When you start out learning how to play an instrument, you improve gradually over time, but you really start to see huge progress when you begin to collaborate and play with other musicians. The exact same can be said for mixing.
I’ve already spoken about how constructive criticism from your clients can help you improve but I want to share something a little more specific from my own experiences that is really invaluable…
Lots of people want to be professional musicians, producers, recording engineers, mixing engineers etc. The audio and music industries are fiercely competitive. That, however, does not mean that you should keep all your secrets to yourself and share nothing with other engineers and musicians. If that was the case, then great songwriting partnerships wouldn’t exist, producers wouldn’t work with artists and you wouldn’t see me sharing anything with you!
On to the story…
I was close to finishing a mix last week and I was experiencing some ear fatigue. Using my references to take a break wasn’t helping too much, so I needed to rest and recharge. While I did that, I sent a text to a friend of mine who is a great mixing engineer and asked him to have a listen.
What came back were notes on the level of the bass guitar, what he felt would add more excitement to the hook, what frequencies to boost to achieve that and the exact EQ he would use. When I listened back to the mix again, I could hear exactly what he was talking about and was able to make the changes.
It really improved my mix.
I know how privileged and grateful I am to be able to get feedback on my mix from such a super talented engineer by simply sending a text. I also know that you might not have someone like that at your disposal. I didn’t either when I was less experienced because those relationships take time to develop naturally.
The best way to develop real relationships with other engineers, producers and musicians is to be real and actually want to help them first. Be a sounding board for their music and offer helpful suggestions (when asked!) on how they can improve their music. It will come back to you.
Mentorship is something that many desire but people don’t just become your mentors. Those relationships get built over time and through experiences. Sharing music and being open to criticism on your work is a great way to do that.
Being able to rely on an inner circle of friends who are engineers, producers and musicians really is invaluable to me and I highly encourage you to collaborate and be open to helping others.
By being open and helpful, you will discover amazing opportunities, improve your skills, save yourself time, and most importantly, you’ll develop real friendships with people you admire and respect on a professional, creative and personal level.
Now, if you could help me, I’d love to know…
What value do you put on mix critiques?
Leave a comment below!
professional sounding mix every time...
I’ve been writing, recording, arranging mixing live and studio tracks and performing non-stop for 57 years…..
I posit that there is nothing ‘original’ anywhere in the music scene.
Everything is an evolution based on experience, collaboration, mentor ship and dogged pursuit.
If you you are trying to do it all yourself, I would say you’re on a mental desert island and you need to get off that island.
Dear Mr. Michaels its nice to hear you do this for that long time. May I send you a mix for hear it, and you say what you think about?
Always honored to help and assist when I can. Send away…..
tuneman51@yahoo.com
Thanks Dave. You’re a gentleman.
Dear Mr. Michaels, I´ve got send my mix, may be it´s landed in spam? Thank you for listen.
Gerd,
I haven’t seen anything come in yet.
Perhaps you can resend? As the title please put “Session Review” so I can spot it when it comes in. Thanks, I look forward to hearing your work.
Dave
Good hustle Gerd!
Stephen thank you for this contact.
Extremely well put and I absolutely agree.
Stephen I place great emphasis on critique from others. Mixers, other audio professionals or friends and outsiders who listen to my mixes. I find that many times like you they hear something that I don’t and bring it to my attention. I am not so vain as not to receive critique. Thanks Stephen. Later!!!!
That’s great Phil. I love your attitude towards criticism.
I’m really fortunate. I have the honor of doing work with Paul Zaleski, Al Green’s producer from the late 80’s. I treasure his critique!!!
Wow! Lucky you, Bob. That’s gold right there 🙂
hey Stephen…I really enjoy hearing other peoples ideas on how I can improve…especially when it comes to compression…it seems to me I over use it all too often…
Thanks Damien. Great to hear you’re already doing this. Compression can be tricky. What’s your current approach?
Hi Stephen, I am always happy to have other people critique my mixes, because unfortunately we as engineers, (I class myself as an amateur) get very focused on the technical side of mixing trying to get that perfect mix, but what I have noticed is that the average person does not care about how many hours we may spend on a mix or all the technical tweaks we do , but they do seem to know if the song sounds good or average. And I appreciate them telling me what they think because it gives a different view on how I think about mixing, at the end of the day it’s all about BALANCE and ambience , maybe with some interesting effects and automation. However, as an amateur, getting critique from a proffessional engineer would be fantastic.
