In the box mixing technique for web series on a budget

[eyrelight]

I'm a producer/sound designer that enjoys doing quick and dirty post production sound for web series and the like. After searching various forums and owning all of the recommended books, I'm finding it almost impossible to find a boiled down in the box technique on mixing for the web specifically inside Pro Tools. I have a pretty deep and general understanding of the entire process, but when it comes down to things like stem bussing, metering and dialog levels I see a lot of wildly varying info that requires outboard gear and really expensive plugins.

One thing I would love to find is a DVD tutorial that goes through the process of someone mixing a sitcom for television in their relatively small Pro Tools studio. It would surely demystify a lot of the wildly varying opinions on the topic. Techniques using popular plugin packages (Waves, Audio Ease, Izotope) are welcome.

[MIKEROPHONICS]

With the best will in the world your question seems to boil down to, "please tell me all you know about your techniques" - which is way to wide to be answered here.
There are many ways "to skin the post cat". Get an internship or watch someone else working whose sense of aesthetic you like to gain experience and take what you will from them - or ask more precise questions.

good luck

[Gary Nattrass]

I tend not to bother with directors or any other crew these days as I can pretty much do all their jobs myself, I can also shoot the content in full HD and edit it as well as dubbing it, so all I need now is for all those broadcasters who don't bother dubbing content to hire me as I can do all the jobs needed for TV production.

All they have to do is hire some secretaries to do the research and decide what trash TV project I am going to do next!

Doesn't seem to work that way round though does it?

[Pirate Post]

Originally Posted by eyrelight

I'm a producer/sound designer that enjoys doing quick and dirty post production sound for web series and the like.

Since your doing "quick and dirty" do it quickly and don't listen.

Originally Posted by eyrelight

After searching various forums and owning all of the recommended books, I'm finding it almost impossible to find a boiled down in the box technique on mixing for the web specifically inside Pro Tools.

That's because mixing is an art.

Originally Posted by eyrelight

I have a pretty deep and general understanding of the entire process, but when it comes down to things like stem bussing, metering and dialog levels I see a lot of wildly varying info that requires outboard gear and really expensive plugins.

Levels are based on your delivery requirements. Gear is expensive because professionals create the gear for professionals to use. If you decide that you want to do something beyond "quick and dirty" then you might need those expensive professional tools."

Originally Posted by eyrelight

One thing I would love to find is a DVD tutorial that goes through the process of someone mixing a sitcom for television in their relatively small Pro Tools studio. It would surely demystify a lot of the wildly varying opinions on the topic. Techniques using popular plugin packages (Waves, Audio Ease, Izotope) are welcome.

I would love to find a DVD tutorial on how to be a billionaire. Your question is just down right insulting (and I'm sure you didn't mean it) to those of us that have spent our lives chasing perfection of our craft. For $250 per hour, I can let you in on a few secrets I've learned in the last 36 years of mixing. Here's a free one, always go above and beyond on every project you work on and never, never never do down and dirty, you will never rise above that level if you do.

care to reframe your question? :)

[Henchman]

Hire a mixer

[Postman]

Wouldn't it be better to just say nothing?

[Pirate Post]

Originally Posted by Postman

Wouldn't it be better to just say nothing?

When a dog owner let's his dog crap on your lawn do you just stand there?

In this day I think it's better to stand your ground and do what this guy does.


http://www.drinkingwithbob.com

[TVPostSound]

For $250 per hour, I can let you in on a few secrets I've learned in the last 36 years of mixing

What? You lowered your rates??

[rhumphries]

Originally Posted by Postman

Wouldn't it be better to just say nothing?

I have met some very generous people in our profession and I think that DUCers and GSers in particular are very helpful. However, I think that audio people in general have a reputation of being confrontational and uncooperative. I think that when a "guest" pokes their head in to our domain we should either be cordial or quiet.

I empathize with the sentiments above, but we could have left him with the (true) impression that audio people are helpful, and care about making the product better; so that someday if he realizes that he's in over his head, he might actually consider hiring one of us rather than thinking that audio people are selfish and unhelpful and that he'd be better off without us.


-Richard

[Pirate Post]

Originally Posted by TVPostSound

What? You lowered your rates??

That rate is just for my psychobabble. Mixing rates are much higher.