Would you like to get mixes right and done faster? With so many plugin options and shiny new objects to draw our attention, it’s so easy to keep tweaking or trying out new ideas. With the click of a button we can re-open a session and start fiddling around and by not having a plan or a deadline at the outset will mean you get swept away into a time-sucking black hole, only to discover when you resurface, that you are still no closer to finishing the mix.
The problem here is the law of diminishing returns (yes, that old chestnut).
There can come a point where we have taken a decent, nay, brilliant mix and turned it into an over-produced, weird sounding mess that can leave you wondering just where it all went wrong.
We all realise that mixing is subjective, and of course, a creative pursuit such as ours is impossible to quantify, so to mix faster and hit deadlines we have to come up with a way to recognise that we’ve done enough and it’s time to send it off for some client feedback.
So how can we do that?
Well, here are a few things that I do to judge how close I am to sending my client the first mix…
Referencing
Listening to commercial releases towards the end of the mixing process is one of the best ways to assess what work is left to do on your mix if any.
You can use references to check the following things:
Relative levels
Low end
High end
Clarity and definition
Sibilance
Width
Effects
Loudness
Vocal level
This can be as simple as bringing your reference track into your DAW and routing it straight to your main output so that it doesn’t go through any plugins. Then, importantly, match the level to your mix using clip gain or a gain plugin on an insert and flick between the two using the Solo button.
You can use a VU meter, as well as your ears, to help get the level in the right place.
Check the verses, then check the choruses, so you are cross-referring dynamics as well as all of the above.
Optimise Your Monitoring Set Up
It’s important to establish that what you’re hearing is an accurate representation of the moves you’re making inside the mix.
Mixing is a reactive act. We react to what we hear coming out of the speakers so we can only do a good job when what we are listening to is a truthful representation of our mix moves.
Good studio monitors with some suitably placed acoustic treatment will mean that you’re not being fooled by your room acoustics. Then, by actively listening to as much music as you can through your set up, you will build trust and make mix moves that will translate out of the studio and into the real world.
Having some additional monitoring sources to check your mix on will further inform you as to the completeness of your mix.
A set of trusty headphones, a Bluetooth speaker and your phone speaker are all excellent sources to use to compare your mix against your reference tracks. Passing the car test being the holy grail.
Can You Feel It?
A telltale sign for me that I’m getting close to the end of the mix is when I start to nod my head to the music. I may also get goosebumps and shout “yeah!” if I’m really feeling it!!
This is where I’ve unconsciously shifted from “analytical mode” to “involuntary enjoyment mode” (my terminology!) and it’s a sign I recognise that tells me I’m nearly done and I should seriously consider my next actions before I go too far.
A Final Automation Pass
Take a full, uninterrupted listen through the mix a couple of times and assess the leading elements of the song. Can you hear every word of the vocal, every note of the guitar solo?
Use automation in your DAW to bring the final polish to all the main performances and to emphasise the transitions.
Doing this step well will save an extra revision round or two and therefore, your time.
Sleep On A Mix Before Sending
If you’ve been working on a mix all day or for many hours, avoid the temptation to print a mix and send it to your client before you shut down your studio for the evening.
Always sleep on a mix before you send it, timescales allowing.
Tired ears will do you no favours, no matter how often you reference other music. Tired ears are tired ears!
Harsh, brittle mixes are often the result of ear fatigue along with overly loud elements that jump out of the mix.
Wait until the following morning to assess your last mix, then make the changes whilst you’re awake and fully refreshed. Don’t spend ages doing this, make the changes quickly then print it and send it to your client.
I build time for this into every project and quote timescales accordingly. Even when timescales shift, I’m always mindful of this final step before giving out an ETA.
The Final Listen Outside Or At The Back Of The Room
I think this works because you’re listening to a summed down, mono version of your mix which tends to highlight any level anomalies or masking.
You can accomplish a similar thing by lowering your monitoring level and flipping the mix to mono but I find that listening outside the room gives you the added benefits of not seeing the screen, where your eyes somehow affect your hearing, plus, you’re getting your backside out of your chair and getting some exercise!
Checking Against The Client Brief
When running a service-based business, what the client wants should be what we deliver. We might not agree with their ideas sometimes but I surprise myself how often something they suggest works when by rights, it really shouldn’t.
What was the intended emotion for the song? Have you captured it?
Finally, check your mix against the rough mix to make sure you’ve not missed anything.
Summary
Once you go through all these stages and nothing bothers you, then you’re done. Print the mix and send it off, knowing you’ve done the best you can.
Knowing when your mix is finished will mean you mix faster and with more confidence, completing projects in less time and therefore being able to take on more work or take some well earned time off to spend with your family.
There’s no such thing as the perfect mix, that is a tireless pursuit. The trick is having a change in mindset, to being happy in your heart that you’ve done your best, that it sounds great and you’ve fulfilled the brief or your personal goals.
Job done, on to the next!