Music Production Specialization: From Composition to Mixing

Stages of music production

Before we begin, it's important to understand the different stages involved in creating a song, so we can delve deeper into the mixing process and confidently tackle our project.

The role of the mixer

Now that we know the different stages of music production, let's delve a little deeper into mixing and specifically the role of the mixer.

sound references

As you know, there are as many musical styles as there are colors in a painting, so it's important to know some techniques that will help us get into the sound we'll be working on. Let's get to it!

Module 4

In this module, we get down to business. I'll take you through the entire production process of one of Joaquín Sabina's most iconic songs so you can get an inside look at how it was made and learn lessons you can apply to your productions.

4 lessons (1h 2m)

Pre-production and demo phase

In this lesson, I'm going to show you how the pre-production of the song 19 Days and 500 Nights by Joaquín Sabina went. We'll use this example to talk about how to work on different elements of the song, such as structure, melody, and lyrics.

Producing in the studio: recording the instrumental base

Now let's see how we built the instrumental foundation of the song. Guitars, bass, percussion... We'll dissect the song to enjoy and learn from the different arrangements.

Producing in the studio: artist recording

Recording vocals for a song is one of the most delicate and exciting moments of the production process. In this lesson, I'll tell you how we approached it so Joaquín could add his voice to the song.

Once we've recorded all the elements of the song, the mix comes into play—the configuration and arrangement of all the instruments within the song. Let's see how we did it on Joaquín's song.

Mix of the song

In this section, I'll show you how the musical arrangement for Luger's "Los culpables" was created. I'll explain how I did it, taking into account the reference we had from Dua Lipa.

Module 5

It's time to start producing a song! In this module, you'll learn Martin Kano's best tips for producing a pop song, from pre-production to editing, mixing, and mastering. You'll learn in detail how to edit and correct various errors before moving on to mixing and mastering.

9 lessons (1h 54m)

The musical arrangement

Adding real instruments to production

Organic ingredients are fundamental to my productions. In this lesson, I'll tell you what real-life instruments I used in the production of The Guilty .

Voice recording

Now, I'm going to tell you how I set up my recording session and give you tips on how to coach the artist so they feel confident when recording.

The edition

I've already recorded everything, so now I'll show you how I edit and compile the vocals and instruments I recorded. I'll also show you how I tune the vocals and what software I usually use.

The mix: template, organization and first instruments 1

Let's start by mixing the song. In this lesson, I'll show you my mixing template, explain how to organize the session, and begin processing the drums and bass.

The mix: template, organization and first instruments 2

I continue processing the song's instruments. Now the synthesizers take center stage.

The Mix: Effects and Export 1

In this lesson, we'll continue exploring aspects of mixing, such as equalization, processors, and more. Want to know how I worked on the vocals? Let's check it out!

The Mix: Effects and Export 2

Once the mix is finished, it's time to export the song so it can be mastered. I'll explain everything.

Mastering

Finally, I'll talk about mastering. I'll explain the basic processes to keep in mind when creating it and sending the master to your client.

You will learn to use basic audio tools to complete your final project within a digital environment in the production program.

Module 6

First, you'll learn some of the audio tools you'll need to complete this module. You'll learn how to apply music concepts in a more educational and practical way. You'll learn the tools within the DAW directly and begin to explore all of this knowledge in a new musical composition. In addition, you'll dive directly into music post-production. You'll develop the theoretical foundations for achieving a balanced production. You'll see how musical composition takes shape and begins to make sense aurally. Finally, I'll explain how to export your work with a more professional quality, respecting basic technical and musical standards.

16 lessons (3h 38m)

Audio Tools

Sound criterion

I'm going to show you the importance of sound judgment when starting a new song. You'll see how making decisions early can be very beneficial for your music.

Composition of rhythm 1

You'll choose the tempo and the first rhythmic patterns of your composition to lay the foundation for creating your song.

You'll build the rhythm in MIDI step by step, and I'll also explain how to modify and work with the Drum Rack tools to achieve a more positive result.

Rhythm composition 2

Now you will learn how to compose a chord progression to provide the harmonic foundation for your final practice.

