Mix Notes: Zach Zurn Of Carpet Booth Studios

Great mixes don't just balance levels, they evolve. Subtle changes in volume, effects and tone can transform a static recording into something that feels alive. In this guest article, producer, songwriter and engineer Zach Zurn of Carpet Booth Studios (YUNG GRAVY, DURRY, JUICY J) shares why automation has become one of the most important creative tools in his mixing process, and how it helps every song tell its story.

I have a complicated relationship with mixing.

Among all of the record-making processes, it tends to be my least favorite. I think I’m just such a “song” guy - meaning I care so much about a song’s message, storytelling, and emotion coming through that sometimes I want to roll my eyes at the technical necessities mixing requires. I feel tempted, in moments, to just paint with a broad brush on the mix bus to “fix” issues, but if anyone knows what it takes to actually mix a song, they’d scoff at this inclination I have.

But amidst the complaining, I’m a hypocrite.

I realize, of course, that taking the multitude of elements a song may require in its production means working through it with a fine-tooth comb - honing in on the discrepancies of certain sound sources while emphasizing the moments and textures that aid the storytelling and emotion. There’s beauty in this.

Making Records Feel Alive

A familiar comment we hear in the music industry is that music consumers want records to feel like the experience they get from seeing an artist live. What a daunting task. How do we make something that was recorded - therefore premeditated in many ways - feel alive?

For me, songs come alive with automation.

Automate to make the mix great

It’s corny as hell, but I say to my interns often: “Automate to make the mix great.” Sorry, but it’s easy to remember. When I started automating years ago, mixing began to feel much more artistic and natural. It finally clicked with me that records that felt like they had a pulse could often thank automation for their animation.

Maybe another corny catchphrase could be: “Automation equals animation.” Meaning that when you automate parameters, it breathes life into a song. And by the way, I’m not just talking about automating volume. Automating wet effect decay times, room mic levels on drums, BGVs widening and narrowing, and filtering are just a few ways I try to bring real life into songs.

The Time Is Worth It

The process of automation takes real time, but without it, what kind of lifeless song are we offering listeners?

Zach Zurn
Owner / Songwriter / Producer / Engineer
Carpet Booth Studios