Chris Lord-Alge, Part 3: What Makes a Mixer?

[@AlbertoDati]

Wow, the guys from Waves will love this interview...

[@Evextonn]

Slate and Plugin Alliance too 😂

[@AlbertoDati]

@@Evextonn LOL

[@OfficialLedMusic]

I think he likes SSL

[@BennDown]

I used to really find him hard to watch as I thought it was arrogance emitting from his mouth. It's not. I was wrong. It is confidence in himself due to an excellent career. I couldn't agree more with him. He is a treasure.

[@User-jk8wq]

Same here! It all changed for me when I scrolled through the comments on his Mix With the Masters videos. The only people who weren’t calling him arrogant/pompous/etc were the people who’d actually been to a seminar and met him in person. None of them had a bad word to say about him, apparently he’s a really cool guy in real life

[@txtele]

Same here he really did help define a certain genre of music imagine what it would have sounded like if someone else got their hands on it LOL not my favorites sound in the world but he definitely knows what he's doing and I definitely respect his work

[@jaumepp1975]

I totally disagree. You can translate the same good info beingvmuch less of an asshole. He is arrogant and narcissistic, which doesn't mean he does his job wonderfully. Counterexample: Andy Wallace.

[@andrewwhitehouse1878]

Agree completely 👊🏻 “we are here to make art shine, not here to judge it”

[@artie]

A Legend making it simple to understand that you have to be creative. Love his work.

[@manifestgtr]

This is one of the best interviews I’ve seen with Chris. It’s almost like he doesn’t know there’s a camera in the room…something must’ve pissed him off earlier in the day lol. But hey, fuck it…sometimes that’s how you get *actual* honesty out of people. Great stuff, guys 👍

[@Pseudonemonics]

One of the greatest mixing videos ever recorded.

[@paulmacdonald1048]

:)

[@elimakowski1469]

Mixing WAS actually easier for me when I only had faders to look at! Visual stimuli is SO not necessary and can sometimes distract us from our ears.

[@claudefox2882]

This guy knows exactly what he's talking about. Love his attitude and the non PC talking. We need more guys like this today.

[@khronscave]

This.

[@Strepite]

yet he endorses Waves plugins making him an ultimate hypocrite...

[@HolySmokeOfficial]

Agreed. That's why we asked CLA to mix our single... Cut out the BS and make it Rock, with a capital "R". kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3jQZp-sgr1-kJI

[@pocouturier]

hahaha he's so pissed off its like he was holding so many things inside and everything came out

[@closinginonclosure]

I don't think he's pissed. I think he's just passionate.

[@bradmodd7856]

This is what denial sounds like...these big old consoles are only good for the chop shop and made into some racked tracking preamps....unless you got caught out and stuck with an old relic before the digital revolution and are too stubborn to move on, this ain't the way to go

[@griffin8062]

@@bradmodd7856 Hahaha good joke

[@TheBircat]

@@bradmodd7856 Maybe. Sony Music stopped making vinyl records in-house in '89 and packed up their lathes. In March 2018 they opened a new vinyl plant near Tokyo to try and support demand for vinyl that globally topped $1 Billion revenue last year, with vinyl beating Streaming in the UK on revenue.

[@iggswanna1248]

really felt like a therapy session...

[@mikeedwardsmith]

"It's a F...ing Instrument" -- tell us how you really feel my LORD :)

[@montyrayza7220]

SSL rules period and has been my favourite from back in the day, what an era. Keep with it Chris, you are a monster in the industry and an inspiration to us all. 2 inch tape with an SSL console sounds better than anything I've ever heard.

[@RayR]

I've heard of CLA. After watching this I love this guy. No BS in him. Absolutely no BS.

