Mixing for multiple mediums is difficult. What once was a straight forward process (project A is for theatrical release, project B is for TV, etc) has evolved over the years to become much more complicated. Every film, though it may start out in theaters, will undoubtedly also be consumed on an iPhone.
I for one think we need to stop panning materials like it’s all going to a giant screen. I try to live life by the “everything in moderation” mantra and I think it serves us well to approach mixing for multiple mediums in this way.
As sound editors, it's crucial that we approach our edits with the mixer's needs in mind. In previous posts we’ve covered how to deliver clean, organized edits to help streamline the mixing stage. But what about processing to remove additional steps for our mixer? In this post, I’ll share simple but effective techniques to tidy up your sound editorial without causing a headache for the mixer down the line.
As some of you may know, I’m a long-time sound designer and supervising sound editor, but I just started mixing a few years ago. While attending mixes as a supervisor definitely gave me a window into best practices for sound design success (aka how to make sure your work actually gets played…audibly), I got a whole new vantage point for what to do (and not do) once I started having to dig through sound design sessions myself! So, while I am a fledgeling mixer and you should always speak directly to the mixer working on your project before making decisions or altering your workflow, I feel that I am qualified to share my personal preferences and experiences. Take this as the starting point for a conversation—a window into one mixer’s mind, and hopefully it will spark great communication with your own mixer.
