8 Mixing Tips For Production Beginners
1) Get Organized
Many projects involve dozens (or even hundreds) of tracks, which often leads to a messy workflow and lots of CPU consumption to process effects and plugins. If you want to maximize the efficiency of your session, get organized. Start fresh by exporting stems, meaning create files for all your instruments as .wav so that they can be used in your project. When you do so, make sure that nothing is clipping (going over 0db). In doing so, you will save so much CPU when mixing and using other effects.
2) Use References
Using references can be essential because it is an excellent way to compare your work with other tracks that are similar to what you are welding on. By referencing other material, and using example reference tracks into your project, you will be able to base the balance in your material on what you hear. You can even use references as a way to learn more about the process, such as understanding how they worked on certain parts of the mix, such as the bass balance, the brightness, and so on.
3) Learn to prioritize your tracks and stems
Where do you start when mixing? Try to set an order of importance for your project, so you decide where to begin. Ask yourself a question: which track is the most important element of the song? Be it a fat kick drum or a lead vocal; whatever track you think is the most relevant can be a great starting point.
4) Understanding the “Less is more” philosophy
Many producers tend to get over the top and experiment with way too many plugins and layers of instrumentation, samples, and arrangement tricks. There is nothing wrong with experimenting and record more tacks then you need, but the trick to a good mix is knowing when to back down. Don’t be afraid to delete stuff, and remember that “less is more.” If a sound is not adding anything worthwhile to the song, just get rid of it for a cleaner, clutter-free mixing. Oh, and saving some CPU helps us well!
5) The importance of gain staging
Proper gain staging is the key to a good mix. This process involves setting the volume balance of every element, making sure that nothing actually clips. As mentioned earlier, you can use the order of importance to determine which track is the most relevant and set your balance accordingly. Turn things down to make room for other elements.
6) Saturation
As mentioned in one of our previous blogs, Saturation is a form of distortion. It might sound counter-intuitive, but people don’t really respond well to music that is too clean and pristine. Many producers intentionally distort their tracks to various degrees, just to add some warmth and grit. This is the reason why most people think older records are magic! There are many different types of saturation, often modeled to match the response of analog gear, like tubes, transformers, or transistors. However, there are many exciting digital distortion devices, such as bit-crushers and other cool tools. The possibilities are endless. From blown-out distortion to near-invisible, it is up to you to find the perfect recipe for your songs.
7) Equalization
An EQ is going to help you tailor the sound of your tracks to your particular needs or preference. Imagine you just recorded a vocal track, but the sound is a bit too boomy and muddy. You could use an EQ to get rid of some of that unwanted low-frequency rumble, and even brighten up the high frequency to get a more present sound.
8) Mastering
Mastering is not exactly involved in the process of mixing. However, because digital technologies make mastering easier and more accessible, many producers are starting to approach their own masters as well. Most people think that mastering can miraculously fix all your mix issues, but the truth is that in order to get a great master, you need a great mix. If you are not happy with how your track sounds after mastering, try to go back to one of the earlier stages of your productions, and don’t be afraid to tweak things if needed. The mastering process itself should not be very drastic. In most cases, subtle changes and small adjustments can get you where you need to be. Remember that there is no perfect mastering formula for each track. Each song might require different treatment.
So, what’s next?
Wrapping up, there are many other excellent resources for you to learn more about mixing. For instance, check out Youtube, where established mixing engineers like Dave Pensado or Warren Huart are doing a great job at sharing more tips with budding engineers! Music mixing is no walk in the park, but if you have the right attitude, you can learn all the basics and more!