[@voxhumana1634]

Don't be fooled, CLA is chalk full of some BS lol, but he is super talented at the same time. If he's selling a waves plugin or a piece of CLA gear the BS piles up high. ...he used to have blue eyes

[@e.kharimbrazille-ohe]

Pardon me for this long comment all, but I have to say this.. Look... I have so much respect for this man.. I have never met him, but I can tell you I have seen his name credited on at least 400 to 500 cds; no joke.. Those cds were all hit records as well.. I am not commenting to endorse anyone, but I will say this.. Sound Engineers, do what you do... CLA made very valid points endorsing his method; and I have to admit, I am on board with him.. Prior to seeing this video, I had decided to take a step back and pull my 1990s board out of the closet and start using it again; and resting my fully automated, but smaller, digital console.. Now, I am not going full analog, but I will rest at being labeled a hybrid.. I will still be using Cubase for tracking and editing; and MPC software when the need arises, but I am desiring to mix analog.. What CLA said is the nail on the head.. The console is an instrument, when you understand and appreciate how music should be treated; and what's good for your musical soul.. ITB engineers, dont get mad.. I am not taking away from the technology, because I embrace "some of it" also.. Have some respect tho peeps when commenting on legends who have earned their titles.. The reason I am choosing to take a step back is because personally, convenient technology was slowly milking the fun out of making and processing music.. Having the computer throw so many options at you is one thing, then to turn around and have to tweek fader by fader, bank over to the next group of faders and do it again using many mouse clicks etc. gets pretty uninteresting.. Where is the fun in that? Being able to jump from fader to fader and knob to knob to tweek in real time is exciting and puts you closer to the music; at least it feels that way rhythmically.. Those quick moves with the fingers does make it a different experience; I invite any sworn ITB engineer to try it one day; but be warned, its not a beginner's level task.. To even be decent at it, you really have to understand this shit.. I will leave everyone with this.. Look at analog vs. digital mixing like a hamburger.. It can go without arguing that McDonald's has built an empire out of making "convenient" hamburgers fast and in high quantities; and sometimes they can be really good.. Conversely, you have the mom and pop burger shack down the street and/or you make your own burgers which are good also; granted you are a good cook.. :) Now think about it.. A MCDs hamburger is quick, fast, affordable, and available just about everywhere on the planet.. It has a known and familiar taste for the most part.. Then you have the Burger shack and/or your own where time has been taken to make it, you may have to wait to enjoy it, special and unique seasonings are added to make the burger drip with flavor.. Then when you eat that burger; it is very memorable.. You still may eat MCDs burgers, but you will yearn for that special burger and even "inconveniently" seek it out when no other convenient burger will satisfy you... That's how I view digital/analog mixing... Sorry for the long commentary, but I feel it needed to be said... Much love and respect to you CLA!!!

[@freez092also]

I love how he goes full New York in part 3! CLA's track records says it all!

[@That1Guy]

I’mma listen to this every day for my morning meditation

[@shane2973]

he absolutely mixes like hes is playing an instrument...it is amazing to watch! they all have their things and this is his and the man is great at it, period!

[@madcap256beats2]

“We are here to make art shine. We’re not here to judge it.”

[@BiBiKvachi]

Love this man, he is A PROFESSIONAL and talks the real talk!!!

[@Noble6141]

Chris Lord-Alge and Warren Huart are my 2 idols

[@2morrowsjune]

Haha Chris really needed to get this off his chest lol. It’s not an interview it’s a rant but we still love this legend

[@stevestewart-sturges2159]

I was on a Neve 8068 back in the 80's, in Vancouver, a beautiful desk.. Then got invited to Little Mountain by a resident engineer to check out their new SSL 4048 and was blown away by it... Been a massive fan of them since..

[@HaHaHaHope]

I’ll take an SSL over a Neve anyway. So tired of people saying SSL doesn’t sound as good as a Neve. I’ve mixed on SSL G and tracked on Neve ‘68. The Neve had a lot of bottom but SSL sounds like a record.

[@eccentricworx]

I love his attitude - straight to the point!

[@gr8tcott]

God Bless the Lord-Alge Brothers! Shoot straight from the hip-Jersey guys. 🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@claudius3124]

Wow! The man knows his shit! Talk about a real guy, not a freaking robot! Great interview! Thanks a lot !!!! ;-)

[@Kantich]

12:53 i love how the guy in the background is cracking up

[@rhythmwarrior3859]

Great lessons can be learned from his words. He’s passionate in what he does.... Truth

[@tomdowning9358]

This is a man who knows his shit. Period. This makes him so successful. I'd love to have this wealth of knowledge.

