Forget the distractions and the “weird tricks” that you’ll find and follow if you read enough music forum threads. When it comes to getting consistent mixing results, no matter what the genre, there are a number of simple strategies that work. Today, you’re going to learn 4 and if you apply even one of them, you’ll notice a massive difference.
Years ago, when I set out on my journey to mix music full time, I’d read as many forum threads as I could, watch as many YouTube videos as I could find (not videos of dogs doing silly things… OK maybe some of those) and I tried to apply everything that I learned to the mixes that I was working on at the time.
Now, you might think that this was a clever approach on my part and you might also think that I got some great results from doing this.
Well, I can tell you that I got two specific results from that approach:
- My mixes sounded disjointed and inconsistent
- I became stuck and didn’t progress as quickly as I could have
Let me explain those for you…
If you read as many threads and comments as I read at that time across multiple forums on a daily basis, you’d get answers and opinions… you’d get A LOT of opinions. Music and mixing are entirely subjective and what sounds good to you and what sounds good to someone else are two completely different things.
Want to test my theory? Go to Gearslutz right now and ask what EQ you should use on a lead vocal. I’ll be waiting for your reply but I’ll probably look like this by then…
I had no idea who was actually dishing out the advice on any of those forums, yet the opinions were so strong that I couldn’t help myself from at least trying to take their advice.
Then when it came to YouTube videos, I’d stumble across a great video where the engineer had put an EQ on a track and all of a sudden the lead vocal came to life.
What did I do?
I copied those settings and applied them to the EQ on the lead vocal track in my mix. I’d think to myself: “These settings are amazing and if (insert engineer’s name here) uses these, then my vocals will sound like his!”
Boy was I wrong.
Yes, I did learn quite a few things but I learned a lot more from my mistakes in trying to apply those snippets of information to my own mixes. I was only seeing a snapshot of his overall method and trying to make that work for me. I didn’t delve deep enough into the theory behind the EQ settings and it just didn’t work.
If there were two paths and one was as direct as possible and the other was incredibly windy and full of trolls, then you know which one I took!
I got really really stuck and things didn’t move as quickly for me as they should have. That was entirely down to my approach and the method I used. I wanted to know everything about music production and mixing but I didn’t know my ass from my elbow.
But luckily, that all changed.
Over time, I’ve developed my own mixing method and now I can very happily say that my mixing results are always consistent. And consistency is something that’s hugely overlooked when it comes to working in a creative field.
Think about it… how disappointing would it be if a client hires you, you do a great job, they hire you again and your mix is way below standard?
Now, I would have given anything for someone to sit down with me and really show me how to get consistent mixing results. I’ve spent years developing my own method and I don’t want you to have to go through what I did.
So today, I want to share the lessons I learned and four strategies you can use as part of your method:
- Understand what your tools do. It’s all well and good applying an EQ to a mix, but do you know how the instruments in your mix are going to respond to the changes you make in each frequency range? If you don’t know the basics of the tools you’re using, learn those first.
- Use the same tools until you master them. As well as understanding EQ and compression, it’s important that you use the same plugins until you really get to grips with them. If that’s a stock or free EQ for now, then use it. I still use stock plugins on every mix. Remember – premium plugins exist to save you time and make your life easier but you only need to use them when you’re ready.
- Use the same setup every time. This is where a lot of us go wrong. If you’ve created an unbelievable mix using a specific template and approach, then you decide to “change it up” for the next mix, then what do you expect? Results will vary. If it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it it.
- Use references. I’ll continue to hammer this point home until I’m blue in the face. So don’t make me go blue. I don’t call my guide ‘The One Hack That Guarantees A Unique, Pro Sounding Mix‘ for nothing. If you haven’t got it yet, download it and READ IT!
I hope you can see that I’ve learned a lot from making many mistakes and I really want to make sure you avoid them completely. After realising that something had to change about how I was approaching mixing, I started to put together a system – my method.
Remember – these are just 4 strategies that I’ve taken from my method to give to you TODAY.
Even if you apply just one of them, I promise you’ll start to see consistent mixing results.
Now, I’d love to know…
What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned that you now apply to “your method”?
Leave a comment below!
professional sounding mix every time...
Always to gain (loudness) match after every process I make to a track, unless it’s an aux track for parallel processing.
Many people fall for the “louder is better”, mostly when it comes to plugins, so they discard some plugins because they don’t sound as loud after some tweaks or presets.
I absolutely agree that most people fall for the “louder is better” problem and I also agree on maintaining the gain stage and perceived loudness all the way through a mix.
However, it would be remiss of me if I didn’t point out that gain and loudness are two different things.
Gain generally refers to how much we adjust the levels we see on the meters, measured in dBFS dBVU etc. If you think of Gain like the knob on a piece of gear like a preamp or on a guitar amp, you’re simply increasing or decreasing the level of the signal but loudness is perceived and felt.
Loudness is subjective and hard to measure on a meter but you can now use LUFS meters to do just that.
