BK. Can you give me simple explanations on the differences between
Producing, engineering, editing, mixing and mastering?
Engineering a recording means the engineer figures out the layout of the room for the musicians/singers, decides which mics are best for what and gets everything prepared in the booth so when the band comes in he can have them play and get levels. My folks know what I like to hear when we're recording so they do that. They also get the headphone mixes ready and then adjust when the players need something. Once recording, he makes sure everything is going down without distortion and cleanly.
Mixing (with only a couple of early albums the exception, I use engineers who also do the mix) - the two I've worked with most take the tracks we've recorded and mix them together so all the instruments are in the proper place in the soundscape, reverb is what I like, then the singers are added if there are singers. I eventually trusted both to do the initial mix themselves, then I'd hear and be happy or make whatever adjustment I feel necessary. Those mixed and approved tracks get sent to the mastering engineer.
His/her job is to make sure the levels are consistent between tracks, assembles everything in order, and generally smooths out the sound so the album is all of a piece - he can't change the mix, so it's just the levels (you never want the listener to have to touch their volume knob), and adding the hot fudge and whipped cream to the sound.