[@David_Ralte.]

"If you can't manage a song, what kind of art are you really creating? Are you creating a junkyard or are you creating a masterpiece?" - This says it all...

[@listillolordoc7604]

I love what says. The old way is the best way. If you're recording in a studio like his, you really need to know how to play your instrument, know your parts and deliver your product honestly and organically. My band doesn't record on a computer because making music is our craft.

[@mendavinceatunuvbare1870]

Most people think that Mixing is all above good Mix, but some times, it could be the man that build the music from the start. My favorite Mixing Engineer from 80s to date. with Bob in Jenovo secret of the heart for Jive Records. One time Mix, One time hit.

[@lflynn82]

You said it Chris you don’t have to look at a screen, which forces you to use your ears and mind!!! All heart bro

[@norabiddogz8673]

I agree with him so much. I'm an amateur artist, producer and mixer who works in the box, (on Logic X to be specific) and has had the opportunity to have used an SSL 4k G+. I use a lot of freeware when I mix..and I mean A LOT of freeware(except a few iZotope and some Waves plugins), and I get a lot of fellow mixers coming to me and seeing how I mix and seeing the plugins I use and cringe that its mostly freeware. I have no idea why they react this way. They want to know how I mix hence they asked to watch, they want to see how I get my sound in my mixes which means what I do sounds good, and could possibly sound better than what they do behind the faders with my freeware. It's not about the equipment, software you have its about your creativity and skill as a producer/mixer or whatever. Love Chris's interviews even though he shits on mixers like me lol. But I still study him and love his work.

[@WorldBurial]

I don't know if it's about all people who are more DAW-based actually. I got the impression that he was mostly talking about arrogant ones who dismiss his workflow just because it seems outdated to them. And yes, with decent gear, skill makes a much bigger difference. There are videos here where professionals got great results with budget gear. Though I've noticed that some more expensive hardware (and plugins) can make a difference if you know what you're doing. As an example, a nearby studio has good acoustics, big console etc. but a lot of their output ends up sounding like a rough demo. I personally own a lot less gear but bands that I worked for have been impresssed and some album reviews praised the sound production. About cringing due to equipment, this even happened to someone that I know. He's quite known as a musician/sound engineer in the metal scene but some made fun of his gear despite knowing what he got out of it.

[@CrankyEmu]

Who cares if the plugins are free or cost thousands of dollars each? If they work and get the sound you want, that is all that matters.

[@CrankyEmu]

@@WorldBurial I think what he is getting at maybe is the laziness of people with 'boxes', in that instead of fixing it and doing it properly, they just add another track to cover up the shit they already have - resulting in a big pile of shit basically.

[@ASDPOWER]

I can listen to Chris all day. brilliant

[@massivebeatzz]

Love it!! Greetings from an in the box mixer, but couldn't agree more. It's an instrument. Period.

[@McdowellBaptistChurch-js2pn]

Best Fricken Video EVER! OMG!!! Can't say I love the F Bombs, but I get it, they come out of me also. But when he makes the comments about all these clowns today with Comping and 500 tracks etc. reminds me of the projects with Warren Huart's free stuff. (Nothin against Warren, I actually like his videos) but I've downloaded a couple and instantly deleted it. I know it's not cheating, but comping and trying to piece meal the perfect take is exactly why music has lost it's way in the main stream and now in the indie scene. Damnit, some of the greatest songs of all time were not always the best takes, but they worked. Music is a vibe, music is a feeling, and looking for the perfect mix has killed it. Bravo Chris!

[@marcclement7790]

12.09 " You fix it in the computer " Consoles are great and so is in the box. A good person will get great results from both.....

[@AshRavens]

hahahaha I LOVE how he gets excited talking about the desk :D

[@davidherbert9601]

Chris, I know you won’t read this but fuck man, you are a legend. Love your no bullshit attitude.

[@bogdanpietrareanu9232]

After u listen to what he says u will realise why he has the title ''Legendery'' . Best mixer ever Big Up CLA !

