MIXING WITH TCHAD BLAKE

And so it was that I decided to spend a whole week at Studio La Fabrique in Provence to test my knowledge of the art of mixing together with a mixing engineer recognized all over the world as one of the best in his field, Tchad Blake. The primary reason that pushed me to do this experience was mainly my desire for comparison, because I believe that the only way to learn something new is to question oneself, which I realize today that I have done maybe even too excessively during my career as a musician-producer. sound engineer. But anyhow, in the end it is precisely for this reason that I have learned all that I know today. Yet during this week I've learned more precious information and had numerous confirmations regarding my work flow methodology that I had already developed in the long years I spent in London. I will not dwell here talking about the technical subjects of mixing, but I will only make a simple consideration: after having spent the first three days watching with Tchad working on different tracks, one of which I produced, I had almost total confirmation of the fact that to mix music three basic ingredients are needed: technical knowledge, a good ear and taste. Mixing is an art form in its own right that is slowly starting to have official recognition because successful mixing engineers don't just "mix" tracks but often, yet not necessarily, contribute to changing the arrangement of the song. For this reason only enlightened producers and artists can accept the work of a mixing engineer without preconceptions. It is not everyone's cup of tea but the industry is moving in this direction and there will be no way to change it, at least for now, given the importance of modern technology. The time of mixes made from 24-track tape and analogue consoles with limited automation and outboard has been gone for at least twenty years, like it or not. Personally I am among those who believe that having fewer choices is a positive fact that pushes towards creativity rather than limiting it, but this attitude is what characterizes ME as a mixing engineer and perhaps also my strong point. Certainly the technology offers an infinite possibility of choices and that's where the problems arise because if you have no taste, intuition and technical knowledge you can literally lose yourself in a mix the same way you can get lost in a maze without finding the exit.Spending long days in the studio with Thad Blake is giving me inspiration and at the same time a breath of fresh air, confirming what I have developed over the last fifteen years.

Until next time, so long, maybe from here at Studio La Fabrique