10 Years of Mixing Advice in 10 Minutes
Summary
TLDRIn this reflective video, the creator marks a decade since purchasing their first MIDI keyboard, sharing hard-earned lessons and common mistakes from their journey into music production. They discuss the importance of arrangement and production over mixing for a cohesive sound, the limitations of full-range presets, and the significance of phase checking in sample layering. The creator also emphasizes the importance of efficient software use, the end of the loudness war, and the value of context when mixing tracks. They debunk the myth that 'it's all about the ear, not the gear,' and caution against online advice, urging viewers to discern truth from nonsense in the pursuit of mastering their craft.
Takeaways
- ๐ต The speaker has been involved with music production for 10 years, starting as a hobby and evolving into a full-time job with their own studio.
- ๐จ The importance of fixing arrangement and production issues before mixing, as they cannot be fully resolved in the mix alone.
- ๐๏ธ The challenge of mixing competing tracks and the need for elements to groove around each other for a natural mix.
- ๐ The full-range nature of many presets and the necessity to make compromises to allow the song to breathe.
- ๐ The significance of checking phase when layering samples, especially in the low end, to avoid cancellation.
- ๐ The 'five click rule' for optimizing workflow in DAW software to avoid unnecessary clicks and streamline processes.
- ๐ The end of the loudness wars, with professionals often disregarding streaming service specifications in favor of song-specific loudness.
- ๐๏ธ The misconception that soloing channels is beneficial during mixing; it's more efficient to work in context with other tracks.
- ๐ ๏ธ The acknowledgment that while 'it's about the ear, not the gear,' having the right tools and equipment is crucial for accurate music production.
- ๐ค The caution against taking online advice at face value, as it can often be misleading or incorrect without context.
- ๐ซ A warning against any 'formulas' or 'methods' for music production, emphasizing the creative and individual nature of the process.
Q & A
How long has it been since the speaker bought their first MIDI keyboard?
-It has been exactly 10 years since the speaker bought their first MIDI keyboard.
What initially inspired the speaker to start making beats?
-The speaker was inspired by some of their favorite artists to start making beats.
What was the speaker's approach to learning music production when they started?
-The speaker bought the cheapest MIDI keyboard they could find, loaded up free software, and started making beats in their bedroom for fun.
How did the speaker's music production evolve over the years?
-Over the years, the speaker evolved from a hobbyist to running their own studio and turning music production into a full-time job.
What is the speaker's view on mixing competing tracks?
-The speaker believes that the issue with mixing competing tracks should be fixed in the arrangement and production, not just in the mix.
Why does the speaker suggest that the mindset of allowing tracks to groove around each other is important?
-This mindset shift helps tracks sound more confident, have more purpose, and groove well, which can make them mix themselves more easily.
What is the issue with using full-range presets according to the speaker?
-Full-range presets can make it difficult to stack other elements on top of them, requiring compromises to let the song breathe.
Why is checking the phase of samples important, especially in the low end?
-Checking the phase of samples is crucial to ensure that waveforms reinforce each other rather than cancel out, which can happen if they are out of phase.
What is the 'Five Click Rule' mentioned by the speaker?
-The 'Five Click Rule' is a personal guideline the speaker uses to find a more efficient way to do tasks in their DAW if they require more than five clicks.
What has the speaker observed about the loudness war and mastering practices among professional engineers?
-The speaker has observed that the loudness war is over and loudness has won, with most professional engineers disregarding streaming service specifications in favor of what's best for the song.
Why does the speaker advise against soloing channels when mixing?
-Soloing channels can slow down the mixing process and lead to ear fatigue, as it's easy to make things sound good in solo but then have to adjust when they don't fit with the rest of the mix.
What is the speaker's stance on the importance of having the right equipment for music production?
-The speaker believes that while skill is important, having the right equipment is also crucial and should not be dismissed as unimportant.
What misconception does the speaker want to clear up about online advice and formulas for music production?
-The speaker wants to clear up the misconception that there are formulas or exact methods for producing a hit song or a perfect mix, emphasizing that music production is a creative process without such formulas.
What does the speaker suggest as a way to connect with the community and offer value?
-The speaker suggests sharing advice and insights, like the ones in the script, to connect with the community and offer value, especially to those starting out in music production.
Outlines
๐ถ Reflecting on a Decade of Music Production
The speaker recounts their journey of the past 10 years since purchasing their first MIDI keyboard, which was inspired by their favorite artists. They describe the evolution from a hobbyist to a full-time job running a studio. The speaker also reflects on the lessons and mistakes made along the way, including mixing tips and mindset shifts. They offer to engage in deeper conversations in the comments section and hint at potential future videos on specific topics. The main point emphasized is the importance of fixing arrangement and production issues before mixing, rather than relying on plugins to carve space between tracks.