Composition of harmony 1

I'll explain how to modify the elements of the Instrument Rack to achieve a sound that suits your taste.

Composition of harmony 2

I'll show you how to compose a melodic progression to express melodic ideas in your song.

Composition of melody 1

Composition of melody 2

During this second part of the lesson, you'll choose the instrument you like best, knowing that you can later modify it to your liking. You'll unleash your creativity!

In this lesson, you'll shape the song from scratch, creating a basic musical structure that will allow you to begin creating from a complete composition.

Assembling the structure

How to apply the sound criterion? 1

You'll learn to work as a producer by drastically transforming the composition, giving your idea a professional feel.

How to apply the sound criterion? 2

You'll build the musical bridge using musical arrangements such as inverting bass notes. You'll also modify the primary melodic line to fit with the rest of your song's parts.

How to apply the sound criterion? 3

You'll put the finishing touches on the song and listen to the result. You'll make new decisions based on the results of the final listening session after producing the song.

You'll learn the basics of editing your composition to polish technical details that are essential for a good sound result.

Edition

Now you'll learn how to mix the composition you've created in a simple and basic way. This way, you'll bring your creation to life sonically.

Mix 1

During this second part of the lesson, you'll learn how to properly use gain staging to prepare your mix for a successful export.

Mix 2

To conclude this module, I'm going to show you how to do express mastering so you can export correctly and seamlessly.

Mastering

In this lesson, I'll teach you how to create a work session, safely import tracks, and get everything ready to start mixing the song.

Module 7

During this module, I'll teach you how to mix a song. I'll walk you through each step, show you some important tools, and explain some techniques that will help you achieve the sound you're looking for. You'll also learn how to check the final volume of your song. I'll also give you some tips for exporting and teach you a little about digital audio formats.

13 lessons (2h 32m)

Create a work session

Now we'll start mixing the song from the simplest point, from the macro, listening to all the channels at once, shaping it so that they fit together.

Mix in macro

10m

First mix: Mixbus, EQ, compression and saturation 1

Having already worked on the song macro, we'll move on to something more specific, where we'll perform some of the main processes involved in audio processing and learn about some plugins that will allow us to digitally perform each of these processes.

First mix: Mixbus, EQ, compression and saturation 2

I continue equalizing different elements so that it sits as well as possible in the mix.

First mix: Mixbus, EQ, compression and saturation 3

Now, let's work on the compression and saturation of some instruments that are part of the song.

Second mix: multiple processes

Once the song's macro is finished, we move on to the more specific details, working track by track according to the needs of each case. To do this, we'll use some of the main audio processing processes and some plugins that will digitally perform each of these processes.

In this lesson, we'll learn about some of the main and most commonly used effects when mixing. Do you know what reverb and delay do? Let's get started!

Use effects

It's time to dive a little deeper into the overall sound of the song, using different tools and processes.

Deepen the mix

Sidechain and parallel processes

Now I'm going to reveal some secrets that no one tells you so you can take the sound of the song to the next level.

Automation and final touches 1

In this lesson, we'll learn about automation and how to use it, as well as make final touches to prepare the song for the next stage.

Automation and final touches 2

We'll continue working on the final details that will help us achieve the sound we're looking for for the song.

Review of the final volume of the mix

You'll see in detail how to check the final volume of the song and I'll show you how to adjust it to prepare it for final export.

Export the final mix

Finally, let's export the final work. We'll perform different types of exports, which I'll explain below.

Module 8

In this module, I'll explain how to finish mixing your song and different listening methods to evaluate it and ensure it's as good as possible. I'll also talk about mastering, the final stage a song goes through before it's considered finished.

3 lessons (18m)

When does the production process end?

Many people say that "albums aren't finished, they're abandoned." In this lesson, we'll look at how and when to put an end to the musical project we're working on.

Listening and analysis methods

Now we're going to explore different listening methods to properly evaluate the final mix of a song.

Mastering and tracking

Finally, I'm going to explain what mastering is, the final step in the process and the finishing touch that must be given to the songs.

Module 9

In this final module, you'll learn how to mix songs and unleash the full potential of their instruments and vocals using Pro Tools. You'll see how all the elements work together to build the song's sound, and by the end, you'll be able to transport the listener to any place and emotion you desire.

