43​ – Can you talk more about your time working with DMX? Also, is the bass in the background a vintage Fender Tele?

1:41:41​ – Do I need music theory?

1:43:08​ – How do you add depth to your mixes? Obviously with tools like reverb, eq, etc, but how do you use them to create a sense depth?

1:44:57​ – Production Breakdown: Bryan Peppin’s Beat Challenge Submission
1:48:08​ – Do you find yourself recording live instruments for pop or hip hop in recent time?
1:52:24​ – Sprint Mix: “Scared Circles” by Lahzarus
2:03:16​ – Outro
_____________________________________________________________

Resources:

Join the Mixing Night Discord Channel:
https://discord.gg/tTQUEKX​

Ear Training Worksheet:
https://bit.ly/3tlnOAO​

Register for the next Mixing Night and get your questions in early:
https://kenlewislive.audioschoolonlin…​

Ken’s Main Site:
https://kenlewis.com/​

Audio School Online:
https://audioschoolonline.com/tutorials/​

Ken Lewis Mixing Website:
https://iproducemusic.com/