Designing Sound for Animation, 2nd Edition

Chapter 9

The Final Mix

Overview

The Warner Brothers animated short Rhapsody in Rivets (1941) created an analogy between the construction of a building and the performance of a symphony (Figure 9.1). This analogy can be extended to the mixing of a soundtrack as well. The conductor for the mix is the film’s director, responsible for articulating a vision that guides the performance. Sound elements are the individual instruments of the soundtrack. Just as related instruments meet in sectionals to work on timing, balance, and blend, similar elements are combined in a process known as pre-dubbing. Sectionals are followed by a dress rehearsal where all of the instruments are brought together and placed (panned) in their respective string, woodwind, ...