How to get better at mixing
We’ve all been there, Spending hours nailing a mix, just to take it to a car and having it all fall apart. For years I have been struggling with this same conflict, often times questioning my abilities as a mixing engineer. However, there is no secret to get quality mixes other than : time, taste, and continued quality practice.
TIME
The common trait that all top mixing engineers have is YEARS of experience. Unless you are born with a god gifted ear, it’s going to take some time to train your ear to hear and feel what a “good” mix is going to sound like. A good way to train your ear is to listen to all your favorite records and pin point exactly it is about it that makes you like the mix (e.g is it because the bass feels full and fat, or is it because the vocals have a slight distortion and drive on them). Analyze different genres and pay attention to the texture of the mix and try to reverse engineer how they came about those decisions in the mix.
When you go to mix a client’s or your own songs, try and take these same principles and apply it to your own creative liking. Mixing does not have to be as technical as 1’s and 0’s but rather a blank canvas for you to paint on. The same feeling that you get when you stumble upon your new favorite song should be the same feeling you're trying to achieve when you’re mixing. To be honest, this journey is never ending, and you might never be satisfied with your mixes, but as you look back on some of your old work as you continue, you will realize that you are making forward progress. Keep trying and don’t be afraid to make mistakes along the way because mistakes are going to help you improve faster than if you were just playing it safe. Eventually, you will start to mix with feeling and confidence as you gradually mix more and more records.
TASTE
Jaycen Joshua said it best himself, “ You are going to lose 100% of your clients… some days they want Chinese food and other days they want Italian". To add to what Jaycen Joshua mentioned, find something you would want artists to remember you for. For example, Mixedbyali has said to be known for his vocal effect throws (i.e reverb and delays as well as manipulating the stereo image). Jaycen Joshua is most known for his thick and punchy low end. Now of course, this isn’t to say that there aren’t any other engineers who can emulate their specialties, but rather artists who recognize their taste will gravitate towards them for that particular sound. Finding your sound will help build your confidence when it comes to mixing and it will give you a focus point to perfect. Chris Lord-Alge has also mentioned most engineers play it too safe, and to take chances in a mix to help bring it to the next level. So don’t be afraid to get creative and you’ll learn more as you do so then if you kept trying the same method of mixing over and over and OVER again.
CONTINUED QUALITY PRACTICE
Bouncing off the last 2 sections, taking every mix as an opportunity to try something new instead of slapping on the same preset will maximize the time spent mixing. Mixedbyali has said that “you’re only as good as your last mix” so approach every mix as if you’re hungry for a placement. And the absolute sure fire method of improving is to never stop.
