In this extract from PureMix, Grammy award winning mixer Ryan Hewitt explains his original vocal reverb technique used in the Lumineers track "Angela". By using two plates, one wide and shorter and a second mono and longer, the exposed reverb tail narrows as it decays - Nice!
Watch Ryan Hewitt Mix The Lumineers
As one of the staples of the indie-folk genre, The Lumineers have seen the heights of the charts several times. In April of 2016, the band released the hit song “Angela”, with a meticulously crafted arrangement and sonic landscape.
In this puremix.net exclusive, Grammy award-winning engineer and mixer, Ryan Hewitt, goes inside the mix and deconstructs the song piece by piece, going further than simple mixing techniques to explain the effect that a great arrangement can have to build excitement and take the listener on a journey, from a simple guitar and vocal song to a full-blown orchestral climax.
During this 2 hour video, Ryan explains how he:
- Achieved the iconic vocal sound that establishes a connection between the singer and the audience
- Created bass guitar tones that translate to small speakers
- Added forward-driving momentum to unique percussion tracks
- Creates contrast and scene changes as the song moves from section to section, all building up to an emotional finish
This is your chance to sit next to Ryan Hewitt, and take a behind the scenes look at the creation of an indie folk smash hit.
After you've seen the video, download the stems and mix it for yourself.
Equipment & Software
Software
- Audio Ease Altiverb 7
- Avid AIR Stereo Width
- Avid DYN3 Expander / Gate
- Avid EQ3 7-Band
- FabFilter Pro-L
- FabFilter Pro-Q2
- Sound Toys Devil-Loc
- Sound Toys EchoBoy
- UAD 1176LN
- UAD API 550A
- UAD EL7 Fatso Sr
- UAD EMT 140
- UAD EP-34 Tape Echo
- UAD Fairchild 670
- UAD LA-3A
- UAD Neve 1073
- UAD Precision DE-ESSER
- UAD Pultec EQP-1A
- UAD SSL E Channel Strip
- UAD Teletronix LA-2A
- Waves C6
- Waves Doubler 4
- Waves H-Delay
- Waves REQ 6
Hardware
- API-2500
- Chandler Limited Curve Bender
- Manley Massiv Passive EQ
- NTI EQ3
- Smart C2
How To Watch The Full Video
This video tutorial is available to Pro PureMix members and can be accessed by signing up to a PureMix subscription for $29 a month.
Sign up to get advanced audio tutorials where Grammy-winning engineers teach you mixing concepts by showing you their techniques and tricks while mixing song by Pharrell, Imagine Dragons, Ziggy Marley and more.
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