35 lessons (8h 57m)

Who's who in the mix of a song

In this lesson, you'll learn about the module project and understand how the mixer is involved in a project. We'll review its functions and the communication it requires with the artist and producer.

Approaching Pro Tools 1

Before you start preparing for mixing, I'm going to show you the basic tools of Pro Tools and how to navigate within the software.

We continue reviewing the main Pro Tools tools so that we can use them later in the project.

Approaching Pro Tools 2

It's time to prepare the song's mix. In this lesson, I'll show you all the audio editing processes I follow to prepare my tracks for mixing.

Preparing the mix 1

We continue preparing the mix. Now it's time to color the clues.

Preparing the mix 2

Placing instruments in time 1

In this lesson, we'll learn different techniques for placing instruments in time if they were played off-tap and the arrangement and production require more precision.

Placing instruments in time 2

We continued adjusting the recorded drum elements to the time of the song.

Placing instruments in time 3

We finished placing the drums before starting to adjust the following instruments.

Placing instruments in time 4

With the drums perfectly adjusted, now it's time to put the bass on.

Placing instruments in time 5

We continue making some adjustments to be able to finish the placement of the bass.

Placing instruments in time 6

After setting up the drums and bass, we move on to the next steps. I'm going to adjust the tom, fix a small glitch in the drum kit, and check the placement of the guitars.

Placing instruments in time 7

We finalize the various processes we have carried out to place the instruments in time.

Next, I'll explain how to use the Melodyne plugin to tune vocals. I'll also give you more plugin options that you can use to do the same.

Tunings 1

During this second part of the lesson, we will continue to fine-tune the voice of the band's vocalist.

Tunings 2

We continue editing and fine-tuning vocals with Melodyne. I'll also give you other tips that will give you resources for other moments in the song.

Tunings 3

We finished tuning the vocals for the song we are mixing.

Tunings 4

Layering: Adding Samples to Drums 1

After laying out the instruments and tuning the vocals, I'll explain a process that's currently widely used with drum sounds in rock songs. We'll select kick, snare, and tom samples to add to our real drum kit and achieve a more powerful sound.

Layering: Adding Samples to the Drum Kit 2

We continue editing the samples we added to enhance the drum sound.

Layering: Adding Samples to the Drum Kit 3

We finished adding samples to the song's drums.

In this lesson, you'll see the template I've been developing for many years. It's a complex template that mimics all the processes I used to do in an analog environment, with a table and outboard.

Mixing template 1

I continue showing you the different elements and characteristics of the template that I usually use to mix.

Mixing template 2

To conclude this lesson, you will see how to finish the review of my mixing template.

Mixing template 3

Now I'm going to show you step by step the process of mixing the drums within my "template" in Pro Tools.

Mixing the drums 1

We continue with the process of mixing the song's drums.

Mixing the drums 2

Little by little, we're getting the drum sound we want. Let's keep going!

Mixing the drums 3

We're finishing the drum mix. Remember, we'll continue to tweak things as we mix other instruments.

Mixing the drums 4

Mixing bass, guitars, keyboards and other instruments 1

After mixing the drums, we continue the same process, but now applying it to the bass, guitars, keyboards, and other instruments. Let's start with the bass. Let's get to it!

Mixing bass, guitars, keyboards and other instruments 2

Now comes the time to mix the guitars of the song.

Mixing bass, guitars, keyboards and other instruments 3

We continue mixing the song's instruments, adjusting the mix of synthesizers and percussion.

We already have all the instruments mixed, now it's time to mix the vocals for the song.

Mixing the voices 1

16m

Mixing the voices 2

We continue with the process of mixing the vocals. This time it's the choir's turn.

We've reached the end of the mixing process. In this lesson, I'll show you which plugins I apply to the output buses, and you'll see the final mix of the song.

Final mix

In this lesson, we'll cover the song submission formats and procedures, how to handle any tweaks requested by the artist or producer, and how to deliver the final version of the project.

Delivery of the mix

We conclude this unit by listening to the song's rough version and comparing it with the final version. I'll also tell you about the recording and production process in my Reno studio.

Demo and mixed song 1