Mixing music is an art form. Just as important as the art of your music, how you present it to your fans affects their experience.
Some Mixing Engineers have a very strict process they follow when they mix, and others start with the main instrument. Some start with the drums, others start with the vocal.
Finding your “Inner Mixing Engineer” is a process that starts with doing it over and over, just like you would practice the song your mixing.
With just a few simple things to remember, you will be well on your way to mixing stellar soundscapes your fans will love you for.
Don’t – Hide Your Vocal
The number one absolute most annoying facet of any mix-down that can grate on my nerves in less than a heartbeat is not being able to understand your lyrics, no matter the genre. Metal screamers…read that sentence again…
Imagine how a fan would feel if immediately they are searching the internet for your lyric sheet because they have no idea what your saying. Don’t make your fans work and don’t sing if you don’t want anyone to know what your singing.
Don’t hide your vocal because your not confident in the performance. If it’s not up to snuff, record it again. That is a much better option than hiding it.
Do not rely on compression to keep your volume under control, take the time and put forth the effort to ensure that vocal presence is a priority.
Do – Ride Your Vocal Volume
Get your vocal on top of the mix. Automate or ride the fader on a bounce down to make sure the volume of your vocal increases in the quiet moments and decreases in the louder moments.
Don’t – Just Mix Without Thinking About Mastering
Realize that whether you are mixing and mastering the song yourself or are just mixing it to send to a Mastering Engineer that you want to leave some room for the mastering process.
Don’t mix to 0 db, that is way too hot. At a minimum I suggest leaving -4db on the mix, and you would be better off leaving -6db.
Do – Mix to a Compressor
That’s right. Put a compressor on the master channel while your mixing.
I never start the mixing process without putting a compressor on the master.
Don’t squash it, just give yourself the gentle compression you need to remember that this mix is going to be compressed during the mastering.
Don’t – Think Your Done Without Checking Your Mix
Don’t just mix it and ship it. That would be bad.
Chances are your first rendition of your mix may be too bass heavy, not enough punch on the kick, hiding the strings in the bridge, too tinny on the acoustic guitar, or any other mishap you didn’t notice in the first go round.
Do – Check Your Mixes and Take Breaks
Walk away. Go shopping. Visit your local eatery. Let the dog out. Anything. Take a break from the mix you are spending so much time in front of. I guarantee when you come back to it, something won’t be right.
Sometimes when we are too close to a project, we forget the importance of compatibility. Not everyone is going to hear the music on expensive studio monitors.
Check your mix on different sources. Headphones, boom box, car stereo.
You may consider investing in monitor calibration.
Probably the best money I ever spent on my studio was on IK Multimedia’s ARC, a plug-in that corrects your room and monitors, giving you an accurate representation of your mix. ARC takes the guessing out of your mixing, and you don’t have to continuously run to the car and check your mix.
What process do you follow when your mixing? Post your comments below.