๐ The Loudness Wars and Mixing Techniques
This paragraph discusses the loudness wars and the shift in professional practices regarding audio mastering. The speaker notes that despite loudness specifications from streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, most engineers now prioritize song quality over strict adherence to these guidelines. They argue that this makes hiring a mastering engineer even more crucial, as they can provide options and select the best fit for the genre. The speaker also shares personal production tips, such as avoiding soloing channels during mixing to prevent ear fatigue and ensure tracks fit well together. They caution against blindly following online advice and formulas, emphasizing the importance of using the right tools and equipment for accurate audio production.
๐ซ Debunking Myths and Seeking Authentic Learning
The speaker addresses common misconceptions and myths in music production, urging beginners to be discerning about the advice they follow online. They highlight the importance of understanding one's own equipment limitations and not being swayed by those with expensive setups who claim it's all about 'the ear.' The speaker also warns against purchasing courses promising step-by-step formulas for success in music production, asserting that there is no one-size-fits-all method in this creative field. They encourage viewers to share their own lessons learned and to engage with the community for valuable insights and support.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กMIDI keyboard
๐กMixing
๐กMastering
๐กArrangement
๐กPlugins
๐กPolarity
๐กFive-click rule
๐กLoudness War
๐กSoloing
๐กGear vs. Ear
๐กAccountability
Highlights
10 years of experience with a MIDI keyboard and the transition from hobby to full-time job.
Learning from mistakes and mindset shifts in music production.
The importance of fixing arrangement and production issues before mixing.
The limitations of using full-range presets in mixing and the need for compromise.
Checking phase of samples, especially in low-end layering to avoid cancellation.
The 'Five Click Rule' for streamlining workflow and reducing reliance on manual processes.
Loudness wars are over, with professionals disregarding streaming service specifications for song quality.
Avoiding soloing channels during mixing to prevent ear fatigue and improve mixing speed.
The misconception that gear is not important in music production.
The need for good monitoring equipment for accurate music production.
The pitfalls of taking online advice at face value without discerning its validity.
Dispelling the myth of strict EQ and compression limits in professional mixing.
The importance of recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all formula in music production.
The value of community and learning from shared experiences in music production.
The shift towards short-form content on social media for connecting with the audience.
Invitation for viewers to share their own lessons learned in music production.
Acknowledgment of the collective journey of learning from mistakes in music production.
Transcripts
okay let's try this again I just filmed
this entire video dragged it onto the
computer and everything was corrupted so
here we go again it's been exactly 10
years since I bought my first midi
keyboard I was super inspired by some of
my favorite artists so I went to the
local music shop got the cheapest one I
could get loaded up the free software
and started making beats in my bedroom
just purely for fun I spent those 10
years producing mixing mastering
eventually accidentally sort of turning
this from a hobby into a full-time job
and running my own Studio but more
importantly it got me thinking about
loads of the harder lessons or just
straight up mistakes that I've made over
the years a few of them are just simple
mixing tips others are mindset shifts
that really help things click into place
I don't want to turn this into a 45
minute long video essay but if any of
these Concepts really resonate with you
or connect and you want to have a much
deeper conversation just leave a comment
and I'm happy to have a chat or I can
turn any of these into a much longer and
more detailed
video this is the best way to mix
competing tracks and it's the most
common question I he while there are
lots of plugins designed to help carve
space between different tracks and you
can use eqs and dynamic eqs to you know
attenuate and boost the same regions on
different tracks to try to carve space
but the reason it's so difficult to get
all of these competing elements to fit
together in the mix is because the
problem cannot be fixed in the mix this
is one thing that really has to be fixed
in the arrangement and production and
nobody likes to hear that it was so
annoying to hear this when I was
starting out or even for many years but
listen to any of your favorite records
notice how all of the elements Groove
around each other fit in the pocket and
they're all working with the arrangement
once this mindset shift SNS in your
tracks are going to sound so much more
confident they're going to have a lot
more purpose they're going to groove
well and they're going to Mi pretty much
mix themselves lots of the presets you
use like synthesizer presets they're so
full range with Basse mid and treble and
they sound amazing you're not going to
be able to stack too much on top of it
you've got to make some compromises if
you want to let the let the song breathe
and do what it's supposed to do as a
song this is a more practical tip this
is how important it is to check the
phase of your samples if you're going to
be layering them especially in the low
end I've got a whole video about this
but really quickly if you literally zoom
in on the sample say you're layering two
kick drums you can see the waveforms go
