02 min

Trailer
08 min

Part 1

Session setup, track count reduction, console, equipment overview, raw material, static balance, VCAs
10 min

Part 2

Rhythm section EQ, effects sends, guitars, horns, vocals, delay time, normalisation, distortion check
18 min

Part 3

Reverb units, application to vocals & drums, phase check, inserts, parallel EQ & compression, mix chain
24 min

Part 4

Automation pass, workflow preferences, punching in, muting, clip gain, fade out
12 min

Part 5

Fine tuning, mix print, listening through

Mixing

Welcome to the Black Parade

My Chemical Romance

Chris Lord-Alge

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Song : Welcome to the Black Parade

Duration:08 min / 1h17 Subtitles: English, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese, French

Description

Step inside Chris Lord-Alge’s impressive studio ‘Mix L.A.’ to observe the legendary mix engineer at work! In this five-part instalment, CLA remixes the multiple award-winning rock anthem ‘Welcome to the Black Parade’ by My Chemical Romance.
Despite his ability to achieve top-class results working ‘in the box’, Chris tackles this ambitious project in his favourite way – all analog! Making the most of his SSL 4000 console and enviable collection of gear, the Grammy winner demonstrates his workflow using only hardware processing.
Throughout the course of this series, you’ll get an up-close view of CLA’s movements at the console, outboard units, and Pro Tools, which is used primarily for playback and print. Chris reveals his choice of equipment and settings to enhance the raw signals of voice, drums, bass, guitars, horns, organ, piano, and more.
Enjoy a detailed look at how this true master takes the record from A to Z, conveying the efficient and impulsive approach he is so highly respected for!

Show more

02 min

Trailer
08 min

Part 1

Session setup, track count reduction, console, equipment overview, raw material, static balance, VCAs
10 min

Part 2

Rhythm section EQ, effects sends, guitars, horns, vocals, delay time, normalisation, distortion check
18 min

Part 3

Reverb units, application to vocals & drums, phase check, inserts, parallel EQ & compression, mix chain
24 min

Part 4

Automation pass, workflow preferences, punching in, muting, clip gain, fade out
12 min

Part 5

Fine tuning, mix print, listening through

Comments

(48)

jordan thoreson November 17, 2024 at 12:44 AM

some explanation as to what you're actually doing would have helped..
Ted Anthony September 7, 2024 at 4:08 PM

I agree. More MCR please! So useful!
I have no name July 3, 2024 at 10:50 PM

This album has an absolutely gorgeous guitar tone
Lewis White December 7, 2023 at 2:25 AM

Please MORE MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE MIXES!!! Really love the 2 records CLA mixed for them.
Martín Díaz September 6, 2023 at 1:04 PM

Anyone can tell me what is VCA 5 "T&t"? Thanks!!
Chuck Swicegood August 27, 2023 at 7:05 AM

Nice BLURRY camera work. Almost as if it's intentional...
Sherrie Lea May 27, 2023 at 8:50 AM

Wow picked a monster for my first vid
christian loudieu May 12, 2023 at 3:22 PM

The whole point is in the automation. A piece of art
Trevor Stringham May 9, 2023 at 5:24 AM

There are many other videos on MWTM where they tell you exactly what they're doing and don't do much. In this video he doesn't tell you much and mixes the whole song. The value in it for me is the ear training--not to know exactly which knob he turned and how much, but just what did it sound like before he turned it and then after. Over and over engineers will say "mix with your ears, not your eyes." Here Chris doesn't give you the option. You are mostly learning with your ears, and that is extremely valuable if you want to apply this to your own mixes.
SL IO April 8, 2023 at 5:10 AM

Chris is a menace
Juan Pablo Valdivia Ladd April 7, 2023 at 3:57 PM

It's great to see him work and even, sometimes the camera is not even needed two millimeters from his fingers, who really know Chris's work, we already know how he moves in that SSL and what frequencies he usually moves and what external equipment unit he sends each thing to, always or It is almost always like that with him and the result is a wonderful combination. These videos are just to put you in perspective and depending on what you saw, you can apply it to your own productions, having immediate and huge results. Every video of this genius is worth gold.
James Willis April 6, 2023 at 3:13 AM

if you don't understand the intrinsic value of watching CLA mix this iconic song in real time with no "eq subtitles" take it up with GOD
Sherrie Lea May 27, 2023 at 8:52 AM

Lol <3
Wolfgang Frank April 4, 2023 at 9:00 AM

I love the CLA stuff and watched many many great videos of him ("Phil X and the drills" is amazing) but this one is by far the most difficult to follow. He's not really explaining a lot and as he is moving real fast it is hard to follow and get out anything from this ... :(
Juan Pablo Valdivia Ladd April 7, 2023 at 4:05 PM

But it's not about copying what he does to the millimeter either, but if you liked the Phil X's video, I assure you that the process is almost the same. The console is always connected to the same hardware ;) and the same configuration

Wolfgang Frank April 7, 2023 at 8:28 PM

I understand, Juan. Actually, I was not talking about copying eq settings or similar - that would be stupid. I am more missing comments about his thought process. For example before he dials in eq or other processing ... what was he missing or looking for. The moves he does obviously follow an intend ... otherwise he wouldn't be a GOAT :) Wish he shared more of what "he" hears and wants to achieve ...

Kwon Falconer April 27, 2023 at 7:51 PM

Completely agree with you. There are too many cuts in the video and unexplained decisions for this to be educational.

shane leischner June 29, 2023 at 4:44 PM

Wolfgang, I can understand why you feel that way. I think this is a more advanced video, and that the "basic" moves are assumed to already be understood. I don't recall reading that in the description, but that's what it appears to be... where here he assumes you already understand that if he reaches for something, eq knob, it is because something is missing or he is hearing something he wants to change, more punch or what not. Maybe try and go back and look at everything he has shown and view this as a continuing lesson, where the things you are wondering about have already been covered in previous videos. From that perspective the specifics of what he is "fixing" aren't relevant, again as he assumes if you are watching this one, you already understand that he is creating the balance of all of the tracks to give him the foundation to do the "important" things, for this specific video, that he wants to show us...the automation. That is what he is really showing in this one. How he needed to create each scene to give a continuity and flow to make this particular type of mix work That is what it appears to be to me for whatever it's worth
Jordan Barnett April 2, 2023 at 11:17 PM

My favorite part is when Christ does EQ moves on the board and doesnt mention what frequencies are being used. You can only guess at this point. Killer stuff.
Gerardo Ordonez April 1, 2023 at 6:12 AM

Let's not forget the PHENOMENAL job Doug Mckean did recording this many other Rob Cavallo productions. RIP Doug.
christian loudieu May 7, 2023 at 4:56 PM

I agree with you, Doug Mckean did amazing job on this record, american idiot and sum41 album. RIP Doug

About Chris Lord-Alge

Chris Lord-Alge’s talent is exemplified by his AllMusic credit list containing an astonishing 1100 entries, with huge names such as Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Avril Lavigne, Cher, Muse, Celine Dion, Michael Bublé, Aerosmith, Madonna, Green Day, Meat Loaf, U2, Snow Patrol, Sheryl Crow, Savage Garden, Bon Jovi, Fleetwood Mac, Black Eyed Peas, The Rolling Stones, Smashing Pumpkins, James Brown, Eric Clapton, Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, My Chemical Romance and many more. He has won six Grammy...

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