[@richardgow5732]

Mixing Royalty talking ! thanks for your insight and all XXX

[@klownaround5464]

Hey Chris I’m LOVIN LOVIN LOVIN these YT clips of you man - you are just YOU and no filter and I LOVE IT!! Now u most likely won’t even remember my guitarist partner in music from old school 5 towns college (he was one of the better known acknowledged guitarist at the music college there but was also my buddy and we had a studio in queens at the QUEENS MUSIC BUILDING ... anyway he was also an assistant tech at UNIQUE STUDIOS working there for FREE as an intern and I’m sure he was there when u were there his name was PAUL KATZ and he was always fixing and setting up the rooms for you and for BOB ROSA and the other guys at UNIQUE STUDIOS IN TIMES SQUARE and I used to always knock him and yell at him; DUDE WHY ARE U WORKING THERE FOR FREE WITH NO PAY ARE U A SLAVE??? but he would say man you don’t understand the experience I’m getting is invaluable and worth more than ANY CHECK I COULD GET ... yea that was in mid 1980’s until early 1990’s I’m sure he was you there at one point or another - he would always tease the studio engineers at 1212 studios and call them CHRIS LORD ALGE LOL!!! Now I finally see you on KZbin and I get it - BRAVO!!!‼️‼️‼️😎😎😎🙏🙏🙏

[@carlossequini8552]

I was supposed to go to one of CLA seminars is France. I don`t think I was ready for it but Covid screwed it up. I`m still looking forward to see CLA in action some day. I find your honesty and lack of BS one of your great assets.

[@TheRealDiskoLips]

Awesomeness! Thank you for sharing Chris. You are a true inspiration man!

[@mickeymiguel2726]

This man is a genius

[@JasonGwynne]

"If you can't manage a song, what are you really creating then, what kind of Art are you really creating? Are you creating a Junkyard? or are you creating a Masterpiece?" Well said..

[@DannyTaddei]

I usually limit myself to 24 tracks. I use 32 if I really feel I need to. I have a 48 channel board but I use16 of them for analog effect returns. I'm begging to realize I'm more old-school and unfortunately a lot older that CLA lol. He is right. I always feel I do a lot better job on songs I don't like. Even better if it is a style I don't like to begin with. My input is a lot more potent in those cases. People know me personally for playing beach music. I worked with so many old motown acts, and so many hard rockers and punkers... This is exactly right. My input from my perspective brings something completely new to the song. I also like my old analog stuff. I have a butt load of plugins by I love my 1980s and 90s analog effects. I have a rack of them - about 25 of them in total. I have all the waves and so so many more. I like them but I like analog a lot better. I use both but I love analog.

[@mikewallace1270]

Might be my fav CLA interview.

[@rickenbacker40011]

Agreeed on every part Such a great console And engineer ;)

[@paulcanz]

they wouldn't keep emulating it if it wasn't awesome. Lamb what a master piece !, never forget the day the winched the first SSL up the side of the building on 47 st through the window bc the elevator was to small !

[@zer0tzer0]

The thing I keep heaging over and over is . . . Track on a Neve and Mix on an SSL. I've wondered what that was about, until now.

[@dimakushnir7506]

When I say, I do mixes in the box isn’t because I love it much better than mixing on the live gear but it’s because I can afford... Of course, I’d love to try those cosmically expensive mixing console but then it’d take all my life to pay the debt. Plus, it’s not enough to have just an expensive equipment/gears but also have a professional studio that’s been built with a great isolation and treated well for a great acoustics. The last is most important is to have smart brains and perfect ears(hearing) cuz it’ll give you the start!

[@Frank.Zimmermann]

Straight-shooting. Love it! Yeah, it's an instrument. Thanks ever so much!!

[@l.i.producerfamnice7685]

Very insightful advice. Love the interview and Chris love of analogue.

[@That1Guy]

In the second bedroom Fingering the laptop one fader at a time, well when he puts it that way

[@EldohRadoProductions]

DWL... Love how him defend the consoles

[@ryand4533]

That’s the best way I’ve herd it put!!!! The SSL is an instrument and not many can play it right. Plug ins are nothing compared to the real thing!!!!! The plug ins are nice and great when you compare cost but nothing has ever come close to an SSL for mixing hit records!!! NOTHING!!! Other than another SSL I like the 9000J better than the 4000 but that’s just because I spent years on a 9000J.

