MixCon 2018 Preview: David Tolomei – The Imaginative Indie/Experimental Mix
What’s that sound?! It’s MixCon 2018 coming July 21-22, to the Manhattan Center in NYC. Producers, artists, audio engineers, and mixers – of course! – are invited to learn the latest and greatest studio techniques for mixing music and sound.
David Tolomei is proud to represent for mixers everywhere, at MixCon 2018.
MixCon 2018 is presented by SonicScoop and the Deli Magazine. Now in its fourth year, MixCon presents six in-depth Mix Walkthroughs by some of the world’s top mixers, live and in person.
Free to attend, this event is comprised of two days of terrific tips, tricks and networking at the Manhattan Center’s majestic Grand Ballroom and their two outstanding studios, the Lodge and Studio 7.
In this series, we’re taking a closer look at the mixers who will be sharing their secrets. Today, the focus is on David Tolomei, who’s focusing on the Indie/Experimental Mix. David’s Mix Walkthrough is made possible by Soundtoys. Be right there with him at MixCon! Visit here to RSVP.
Mixer Name: David Tolomei
Location: LA / NY
Clients/Credits: John Cale, Future Islands, Dirty Projectors, Beach House, Half Waif. Currently co-producing & mixing an album for Girlpool.
My Mix Angle: I attempt not to have too much of an angle. I like to tackle every project with fresh ears and a clean slate, and I do my best to bring original sounds to the table every time.
I just listen to each song and ask myself, “What’s the best thing about this song, what makes it powerful, what makes it emotional, what makes it different, what makes it represent who the artist is and what they’re doing?” Then I do everything I can using the tools at my disposal to highlight those elements, and resolve any technical issues that may potentially distract from those elements.
But one thing that makes my style unique is probably the amount of time I put into automating things in order to support a song’s arrangement. The intention here is to change the space the listener’s in or the energy they feel in a change, in order to magnify the emotion intended in that change. Do you want them to feel tension in the pre-chorus? How should this energy shift in the chorus? Should that bridge section feel resolved? When the song ends, how do you want the audience to feel? This work is all done in subtly, but to me, the difference between a good mix and a great mix can often be represented in the feelings you get in the changes.
For Example:
At MixCon, I’m Focusing On the Indie/Experimental Mix Because: We live in a time where people expect a lot from a mixer, but this role is never to be confused with that of a producer or re-mixer. On every project, this presents its own challenges. Exactly where to draw the line with your creativity is a very subjective thing, and these judgement calls are part of what make you you. I’ll discuss where I stand on some of these judgement calls, and where I draw the line, and why.
Sneak Preview: Well, there’s a lot I’m going to touch on, it would be difficult to sum it up, but I will say that I’ll do my best to cover the most important steps I take while striving for to make my mixes as exciting and as emotional as possible. I’ll walk through my automation process, while showing some detailed examples, as well as covering the importance of gain staging in the digital era.
I Love Leading Audio Workshops Because…: In general I just love talking about what I do. I think being in music is one of those careers where, if you tell people what you do, they’re like “Ooh! That’s so cool! Tell me all about it!”
But they don’t really wanna know how the sausages are made. Most people just want to hear stories about the artists, but I believe part of my job description is being discreet, so those are the last stories I’m going to tell. Needless to say by the time I’m halfway through a phrase like “gain staging,” they’ve yawned & I’ve lost my audience, haha.
This can be somewhat isolating when you’ve devoted your life to developing a skill set that few people understand or care to understand, so it’s really nice to be able to get in a room full of people, open a technical discussion, and have an engaged audience. I particularly enjoy Q&As because I think it can be kind of a commentary on the state of the industry, or the future of the industry. I’m grateful I was asked to do thibs, I’m really looking forward.
RSVP now to see David Tolomei live at MixCon 2018!
Please note: When you buy products through links on this page, we may earn an affiliate commission.