Everything you’ve said is right but those are two things that will help you in terms of defining things and separating things out a little.
Hope that helps!
Mmm, true. Well, then it would be loudness matching, as the our percerption of loudness is what really matters when a process is done.
Stephen Hi. Always enjoy reading/listening to your guidance. I tried to guess what your 4 strategies might be before reading………..I over thought it DOH!….though in my defence I did hit “use ref tracks”. These 4 things are really great (apparently) simple advice. However, it’s often the simple advice that’s hardest to stick with (and that’s a personal observation)………..you know it’s right but the temptation to “try something new” can be overwhelming. So here’s my question please: where does the balance lie between keeping to effective strategies that work and creativity (which often implies something new) Please keep up the great work. Many thanks.
George
Hey George. The best advice often is simple, as you know! Your question is fantastic. To answer…
I “try something new” on every mix. Or maybe 2-3 new things. But my method never changes. The end goal is a completed professional mix and the steps I take will be 95% the same almost every time.
The 5% is reserved for being creative and giving some new tricks a go.
Also, once you have the basics nailed down, you’re much more free to be as creative as you like. It’s counterintuitive but it really works.
Thanks for the kind words and nice to see your name in the comments again!
-S
Yep……guilty as charged! I spent a couple of years ingesting everything I could read or watch relating to mixing. I signed up for multiple courses and forums. I purchased cool gear that was guaranteed to make my mixes sound great. And I got the same results you got. I reaped confusion and inconsistency.
I’m mostly an acoustic guitarist/writer/producer that decided to learn digital mixing after 55 plus years of performing, recording and writing. The transition taught me the one thing I already knew……practice, practice, practice and keep it simple until you nail it or you find something that works…..then refine as you go from there.
So currently, I’m concentrating on establishing my workflow…..not glamorous or sexy but it’ll pay off when I finally get that groove flowing in my creative process. I’m still ‘hit n miss’ on a lot of things, but my consistency is really starting to pay off.
I recommend learning how what you have on hand works because you really know how to use it…..it does pay off in the end.
Dave – every time I hear from you, I read that you’re making progress. It’s so great to hear and see.
It takes a lot of self awareness and practice to take something you’ve learned in another art form (I view songwriting as a different, but deeply connected art) and apply it to something new.
Here’s what stands out from your post:
“I reaped confusion and inconsistency.”
It’s so easily done. Especially when you try to find the silver bullet. There are a lot of amazing courses out there and some phenomenal information but it’s all based on when you’re ready for it and your own personal mixing method.
“keep it simple until you nail it or you find something that works…..then refine as you go from there”
Gold!
“I’m concentrating on establishing my workflow…..not glamorous or sexy but it’ll pay off when I finally get that groove flowing in my creative process”
You’re already there. Keep up all your hard work!
S,
We are what we do (good or bad). If you ain’t moving forward on the train….you’re standing still on the platform.
I enjoy your forum….people ask intelligent questions and have good observations.
Nice to still be in the world and curious about things that fascinate me….
Good job mate…..CHEERS!
THIS is great stuff, Stephen. I don`t like to use someone else`s words, but this time I will: Mr. Dave Michaels (hello there!) wrote some days ago: “Believe what you do before you try to sell it to someone else. And know your craft”. He sayd it all!
And guys, my own example: I have, let`s say… 14 (?) electronic keyboards at home – mainly organs, synthsisers and one or two samplers (my analog gear) – and just a few more at my mother`s house.
Do I “need” them all? Of course not.
Do I use them all? Well… I try. But it ain`t easy!
I`ve bought them over the years just because (and could afford them at the time), some are very usefull, others are just pleasant to play with. And just for the record, I`m still learning and discovering how to use some of their features!
Now that I`ve grown a little bit and feel more carefull about spending money (new needs came up), I aply this logical mindset when it comes to digital gear: use only what you (realy) need and what (realy) makes the difference. What`s best? Having 20 plugins that you don`t (realy) know how to use – and remember there are lots of FREE plugins out there / none of my keyboards was – or just the few that can take you to the desirable results? And how much time do you need to learn and using them? Think about it…
So, as Mr. Dave said, know your craft before thinking of buying / downloading lots and lots of new gear and in response to Mr. George Roxburgh, I think that yes, somertimes creativity pops up just by using a new equipment. But sometimes it also appears by watching / listening to other artists / technicians / creators – I`m not saying copying them! >:-( – or by simply paying more attention to things that surround us and / or taking some time to be “experimental”, who knows?..
(sorry for the long talk)
Paulo Andrade, from Portugal
I agree – Dave’s words are very wise and come from a place of deep experience.
Great information here from you too, Paulo. A new piece of gear or new plugin can spur on some creativity, but multiple new pieces will just confuse matters.
You’ve summed it all up very nicely, so thank you.
Always welcome.
Hey Paulo,
Thanks for the ‘shout out’.
Carry on….Peace
Thank you too, Dave.
Have a nice weekend!