[@marcocarbone_]

1st of all you must be able to use it, you can have an ssl mixer in front of you but CLA will beat you using a pc with free vst plugins.

[@ryand4533]

@@marcocarbone_ Is that why Chris still owns a real SSL still???

[@jesse_cole]

Oh my god. All I can think now is how much I would like to hear the CLA mix of Trick of the Tail.

[@esertaskiran]

I don't knew if he told hours and hours for selling more SSL's, or selling his very expensive mixes??? but still I respect what he did in music history. Music business is spreading every day more to the people, it went out from big companys, big producers. So it's also the time that big producers, engineers and musicians to respect the people, what they do with their poor equipment.

[@MrMichelson123]

Looks beyond his sarcastic language , you will see what a great teacher this guy is, learn a lot in just a short time

[@julianc.227]

Man, I really love CLA and his attitude. In this modern day and age I miss guys that don't give a shit but just do it.

[@TheBircat]

Love this guy, but a little worried about his blood pressure. He should snap off a small vacation... maybe pick up some Montana brochures.

[@ElembeeOfficial]

This is a guy who seems like I'd hate him, but love him.

[@J1Z06]

I like this Guy!

[@JUD2784]

Love it, old school badass, hell's kitchen of recording, love it!!!

[@jprsdas]

7:24 whoever asked that question knew he would get a reaction lol

[@TonjuwelenDeAgentur]

"I can filter fuck Delays and Harmonies..." thats what I call a statement :) CLA is on Top of the heap!

[@johnnypunish]

The Elephant in the Room is COST? The reason why 99% of us use computers and NOT huge board like Chris is cost. One can get a DAW installed on a computer for $ 250. A board like his? How much? OMG, we don't have access to that kind of money! So Chris is right in many ways and his track records speaks for itself. But the future is cost reduction and entry for producers. And how much money can we earn from an investment of $ 10,000 to 250,000 for a board vs. maybe $ 2000 in a DAW and some key plugins. Which makes cents? Call me in 10 years!

[@floydthomas3650]

I LOVE THIS DUDE

[@rubster1975]

I used to be a SSL engineer and producer in the 90' and 00' and what Chris says here is a universal music truth. I used to hate getting these overproduced tapes so fckn much! I was called in a bunch of times when a producer got stuck in his session and i was there to see if i could make something of it. I usually start by trowing away 50%. If the essences of a song can't be captured within 24 tracks, it's shit. Doesn't mean you can't have much more, but those are just effects imo,

[@mikeweiser2210]

What makes a mixer? Apparently complaining for sixteen minutes. Thanks, I learned so much

[@waynestewart1919]

I like the feel of physical faders better. Its more ellegant and feels more precise. I've noticed that on-screen controls really only go where they ate programmed to go. All this extra automation is great, but I feel that its more talored to smaller sound crews and the such like.

[@jackkosto]

"Why am I not in my second bedroom, with a pair of small, shitty speakers..." -*Is famous for mixing on NS-10s*

[@TigroGumi]

