Project 2: Multitrack Recording & Mixing

This project was to plan, record, and mix the chosen track. We, as a group, decided to choose 24K by Bruno Mars, which was a track that we thought best represent and demonstrated our skills in a studio environment. I was successfully able to plan and execute the final project. Through this process, I was able to successfully collaborate with different team members in my group in order to produce the final outcome. Due to multiple issues that we as a group faced throughout the recording day, I personally found this project quite challenging in comparison to project one. I was personally in charge of connecting all the different mics to the room stage box, along with mixing, recording, and mastering the project. We, as a whole group, decided to delegate roles that would best suit each of the members' strengths. I personaly think that the recording and the mixing process went really well, apart from the routing and patching issues we faced with the desk in the studio session. At first, the desk routing system was not working, which meant that, at first, we were unable to individualize each individual microphone that was recorded. To overcome this, we decided to move our microphone channels across to an empty channel where they were not facing routing issues.

This project not only taught me about the various features of the Audient mixer, but it also taught me about the various ways in which I can successfully apply the Lexicon effect unit to a mix. While bouncing down my mix and project, I also faced issues with the library directory, as it was not allowing me to bounce down the final mixed recording. In order to overcome that, I searched online for alternative options and also tried to find videos of other people who had faced the same issue as I did in order to conclude a solution. I was finally able to find a solution to the issue by changing the directory location. I was then able to successfully bounce down on my mix.

This project allowed me and my group members to learn a lot of different things. An example is the way in which the audio desk works, the different input routing settings for the DAW software, and finally, the best way in which we can mic up and record different parts of a drum kit. At times, I personally face a lack of commitment from the other team members in my group. Therefore, as a resolution for future projects, I will be requesting to work alone. Instead of developing this project, I would like to collaborate with a film student and record a multi-user podcast that fits the spec brief.

Out of the whole experience of Project Two and all the skills that we have learnt and developed, I personally think that I have strongly enhanced the following skills:

Time Management: I was personally able to successfully brainstorm, plan, produce, and mix the final product within the given time frame despite all the issues I faced throughout the process.

Communication and Collaboration Skills: In terms of communication and collaboration skills, I personally think I was able to find different methods that were efficient to communicate with different group members in my team and also collaborate successfully in order to produce a final outcome.

Problem Solving and Critical Thinking: One of the transferable skills that I personally feel that I have demonstrated within this project is problem-solving and critical thinking. Throughout the recording and mixing process, I was required to come up with different solutions to resolve problems that raised throughout. Furthermore, in terms of critical thinking, I also feel that I have successfully demonstrated this skill in the planning phase of this project and through considering a plan B at all times as a backup.