Hi Stephen,
The value of getting your posts (and that of Graham, Recording Revolution) initially was to learn techniques. Now that I get better in applying them, I keep on reading your posts. Because somehow it always causes reflection on what I’m doing, helps to keep the overview and perpective. And apply a no-nonsense, back-to-basics style of working.
So, thanks for that!!
You’re welcome Thé! My goal is to share as much of my journey with you and help you with yours. I’m constantly learning new things and reflecting on what I’m doing as well. The no-nonsense, back-to-basics style is fun and as you can see, I like to throw in some fancy tips and tricks along the way 🙂
Hello again!
Couldn`t help it on leaving a comment this time… I share most oppinions I read above: I agree with mr. Dave Michaels when he says “there`s nothing original”; everything is more like re-invented this days. I agree with mr. Phil Rogers and mr. Damien Levon on how important is / would be getting critics about the mixes / production work (I´m not so fortunate on working with “someone big” like mr. Bob Beals wrote). And I definitly agree with mr. Thé Kuijpers about the value of getting your posts (and Graham`s, who lead me to you).
The only “problem” I`m facing right now is the difficulty on finding such community inside Portugal borders… ( if there is one)
Thank`s again! Best regards from Portugal.
Paulo Andrade
Hey Paulo! Yes – all of their comments are really well thought out and share something cool. That’s what I love about our community. Lots of people helping each other out 🙂 If it helps, the engineer that I mentioned in this article is based in the US and I live in London. So, perhaps you could search outside of Portugal as well?
Stephen: Sometimes I question myself how and where you find time to answer so many comments (yes, I already know that`s part of the “job”, but still…). For that, I wish to thank you also! And, yes, it seems a prety nice idea to make some search outside my own country, so I guess I`ll take your kind advice and start “getting out of my corner”. 🙂
Keep on the good work!
All the best. Paulo
Thanks Paulo. It’s important to me that I answer every comment that I get on the site and help as many people as I can!
(You`re incredible) Wish you and all your family a Merry Christmas and a (very) Happy New Year! – don`t need to reply – And by the way, about your video “Understanding Plate Reverb With Soundtoys Little Plate”, just one word: cool!
Thanks Paulo. The same to you and yours – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!
They are invaluable, Stephen. While an experienced producer is great, (don’t have one), I like the commoners opinion, preferably a non-musician. Their opinions tell me if I have made a connection or stoked an emotion.
Agreed John. Great point. You’ve taken the “think like the listener” approach and that’s invaluable! Great work.
Hallo Stephen,
thank you for this article. I´m a beginner in this and it´s great to have someone to get professionel tips and critic. I try to get it, wherever its able. So I try on mixcontest and so on. And I got very helpful critics. Now I know, I was unable to hear thomething because my gear was to bad and cheep. Now I own a good headphon and can hear the things that thay had sayed to me. Now I can do better work.
Gerd – that’s excellent! Sounds like you’re making progress and that’s what we’re all about.
Stephen Hi. Even though we may not have access to top flight talent, I believe there is much to be gained thru collaboration and building relationships with others in one’s circle of contacts – be they musicians, producers, mixers. Sometimes it’s not about how good the other person is at their craft – though, that is undoubtedly a plus – sometimes simply a fresh listener/fresh perspective is all it takes. I’ve had to work hard at accepting critique in a positive manner – it’s not always easy – it’s usually beneficial. Sometimes, I have to remind myself to “not be precious” – we are all – no matter what level we think we are at – on a learning curve.
Keep up the great work, Stephen. Regards and thanks George
Thanks George. That’s a really insightful, well thought out comment. Some really valuable advice there…
Stephen,
My “critique on mix critiques” is that the more specific the better. One reviewer simply commented “Listen to your mix again” which was so vague as to be totally useless. I like the example you gave where the reviewer provided specific areas that he thought could use improvement and offered ways to make it better. THAT is a good critique – unfortunately I haven’t gotten many of those yet…
“Listen to your mix again”… because you haven’t already listened to it a hundred times?! I agree with you – specificity in feedback is essential. You’ll find the right people. Keep sharing your music and having fun!
It’s such a great reality check to have someone else listen to your mix I mean it’s so easy to become short-sighted or myopic as the term refers that you lose perspective and you’re still missing some of the most basic and obvious things because you have become too intimately involved.
I love getting the fresh perspective when a new set of ears listen to one of my mixes
I think it would be cool if we established and ongoing way for us to submit a mix and solicit observation and recommendations from the group with the understanding that you have to be willing to listen and contribute on other people’s mixes if you expect the same I think we could make this work and all be the beneficiary- what do you think?
Thanks for your comment Pat. I know this is something you value highly.
I think that’s a great idea and you’ve left me with some food for thought!