 What I am about to share with you is so simple, but such a great way to have better mixes, and here it is: When mixing down a song in the studio, turn your monitors down to where you can barely hear your mix. At this low of a volume, you should be able to hear everything distinctly. It’s with this technique that all of the details of your mixing choices are laid bare. Every detail will now come sharply into focus. Very quickly, you will be able to discern if an instrument is too loud in the mix, or if an instrument is getting buried. Reverb and other effect choices become much clearer as well. Super simple, but super effective! **Note: This tip is especially great for setting the relative volumes
of the different elements of a drum kit.
2 Comments
so very simple!My dad had never touched a mixing console in his life, and yet he gave me THE most simple and useful mixing tip that I have kept as my personal mixing "motto" for the last 20+ years. wait, say what?There I was, about 17 years old, and riding with my dad in an old pickup truck. My dad loved old music. He was really into the old timey country music (you know, not like today where country music sounds like pop-rock with some twang and the heavy use of the word "guurrrl"). He also really loved the old "doo-whop" 50's music. That was his generation. Simple but effective music ran through tubes and recorded on tape.  I don't remember what it was, but we were listening to an old 50's classic on the radio. Out of the blue, he says: "...listen to that, do you hear how you can hear every instrument clearly? It's not like that nowadays." Simple but profound. so here it is: When mixing, make sure you can hear every instrument clearly in your mix. And now here's a message from Michael Jordan regarding my mixing tip! |
