Well, it's been an amazing few weeks in the recording studio. I've been pumping out beautiful content for the new Mowgli album. The other day I had a thought - is there a tool to give me better control over how I position my sounds in the stereo field? Each instrument should have a really defined space when you listen to it. Now, I've been mixing in stereo for over 15 years and I get a great result, but I wondered if there was a tool out there to give me an even better sonic image. ENTER BINAURAL MIXING!
Guys, this is incredible. I found the world's best tool for positioning sound. It's used in the movie and video game industries to create super realistic audio movement (think of a car driving by) and sound positioning. It uses a technique called binaural mixing that is really intended for headphones which fools the brain into creating a really clear image for a sound or instrument in the 3-D space around your head. Now most of my music gets listened to on headphones, so to me, this is the way to go. It also sounds great on speakers. I tested it out and guess what... a couple hundred dollars later, I bought it!
All my mixes on the album will use this technique. I can position a sound directly at your third eye. Or, at the top of your head. Or I can make it sound like it's just to the left of your ear. Or in front of you and far away! Total 3-dimensional control around your headspace. It's already transformed my mixes. By defining a specific location for a sound with great specificity, I'm able to make sure that instruments do not overlap or interfere with each other because they each have their own really well defined space. This creates an incredible finished product where you can hear every instrument distinctly, and they don't muddy each other up.
There are certain places I love positioning sounds. I've found that the spot just above the head, at the top/back of the head, or in between the eyebrows is really exciting and energizing to listen to. It almost feels like it's resonating or exciting those parts of the body. If you're spiritual you might even think of the chakras, and how sound can energize and affect them. Well, that's what I'm doing. Woke music.
With that said, I guarantee this album is going not only be a pleasure to listen to, it might even be a spiritual experience for you. Peace,
Mowgli
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