This past year, I have been mixing a majority of client projects on a large-format analog console, and the process has been very enlightening. I still mix some projects in the box, due to project/client priorities and budgets - and also to continue to develop my Pro Tools mix abilities.
This back and forth has illuminated a few things for me, and I'd like to share one major change that has followed. I've removed my computer screen from between my speakers, and placed it outside of the sound-field of my speakers. More specifically, I've moved my iMac from between my speakers to a small desk on my right hand side. The top of the screen is now at about shoulder height (as not to reflect sound directly towards me at ear level), and is about an arms length from the listening position.
My keyboard, mouse, and new Avid S3 control surface sit in front of me on my Argosy desk, and I can comfortably look to my right to see the screen and manipulate my session. The S3 allows me to control many mix and session parameters without the need to look at the screen (most notably, my session faders, pan, inserts, sends, transport control, and PT HD advanced automation features).
The reason for this change started when I realized how much more enjoyable and intuitive it was to mix on a large format console. I started to notice that from a practical perspective, during much of my time spent mixing on the SSL 4000 my eyes are directed downward and my vision is somewhat zoned out...disconnected from my active brain and my decision making awareness.
I compared that to mixing at home in my own mix room (with a mouse and screen in between the speakers), and realized that much of that time is spent with my eyes fixed on the screen...my brain's attention center focused on the shining, colorful PT session in front of me.
This realization coincided with my reading of this book...
In it, the author (a Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience) details the workings of the human brain - the functionality and limitations of the prefrontal cortex (our brain's attention center) and the abilities and limitations of our brain to focus. Essentially, humans have a very narrow field of focused attention. Our brains are not able to focus on more than one thing at a time.
This reminded me of a specific perceptual phenomenon I had read about previously...The McGurk Effect. The McGurk Effect shows us just how much what our eyes see can effect our perception of what we think we are hearing, regardless of the sound our ears actually receive.
If you've ever spent a few minutes tweaking a plugin, just to realize you had the plugin in bypass the whole time, then you've been a victim of The McGurk Effect (admit it, we've ALL done it or something similar!). Your eyes see change happening on the plugin, so your brain believes the sound is changing. Yikes.
Here's a good short video which demonstrates the effect:
These limitations of our human brain have a profound effect on our creative endeavors, especially the mixing endeavors we embark upon in the studio.
So, to redirect my brain and buy back some of the attention I've been expending on visual information, I'm forcing my brain to focus where I want it...the sound.
So far the inconvenience of having the screen to my right has been far outweighed by a new found intuitiveness in my mixing room...much like I experience on the SSL.
I would suggest giving it a try, and maybe investing in a control surface with faders and session/transport control. I have the Avid S3 and like it:
Give it a shot. I hope it helps you gain a better perspective and more focus when you mix!