Assignment 4 - Mixer as Instrument - No Input Mixing
**Please make sure all previous mixer assignments are well understood** Revise/redo as necessary
Part 1
Read/watch the following online resources.
Analog re-mixing - Dubstep
• The Scientist mixes Ted Sirota's Heavyweight Dub
• Profile from The Guardian of Lee "Scratch" Perry.
Studio as creative tool
Lecture by Brian Eno
No input mixing:
• Profile on Toshimaru Nakamura, pioneer of No Input Mixing
• Sarah Belle Reid no input mixer demo (watch at minimum from 6:10-10:52)
• Mask for no-input mixer by Marko Ciciliani (at minimum, watch the first two minutes); be sure to look at the score (top right of webpage).
Feedback Music
• Eliane Radigue's Feedback Works (listen to Stress Osaka, and read liner notes)
Part 2
Create a 2 minute minimum no-input mixer improvisation.
Setup
• Using two XLR->TRS cables, connect the MAIN outputs from the Mackie to the Apollo INPUTS 7-8 on the patchbay.
• Using TRS-TRS cables, connect the CONTROL ROOM OUTPUTS to the FRONT LR speaker inputs on the patchbay.
• Using TRS-TRS cables, connect the reverb on AUX4. Connect the reverb return anyway you like, as discussed in Assignment 3.
• Create a new Logic project called "yourname_NoInput", and save it in your student folder (Desktop->Student Work->2025-2026->Advanced Electronic Music-> your name). Create a track and set the input to "Input 7-8"; hit the Record Enable button on that track (make sure the output on that track are set to STEREO OUT).
• VERY IMPORTANT!!! Push the MONITOR knob on the Apollo X8 interface so that it turns RED (i.e. MUTED)
• ALSO VERY IMPORTANT!!! Completely reset the Mackie mixer: all faders down, all AUX's completely to the left, all AUX 1 and 2 set to POST-FADER, all AUX master's completely to the left, all EQ at 12'clock, all LOW CUT filters OFF, CONTROL ROOM and PHONES knobs all the way down.
Improv
• With the TRS-TRS snake on the table, start by connecting the AUX1 SEND to the LINE IN of CH1.
• Turn up AUX1 MASTER all the way to the right (full volume).
• Turn up AUX1 send on CH1 all the way to the right (full volume).
• Push the PRE/POST button on CH1 to PRE. The green light on CH1 should start blinking.
• Turn up the MAIN MIX fader to 0dB.
• Turn up the CONTROL ROOM knob to 9' clock (adjust as needed, this is the volume of what you hear).
• Slowly turn up the CH1 fader to U. You should see a signal in Logic and hear a pulsating sound.
ALWAYS KEEP AN EYE ON THE METERS IN LOGIC! If clipping, turn down the MAIN MIX fader.
• Hit RECORD in Logic to record everything that you're doing. It's ok if you're not doing much and it's still recording; you just want to make sure you capture everything you're doing.
• From here, experiment with the EQ, the PRE/POST, the MUTE, and the LOW CUT filter, in any combination. Try sending CH1 to the reverb for processing. Try sending the reverb into itself.
• HAVE FUN!
• You can then try to connect AUX2 SEND to CH2 (and then AUX3 SEND to CH3) and repeat the steps above to add more voices, and experiment more with all the knobs. Aim to have some form of polyphony (i.e., multiple feedback layers at the same time that you can adjust independently).
• HAVE FUN!
• Feel free to try any knob or connecting other outputs to inputs, but just GO SLOWLY. You can consider doing the patch that Sarah Belle Reid demonstrates on her YouTube video linked above.
• Most importantly: HAVE FUN! This is about discovery; enjoy the ride!!
• Next week, in class, we will listen to your improv. Feel free to edit the Logic track so that you have only a "Best Of" (aim to have about 2 minutes of material). However, do not add tracks with other sounds; what we want to hear is only the result of what you're doing on the mixer (there should only be ONE track in Logic).
• Remember that to hear your Logic track, you need to unmute the Apollo (push the MONITOR knob). Also, you'll need to disconnect the cables going to the FRONT LR on the patchbay.
Once done, save Logic, reset the mixer, and disconnect the cables you have connected. Clean up for the next person.