The SSL console to me is the Mixing machine. I love Neve, I love Neve for the input colour and a bit in the mastering (Hopefully never doing all of it in one project, handing it over is a very important part of creating something that translates to peoples hearts). SSL to me offers that clean sound to start from. It can be driven for that really coloured sound also. I've always thought it's best to add colour in bits and not just the same on everything. I'm a budget person so I will be getting a little bit of analogue in the inputs and outputs, so there will only be a couple SSL pieces there. The most important tool is you and knowing what you are doing. For a inbox person that knows what they are doing will make something infinitely better than someone that doesn't know what they are doing with a studio like this. Analogue is to add that tiny tiny amount of that extra once you've perfected tracks as much as you can... If you start in analogue to Mix, I think you don't need sounds put on everything from the start, you need clean so from there you can paint with what ever colour you want. The bus compressor is something I will have to have from SSL, if I didn't have a tiny budget I would want this myself... But I don't think I'm good enough for that. The analogue I will get will be simply to try my hand at the analogue world, so I get my precision with just a few bits till I slowly expand. If it becomes a business like this then it makes sense having these tools. equipment You can achieve the same with less but you then work forever on it and some time you need to be quick. People with these studio have them because they are a factory of music and use these tools to put grandma's taste into that recipe to make it felt by everyone. You can do this yourself with less and probably feel more achieved with each achievement. This guy is just good at it and is a work horse, he deserves this seat and that seat has to be earned every single day. I'd much rather do it slowly in the mountains or down at the beach because I was a chef, when I cooked I cook with the good big equipment and put out '50 amazing meals a day... I cook do each meal the same slowly at home, and that be enjoyable and the people that enjoy it with me feel much better. So this seat he is in is a career not living the dream. He loves it, we should all be able to do something we love. Usually that means getting narcissists out of you life. This is the first bit of equipment you should research and that is actual good people. You being sold more snake oil in that everyday. This will be the piece of equipment holding you back without eve realising it. That is hard to achieve that getting what you need for a big studio. But as for making it a career you don't need much. You work with people learning and you teach each other as you progress. Fulfilment is the journey. I bet Chris now has to really try to find proper fulfilments, he's job is perfected... I would be interested to he he's daily life, the human side... although he shows he's human side a lot, but it's the cutting through the bull shit of what he already knows... He's clearly got a genuine kind side to him... and probably protects that world he lives in from this fame ridden world... So we will probably never see that... One love yah!

[@danmiller1701]

The SSL 4056 e console is a dream machine for me

[@Babaksaeedi]

13:02 Best moment! I love CLA. Legend!

[@ven11235]

Thank you CLA you are a boss, amazing advice

[@worldvideos9640]

still dope

[@rickenbacker40011]

Youngest old man YEETIN knowledge to the middle aged people asking questions on his lawn

[@jonathanbyrdmusic]

"We are here to make art shine."

[@theblowupdollsmusic]

Love this guy!

[@jayboxrecords9588]

Hi Chris I have the same. thoughts Now days Most these young Kids would not Even Know how a SSL 4K Console works let alone all the Out board gear Like you stated so well Fuck them. I have Mixed on the SSL Duality So thank you for Being so Honest your a fucken Legend

[@mixinginthebox]

Got to love Chris.

[@dansnow4230]

Lol No fucks given. This guy is the man. Definitely abides by the saying, "There ain't no school like the old school."

[@jarekb2043]

Love it!!!

[@delamar6199]

APIs and Neves are great tracking consoles but the SSL 4k can do both and is hands down the best mixing console feature wise.

[@1176hambone]

This is the best! The best!

[@Markpianist1]

Summming it up it doesn't matter what equipment you use, if you are good at what you do it will yield same great results!

[@keysyun1430]

Crabby, but I’m listening carefully cuz it took years for him to get there he’s seen it all, lol

[@da.b3102]

Legend

[@melodious2261]

12:58 Best shit I seen all day.

[@MiguelNoyola1]

Love a good Cla rant!

[@DanDuskin]

YES YES YES!!!

[@RaulCerna]

Mr. Duskin please come back with your beautiful videos! 🙏🏽

[@DanDuskin]

Raul Cerna I’m preparing a new video right now actually. Hopefully it will be out in less than a week. If I don’t get it out by then I probably had to work with someone .

[@RaulCerna]

Greeeat! I've been waiting desperately for months! Thank you very much!

[@andrewwhitehouse1878]

CLA 🤘🏻 one of the GOAT ❤

[@mesabog2]

"Add one more snare in the bridge...why because the six you have there aren't working?" LOL

[@luv-tsa3692]

Can anyone tell me which one CLA uses 4000 G or E? Because I'm gonna buy one.😉 I'm in love with SSL.😍

[@klausmatrajt8480]

gotta love chris!

[@marksmusicplace3627]

I'm sorry but I am in total agreement about having a console in studio. SSLs are amazing but Ill take any console to a point over not having one at all.

[@silentj1022]

..its not the car, its the driver.

[@FoxBeats24]

respect......real legend

[@DavidDiMuzio]

So freak'n entertaining. He should be our next President, lol.