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5 Things I Wish I Knew About Mixing

Metadata

title
5 Things I Wish I Knew About Mixing
description
I made so many mistakes back when I used to send files to my mixing engineer. I was scared of making too many decisions. It cost me.
status
complete
date
2021-12-27
kind
solo
guestSlugs
listenUrl
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/5-Things-I-Wish-I-Knew-About-Mixing-e1blpfn
appleUrl
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/5-things-i-wish-i-knew-about-mixing/id1567355195?i=1000546235443&uo=4
spotifyUrl
https://open.spotify.com/episode/38tr9syqvjhjnuHtVEbOgj
topicsDiscussed
  • Mixing
  • Music production
  • Creativity
  • Producer insights
  • Saturation techniques
  • Reference tracks
  • Creative sound design
hostNote
"Reference tracks are overrated. You're making your own damn song." I sent so many files to mix engineers scared to have an opinion, and that fear cost me. The mix engineer can only work with what you give them, which means the producer's job doesn't end before the mix; it defines it. Saturation pulls out what makes a sound like itself, a saturated guitar sounds more guitarry, not just louder. I cover that, why printing your decisions matters rather than leaving them open for someone else to undo, and what it actually means to be the pre-mixer instead of treating yourself as a completely separate step in the chain. You have to do this around a hundred times before it clicks, there's no shortcut. But knowing what you're actually trying to do speeds the learning up considerably.
selectedMoments
  • label
    You are the pre-mixer
    startSec
    54
    note
    The producer's role doesn't end before the mix, it defines the mix.
  • label
    Importance of saturation
    startSec
    187
    note
    What saturation does to audio and why it makes things sound more like themselves.
  • label
    Print what you like
    startSec
    322
    note
    Make decisions and print them before handing off tracks, don't leave it to the engineer.
  • label
    Overrated reference tracks
    startSec
    367
    note
    Why chasing a reference track can undercut originality.
  • label
    Hands-on experience
    startSec
    496
    note
    Why you have to do this a hundred times before you get good, no shortcuts.
  • label
    Decide on your own sound
    startSec
    635
    note
    Make decisions because it's your music, even if you're scared of them.
excerptQuotes
  • text
    You are the pre-mixer. As a producer, don't think of yourself as being completely distinct from the mix.
    startSec
    106
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    What saturation does is it pulls out that which makes the thing different. So when you saturate a guitar, it sounds more guitarry.
    startSec
    233
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    If you like something, print it. If you like the reverb, print it, make decisions, and give it to the mixing engineer.
    startSec
    333
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    Reference tracks are overrated. You're making your own damn song. Make your own damn song.
    startSec
    356
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    You got to do this like a hundred times before you're going to get good. Like, I'm sorry.
    startSec
    466
    reviewed
    true
  • text
    Make decisions because it's your music. And then other things probably give it a shot, even if you're scared of it.
    startSec
    651
    reviewed
    true
faq
  • question
    What are five things I wish he knew about mixing?
    answer
    1. You are the pre-mixer. 2. Saturate your audio. 3. Print what you like. 4. Reference tracks are overrated. 5. You need to practice repeatedly to improve.
  • question
    How can saturation improve my music mixing?
    answer
    Saturation pulls out harmonic frequencies and makes the audio sound richer and more like itself, enhancing its character.
transcriptPublished
false
draft
false

Content

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