Some of the members in a group photo with Chuck Ainlay (center).
In the latest installment of the MTSU AES section's long-running series of mixing events with industry professionals, the chapter hosted acclaimed engineer Chuck Ainlay. Chuck began the seminar by introducing himself and giving a brief summary of his history in the Nashville music industry. He then went on to discuss the technology and gear he uses on a daily basis, his reasons for choosing them, and how he uses them to his advantage while tracking and mixing. Using tracks from one of his many recent projects, MTSU's new SSL Duality console, and a variety of outboard gear, he then demonstrated and explained several of his favorite and most useful mixing techniques. Finally, after a short break, Chuck fielded several questions from the members. This Q&A session led to many interesting anecdotes and insights on the mixing process, audio technology, and the recording industry in general.
