Rough Mix: To God Be The Glory

Filed in News on February 13, 2009



I have never seen this done before, but I am posting a free download of a rough mix for you.  Before I do, here is my thinking.

For decades, recording has been a black box process to the listener.  By that, I mean that they get a finished, polished product but do not have any concept of the process and struggles to create it.  We artists usually like to pretend that everything is always perfect, nobody makes mistakes, and little effort is involved.

Of course, nothing could be further from the truth.  Here is what we call a rough mix of "To God Be The Glory." 

What is a rough mix? Well, remember that we used close to 50 microphones on Monday.  There were microphones on every instrument--sometimes two on one instrument.  There were also string section microphones, brass section microphones and full room microphones.  Every microphone creates a channel or track. 

Mixing refers to the process of putting all those tracks together and adjusting the levels of the tracks so that the right balance is achieved between different instruments in different parts of a song.  If a French Horn has melody somewhere for example, during that section, the level of that track is increased.  Mixing is a long, tedious process that really never ends.  Eventually, everyone just agrees to stop.

A rough mix is a very quick mix just to give a hint of the final product.  Practically everyone will be able to tell differences between a rough mix and the final track.  The gross imperfections of a rough mix are exactly why I am hesitant to post one online.

However, I am willing to do so if you will follow some rules.  First, please don't count my mistakes.  The piano is "scratch" which means we are not using Monday's piano at all on the final product.  Second, if you email or share the file with anyone, tell them that it is a rough mix.  Third, when the final product comes out, please delete the rough mix from anywhere you have it and buy the final product!

Feel free to make suggestions but understand that we already know much of what needs to be fixed.  For those of you that always mention it, yes, we will feature the piano much more prominantly on the final mix.  We will also bring out the melody instruments more, bring out the percussion in the final chorus, emphasize vocals more when they are singing actual words, put reverb on the strings, fix some timing issues, and make countless other changes.



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Lenny M.
2/13/2009 2:44:23 PM

I heard mistakes..... No, just kidding. It is fabulous! And it certainly is different from your other music that I have heard.

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Beth M
2/13/2009 4:12:05 PM

What an introduction!

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Michael K.
2/13/2009 6:20:04 PM

I didn't hear any outright mistakes, just sounded like the normal jittery ones from excitement. I really like this sound, can't wait to hear the rest!

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Becky Towne
2/14/2009 10:19:10 AM

Due to my schedule (I'm a Christian college music teacher), I was only able to "tune in" to the last part of the recording session. Having seen and heard the 9-person choir, it's hard to believe that just these 9 people made this song, "To God Be the Glory," sound so bombastic! Can't wait for the finished product!!! My husband's favorite offeratory for me to play is your version of "Count Your Blessings" from your last CD.

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Leeanne Graf
2/14/2009 10:53:37 AM

Wow! It was really good for being a "rough mix". My dad and I are in the middle of recording a CD and getting the mix just right is a very tedious process. I guess that's why those guys in Nashville can charge so much!

I really look forward to hearing the final product. By the way, could you post somewhere the run you played at the very end of the song? I'd love to incorporate it into my offeratories!

Thank you.

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Greg Howlett
2/14/2009 11:54:58 AM

Becky,

The sound from the 9 vocalists is possible because we stacked them 3 times. There also multiple parts written for each voice except bass. So, by switching parts between people and recording multiple times, you get a huge sound. Also, the nine people singing are tremendous soloists in their own right. Definitely some of the best talent we could get.

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Greg Howlett
2/14/2009 11:56:14 AM

Leanne, my plan is to publish a book of the piano part for all of these, so I will definitely write out that run at some point in the next few months. Remind me about it. Greg

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Leeanne Graf
2/16/2009 4:35:55 PM

Greg, Do you think you'll publish the arrangements from your other albums? I would love to have those as well.

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Missie Bryant
2/17/2009 11:06:49 PM

I love it! Amazed at the talent God has given you and your willingness to share all with us!

Will be so happy to have an arrangement book with your name on it! May I have an autographed copy?? =0)

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