Home Recording Wizard

Mixing in the Box

'Mixing in the box' means all of your effects and processing are done with software, in the computer (box). This is the most popular method for home recordists and there have been plenty of notable hits mixed “in the box” in recent times. The benefits to this method are huge, as you don't have to remember, or write down channel settings, effects chains and your automation is remembered in your projects.  All of this is done in the software and is recalled the moment you open up your project.   It also saves on studio space and your electric bill,  by not having to plug a dozen pieces of gear in to each other, and your wall outlets!  Also, software is typically cheaper than it's hardware counterpart.

     

There will always be arguments on what sounds better, “X” hardware compressor vs “X” software compressor.  Two things to remember about this argument are 1) Software has come a long way and there are some fantastic sounding software EQ's Compressors. Limiters etc and 2)  “Better” is an impossible word to put to musical tastes.  That's like saying “Grand Funk Railroad” was “better” than CCR, or Run DMC was “better” than Beastie Boys,  They are just “different”.

 

Mixing “in the box” seems to be a 'given' for most home recordists starting out today, but is often regarded with skepticism by the older folks in the industry who come from analog backgrounds.  Part of the reason for this is, many thousands of dollars may have been spent on analog equipment, some of which can be easily matched with software that cost a fraction of that.  And THAT concept is the basic premise for the home recording movement, and much of the demise of the large recording studio industry!  We all have access to multitrack recording and quality effects without having to be backed by record label money.  Don't get me wrong, I love large recording studios and ultra expensive hardware and consoles, it's the stuff we all have visions of in our dreams, but I also love the fact that we musicians are free to create and mix our music without the limitations of the past.

Mike Lizotte 

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