Ever had music sound so so good in your ears you sort of feel you are literally ‘inside the song’ ? …Well that’s the best way i can describe how important mix engineers are.
Mix engineers are just like cooks, there is no exact approach to mixing as elements in every song differ… You need an ancestor telling you exactly how much of editing is needed on each element… Just kidding… Mix engineers need a well-trained ear and a lot of technical know-how.
Black people don’t measure seasonings.🙅🏽♀️ We just sprinkle & shake until we hear the spirits of our ancestors whisper “Enough my child” 😭
— Asia 💜 (@NiAsiaDanii) January 27, 2018
Hope my little joke was funny enough 😭😭😭😭
Unfortunately most audio/mp3 files on our music blogs out there are heavily compressed , distorting the actual quality of songs . This deprives most of us the opportunity to appreciate the full extent of the Mix Engineer’s work.
A good quality mp3 file should be at a bit rate of 320 kbps but we often find ourselves listening to 128 kbps versions . If you do a bit of quick maths (in Big Shaq’s voice) 128 kbps versions are less than half the actual full quality.
In other words… A good quality 3 minute mp3 audio file should be around 12 MB , but we often find ourselves with 3 MB mp3 files.
Mix Engineers are responsible for the quality and clarity of a song , by mixing all elements of a song to work together in perfect harmony. This is because various elements of a song are not recorded at the same time.
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The vocals are recorded separately and the instrumentals like drums, guitar, piano, bass effects and others are recorded in their individual tracks or channels. Some songs may have other elements like specific sounds or speech that form an integral part of the song. The mix engineer has his work cut out to blend all these disparate elements into one fluid, beautiful song.
We will not be delving into the technicalities involved with the mixing process. We simply aim to list the best mix engineers in Ghana. The list was simply based on feedback from producers, as they are the ones who usually coordinate with mix engineers the most.
Before you proceed please note that this list is not exhaustive and will be updated as and when new information is made available.
1. Ubeatz
Ubeatz was the name on all the lips of the producers we engaged with , always top of their list.
Real name Hubert Kofi Anti, Ubeatz is a sound engineer with two decades of experience in recording, mixing, mastering and also movie / tv sound.
Some of the notable sounds he has worked on includes but not limited to
- Kaakie – Sankwas (feat. Guru)(Prod. By JMJ)
- 4×4 – Baby Dance (feat. Davido)(Prod. By Coublion)
- Da’ Hammer – 4 Decades (feat. Nana Asaase)
You can listen to the high quality versions of the songs on his website http://www.ubeatzworld.com/new-releases-mix-and-mastered-uvsl/
His website is http://www.ubeatzworld.com
Contact Information:
Phone: +233 24 446 2606
Email: [email protected]
2. Kaywa
He needs no introduction , one of the best producers in Ghana with countless hit songs under his belt. He also happens to be one of the best mix engineers out there.
According to Kaywa , he has a strict ‘quality over quantity’ policy when making music. Therefore he spends a lot of time on his music, especially with the mixing process.
Some notable songs he has worked on includes but not limited to…
- Asem – Bye Bye (feat. Kwabena Kwabena)
- Kurl Songx – Jennifer Lomotey (feat. Sarkodie)
- Ofori Amponsah – 17 (Seventeen)(feat. Kwabena Kwabena)
- Kwabena Kwabena – Siwagedem
- Becca ft Bisa Kdei – B3shiwo
- Castro – African Girls (feat. Asamoah Gyan)
- Bisa Kdei – Mansa
- R2bees – Makoma
- Kwabena Kwabena ft Samini – Adult Music
- Castro – Odo Pa (feat. Baby Jet & Kofi Kinaata)
3. Possigee
Real name Awal Alhassan , Possigee is another household name when it comes to music production and mixing in Ghana. He’s the brain behind the mixing of a chunk of Sarkodie’s songs. Beyond Sarkodie , he has mixed several songs for artistes including Stonebwoy, Criss Waddle , Efya , 4×4 , Teephlow, Itz Tiffany, D Cryme, Maccasio, Strongman and many many more.
Some of his notable works include but not limited to
- Sarkodie – Fa Sor Ho
- Sarkodie – Gboza (Prod. by MOG Beatz)
- Sarkodie – Ghetto Youth (feat. Shatta Wale)(Prod. by KillBeatz)
- Captain Planet (4×4) – Very Good Bad Girl (feat. Sarkodie)(Prod. By MOG Beatz)
4. Mix Master Garzy
The name is a dead giveaway right ?
Fancy Gadam – Customer (feat. Patoranking)(Prod. by Guilty)
StoneBwoy – Sick Inna Head (feat. Burna Boy)
Contact Details
Phone: +233249952370
5. Appietus
Appiah Dankwah, popularly known as Appietus (born 12 March 1977) is a Ghanaian actor musician, music producer and sound engineer based in Accra, Ghana. The name Appietus gained prominence from his signature “Appietus in the mix“. It was, however, coined from the phrase “Appiahs’ Tools”.
He has been the winner of six music industry awards in the 10-year span from the start of his career. He won the Ghana Music Honours 2015 Best Music Producer and Sound Engineer award, Sun Shine Music Awards 2010 Best Sound Engineer award and the UK Ghana Music Awards, Best Sound Engineer in 2008. His remarkable work has also led him to represent the country in some international programs including WOMEX 2013 in Wales, UK, and Worldtronics in Berlin, Germany, 2012.
6. Seshi
Known for producing Sarkodie’s ” La Borrow” as well as Donzy and Kofi Kinaata’s “The crusade”, Seshi is also one of the best mix engineers out there. His mixing services has been patronized by almost all major Ghanaian artistes.
Contact: 024 463 9288
7. Panji
You might be as shocked as i was , but yes Panji Anoff , C.E.O. of Pidgen Music , is one of the best when it comes to Live Sound Mixing !.
A bit about Live Sound Mixing :
Live sound mixing is the process of electrically or digitally blending together multiple sound sources at a live event by an audio engineer using a mixing console or software. Sounds that are mixed include those from instruments and voices which are picked up by microphones (for drum kit, lead vocals and acoustic instruments like piano or saxophone and pickups for instruments such as electric bass) and pre-recorded material, such as songs on CD or a digital audio player. Individual sources are typically equalised to adjust the bass and treble response and routed to effect processors to ultimately be amplified and reproduced via a loudspeaker system. The live sound engineer balances the various audio sources in a way that best suits the needs of the event.
OTHER MENTIONS
8. Magnom
9. TubhaniMuzik
10. Slo Deezy
11. Fortune Dane
12. Drvmroll
As stated earlier , this list is not exhaustive , and we would be more than happy to receive new information at [email protected]
