Mastering the Art of Parallel Processing

Mastering the Art of Parallel Processing – Anyone who’s ever mixed audio knows the struggle. You want to add some oomph to your drums, but heavy compression squashes the life out of them. You crave a lush vocal sound, but drenched reverb washes away the clarity. Enter parallel processing, a mixing technique that unlocks a world of sonic possibilities without sacrificing the core of your tracks.

RECORD, MIX AND MASTER – A BEGINEER’S GUIDE TO AUDIO PRODUCTION

What is Parallel Processing?

Imagine having two identical tracks. On one, you apply heavy compression, distortion, or any other effect. This is your “wet” track. Now, blend this wet track back with the original, unprocessed track. This combined signal is the magic. The wet track adds its character, while the original maintains clarity and dynamic range. It’s like having your cake and eating it too!

Setting Up Parallel Processing in Popular DAWs:

• Logic Pro X:

  1. Duplicate your track.
  2. Click the “Insert” button on the duplicated track and choose your desired effect.
  3. Engage the “Snd In” button on the duplicated track’s channel strip. This creates a new aux channel fed only by the effected track.
  4. On the aux channel, adjust the fader to control the amount of wet signal blended back into the mix.

• Pro Tools:

  1. Duplicate your track.
  2. Insert your effect on the duplicated track.
  3. Create a new aux track.
  4. On the duplicated track, send the signal pre-fader to the aux track using a send knob.
  5. On the aux track, adjust the fader to control the wet signal blend.

• Ableton Live:

  1. Duplicate your track.
  2. Insert your effect on the duplicated track.
  3. Click the “Ext. Out” button on the duplicated track’s chain list. This sends the effected signal to a new return channel.
  4. Create a new return channel.
  5. Set the “From” knob on the return channel to the duplicated track. This brings the effected signal back into the mix.
  6. Adjust the fader on the return channel to control the wet signal blend.

• Bitwig Studio:

  1. Duplicate your clip.
  2. Insert your effect into the duplicated clip’s FX chain.
  3. Click the “Send” button on the duplicated clip and choose a new audio track. This sends the effected signal to a new track.
  4. On the new track, adjust the fader to control the wet signal blend.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Overdoing It: A little goes a long way with parallel processing. Start with subtle processing on the wet track and gradually increase until you achieve the desired effect.
• Phase Cancellation: When blending two identical signals, phase cancellation can occur, causing a thin or weak sound. To avoid this, try slightly nudging the timing of the wet track.
• Forgetting the Low End: When compressing heavily in parallel, low frequencies can build up and muddy the mix. Use a high-pass filter on the wet track to keep the low end tight.

Applications of Parallel Processing:

• Drums: Enhance punch and attack with parallel compression.
• Vocals: Add richness and depth with parallel compression and subtle reverb.
• Guitars: Achieve a thicker, more saturated tone with parallel distortion.
• Synths: Create a wider, more expansive sound with parallel chorus or delay.