This post contains all the information you need to know about mixing in the box and out of the box. It will list down all the possible advantages and disadvantages with respect to sound quality, efficiency and overall music production process.
You might have encountered these terms very often but cannot purely understand it, you will learn about these things finally in this post.
Mixing IN the Box- Details
Let’s start with the most commonly implemented technique today in budget home recording studios – the mixing in the box. This technique implies that you are mixing tracks within the software or inside your computer that is why it is called “in the box”.
However there are some variations, the recordings could either be made in analog or digital but the mixing SHOULD be done with audio mixing software (such as Pro tools, Adobe Audition, Reaper, Cubase, etc.).
Audio mixing is the stage where the recorded tracks are grouped together by assigning each of them a channel and then adjusting each with compression, EQ, reverb, other effects so that they will sound BEST when they are played together.For example, this is a screenshot of mixing in the box:
mixing in the box
You have observed that the engineer in this case, will be purely dealing with digital effects because it’s inside the computer. To implement effects such as EQ, compression, reverb, delay; the engineer will rely on plugins installed such as VST or Direct X. Other important settings such as volume automation and panning can also be done within the audio mixing software.
For the analog recorded tracks to be mixed in the box, it has to be converted to digital form. This process is called analog-to-digital conversion:
mixing in the box analog to digital
For example the above screenshot shows the process of how an 8-track multi-track analog recorder can be mixed in the box by using an 8-channel audio interface. Once in digital form it can now be mixed in the box. The most recommended format for digital audio for mixing in the box would be at most 24-bit/96KHz although you can mix at 32-bit float /192 KHz if your audio mixing software and audio interface supports it but I think this is too much. Later you will know the advantages and disadvantages of this setup.
Mixing OUT the Box- Details
In the mixing out of the box, all the mixing is done in an analog mixing console board such as Neve. Therefore all the effects such as compression, EQ, reverb, etc. has to be an outboard gear or hardware (not a software plugin) and connected to the mixer via inserts or aux sends/returns.
The mixing engineer will then adjust the fader knobs of the mixing console to control the level of each channel. Then all adjustments for best sonic quality have to be done in the hardware. This includes setting the compressor attack and release time or the length of the reverb. For example below is a picture of an engineer mixing out of the box using a Neve Console:
Neve console mixing
Photo credits: swift-kick-productions.com
Like mixing in the box, the recorded tracks can either be analog or digital in form. But to be mixed out of the box, the recorded track needs to be in analog form. Supposing the recording engineer is tracking using Pro tools at 24-bits/96KHz sampling rate, then the mixing engineer would like to mix out of the box, it would be routed back to analog world using the process below:
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of Mixing in the Box:
1.) Low cost because you will simply need to purchase DAW software that can be used for both recording and mixing. It is why this become the standard for 99% of budget home recording studios.
2.) All settings can be preserved or saved digitally for future use. So when the mixing session ends, you will simply save the projects then all the plugin settings, etc. would be retained.
3.) You can take the benefits of zero digital noise unlike in analog where each outboard gear could contribute to overall noise.
4.) Effect plug-ins is mostly affordable because it can be obtained from open source and is generally cheaper than buying outboard gear/hardware effects. For example a bundle of Waves plugins that you will be using in mixing inside the box could cost around $600 (all plug-ins in that package like EQ, compressor, etc.) but this budget alone can only buy one decent piece of hardware for an analog console.
5.) Low cost in maintenance – if you have corrupted your DAW or plugin, you simply need to reinstall, no need to hire maintenance techs.
Disadvantages of Mixing in the box:
1.) Digital summing is considered inferior to analog summing because digital technology relies on approximation and computation unlike analog summing with the console where it deals purely with the complete analog signals and nothing else. This will have a profound effect in quality; it is why most pros hired by major labels use analog mixing console for a mix down.
2.) Takes time to mix; it is faster with knobs and real faders than using the software equivalent.
3.) A signal distortion in digital like clipping should be avoided at all cost, while signal distortion in analog can further add warmth in some instances.
Advantages of Mixing out of the box:
1.) Analog console summing is considered superior because of the vintage and warm sound associated with it. All professional records in the past that we love are mixed in analog consoles.
2.) You can easily adjust faders and effects without messing with a lot of settings unlike in digital.
Disadvantages of Mixing out of the box:
1.) Too expensive. It is not practical for high budget home recordings.
2.) The settings cannot be remembered as easily as in digital.
3.) The noise chain in analog can also be a problem because of the electronic circuitry involved in the console and in the outboard gears/effects.
4.) The maintenance of the console can be a problem typically if its damage. It can be difficult to find service personnel for that.
Content last updated on August 2, 2012