MixWithTheMasters Tchad Blake Mixing Template #1

Join us for a detailed walkthrough of Tchad Blake’s ITB mix template! Hosted at Studios La Fabrique, this series gives a revelatory look into how one of history’s most innovative engineers sets up his multi-track sessions for mixing. Using a Pro Tools session without audio, we focus purely on Blake’s track layout, routing, and signal chains. He discusses fundamental differences of achieving desired results from hardware vs. plug-ins, digital gain structure, and overall loudness, then shows all of his inserts and their parameters used on channels for drums, samples, percussion, bass, guitar, strings, and the mix buss. He also explains the roles of his extensive number of effects tracks, unveiling his creative plug-in combinations used for delay, spatial enhancement, reverb, modulation, tape saturation, and cassette emulation.

INSTRUMENTS & VOCALS
Colour coding, sample triggering, processing drums, percussion, bass, guitar, strings, vocals

MIX BUSS
Tape emulation, EQ, modulation, compression, multiband dynamics, excitement, limiting

GAIN STRUCTURE
Input levels on hardware vs. plug-ins, mix buss gain, competitive loudness for clients, key commands

EFFECTS
Signal chains for delay, spatial enhancement, reverb, modulation, tape & cassette emulation