Trailer
12 min

Part 1

Starting patches for drums, bass, & vocals, compressor comparison, low end EQ, phase
11 min

Part 2

Drums & bass – parallel & direct compression, EQ, chain orders, summing to mono
18 min

Part 3

Vocal & guitar – EQ, compression, re-amping, vari-speed, echo, impedance, transformers
10 min

Part 4

Horns – group blend & compression, analog vs. digital summing
15 min

Part 5

Clavinet & BV – spring reverb, tube compression, clip gain in Pro Tools
14 min

Part 6

BV effects, horns reverb & EQ, lead vocal compression, fader snapshot, automation pass
10 min

Part 7

Vocal EQ automation, feelings about the project, reasons for no mix buss processing

Mixing

Rugged

Keziah Jones

Russell Elevado

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Song : Rugged

Duration:15 min / 1h33 Subtitles: English, Spanish

Description

Step inside Red Bull studios NYC to witness analog purist Russell Elevado mix a song from scratch! Using a SSL 9000 J-series console and an arsenal of fine outboard equipment, the fabled engineer crafts an all-analog mix of 'Rugged' by the artist Keziah Jones. Starting from the beginning of the mix process, Elevado explains his initial patching, comments on his choices for particular gear, and demonstrates his approach to getting an initial balance. He then elaborates on his methods and dials in on EQ, parallel and direct compression, re-amping, effects, and more. While mixing, he sheds light on a variety of areas including the benefits of analog summing, creative tape effects, impedance, and transformers. Upon finishing the mix with final EQ and level automation, he enlightens us to why he avoids the common practice of master buss processing.

Show more

Trailer
12 min

Part 1

Starting patches for drums, bass, & vocals, compressor comparison, low end EQ, phase
11 min

Part 2

Drums & bass – parallel & direct compression, EQ, chain orders, summing to mono
18 min

Part 3

Vocal & guitar – EQ, compression, re-amping, vari-speed, echo, impedance, transformers
10 min

Part 4

Horns – group blend & compression, analog vs. digital summing
15 min

Part 5

Clavinet & BV – spring reverb, tube compression, clip gain in Pro Tools
14 min

Part 6

BV effects, horns reverb & EQ, lead vocal compression, fader snapshot, automation pass
10 min

Part 7

Vocal EQ automation, feelings about the project, reasons for no mix buss processing

Comments

(5)

Michael August 5, 2024 at 6:38 PM

Really great. Thanks a lot!
User Deleted May 19, 2024 at 9:34 PM

ele no brasil mixou uma música com lisciel franco e ficou nessa mesma textura. Incrível
Max Carola September 1, 2022 at 6:58 PM

I've been working on SSL 4000 and 9000J for almost 15 years and the feel of the large format desk is really a great way to archieve a mix fast and strong. Still, I now work ITB and I traded that with the easy reacall of a mix so I can offer to my clients quick and easy revisions when asked. It took a while for me to find again my sound but I made it and I don't really miss that much. I still love it when it happens but is not a must for me. I find way more useful to invest in a great front end preamp and compressor to get ITB in a meaningful way.
Tamas October 27, 2020 at 12:14 PM

Exactly. I haven't had a chance to work on large format consoles, but I know from a smaller mid-format console, that the desired sound had to be achieved in a noisy analog environment in the past. (And people are paying a lot for that now. :) ) So any nuances can make a huge difference on the noise floor at the end. Subtlety really goes a long way indeed.
Caesar James April 1, 2018 at 12:45 PM

Really well done, subtle touches brought the pieces into a family of music. Subtlety can go a long way.

About Russell Elevado

Russell Elevado, is a recording engineer and record producer based in New York City. Elevado's achievement for recording and mixing contemporary R&B recording artist D'Angelo's critically acclaimed Voodoo album, earned him a Grammy award in 2000. Voodoo is now considered a classic album in the contemporary R&B genre and paved the way for the neo-soul movement. Elevado's "old school" engineering techniques and preference for using mostly vintage equipment gave the album a sound reminiscent of a...

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