Space, Place, and Bass: Providing Modern Metal Music with an Appropriate Balance between Heaviness and Clarity

Recording & Production

Presenters:
Steven Fenton, University of Huddersfield - Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK
Mark Mynett, University of Huddersfield - Huddersfield, UK

Distinct challenges are posed when providing the various sounds/performances of a modern metal mix with appropriate space, place, and bass. This is especially the case when down-tuning is combined with fast performance subdivisions and ensemble rhythmic synchronization. 
This workshop covers intermediate-to-advanced “space, place and bass” mix principles that afford this production style an appropriate balance between heaviness and clarity, including: frequency bracketed kick and bass approaches; anti-masking mix theory (with a focus on different “designs”); dynamic EQ and multi-band compression use; series and parallel dynamics approaches; and time-based processing principles. 
Mark Mynett, who lectures in Music Technology and Production at Huddersfield University, is a record producer and author of Metal Music Manual, the world’s first book on producing/engineering/mixing and mastering contemporary heavy music.