above and below the central line just
make sure that at the same time they're
both going up and down because these
will reinforce each other if the two
waveforms are opposite they're actually
going to cancel each other out and no
amount of processing EQ compression
Distortion anything you lay onto it can
help because the two waveforms are
canceling each other out before you've
even started and the reason I share this
is I've just had a few embarrassing
mixes that I've done where I didn't
realize until the next day or the next
week why I was struggling couldn't make
the kick and base work layering samples
adding on EQ low-end um exciters and
Distortion all sorts of stuff all it
needed was the polarity to be reversed
so there's always going to be some
degree of phase cancellation I just
didn't understand anything about that
for the first couple of years and I was
just you know loading on samples and
trying to make things work and it just
it was bad so hopefully you've learned
from that
mistake I learned this one years too
late I call it the five click Rule and
I've never shared this online at one
point I decided that if anything was
going to take more than five clicks in
my dawr software I had to find either a
better way to do it automate it shortcut
it or simply just use a different
software my relationship with the
software at the start was really bad I
felt like I was wrestling this software
to make it work for me I always felt
like I was having to do the heavy
lifting and the software was just
totally getting in the way there had to
be a better way to do it and the truth
is if you go through the manual if you
look for advice online there almost
certainly is if you're trying to record
stuff add effects uh pull in your
favorite presets load up projects
there's no need to be clicking through
loads of menus unless you're looking for
very obscure things or maybe you're
doing something very labor intensive
like manual pitch correction if I'm
creating folders opening up new projects
I can just type a name type the artist
name song name and it will generate all
the folders open the project pull in the
tracks open up all my effects you
usually pay quite a lot of money for
these softwares so at least let them do
a lot of the heavy lifting for you so
that you can just be creative do your
music production mixing master ing
whatever it is and have a bit of fun
with it instead of wrestling with the
software this one is insanely
controversial and I really don't know
why but basically a few years ago it
looked like loudness regulations and
specifications were going to be coming
in and that it would make everything
more beneficial to you if you mastered
at slightly lower levels and uh followed
the specifications for particular
streaming services but it's become
completely apparent to me especially
after my last mastering video where I
looked at what a bunch of Professional
Engineers were doing and what levels
they were hitting but to keep this brief
basically the loudness Wars are over and
Loud has won almost all Professional
Engineers are pretty much disregarding
the specifications that Spotify or apple
music are giving and we're simply doing
what's best for the song or maximum
loudness now this annoys a lot of
Engineers because it makes people think
well you know you don't need to hire
anyone you can just do this yourself but
I actually think and so do a lot of my
clients that this makes it even more
important to hire a mastering engineer
because they can audition a whole bunch
of loudness is give you loads of options
and we can both pick the version that
sounds best for your genre instead of
arbitrarily following what Spotify or
iTunes or apple music thinks is best for
your song in short the loudness Wars are
over you don't need to master to any
specific specifications those
regulations exist so that when you
submit your song it's not going to blow
anyone's eard drums out or play back
super super loud this this is a more
practical tip soloing your channels is
great when you're learning effects or
you're learning processing but when I'm
actually mixing this slows me down
because it's so easy to make things
sound good in Solo you know what it's
like you mix something that sounds
amazing you play the rest of the tracks
and it doesn't fit in you have to make a
load of adjustments so what I tried to
do and this is really difficult and
disorienting at first is playing that
track in the context of everything else
if you're mixing the snare keep the rest
of the drums on while you're adding
effects if you're mixing the vocal maybe
keep the guitars or the synthesizers on
even at a lower level this is going to
rapidly improve the speed of your mixing
because you're not going to have to go
back and remix everything for the second
third or fourth time when things aren't
fitting in but also it reduces your ear
fatigue because you will be working
quicker not having to listen to the same
sounds over and over again you've
probably heard the phrase it's not about
the gear it's about the ear and while
this tries to be positive I think a lot
of the time it's actually just wrong and
it can sometimes come across as
gaslighting when there's people sitting
in front of really expensive equipment
telling you that it's not about any of
that it's all about your ears some
issues are going to be skill-based and
you don't need more equipment it's all
just about what you know but there are
other times when you do need the right
tool for the job now we don't apply this
phrase to any other profession that I
can think of if you're an electrician
it's okay to have all the tools you need
in your toolkit Gardener it's okay to
have a great lawnmower video editor you
can have a great color accurate screen
otherwise you can't see what you're
doing if you're a music music producer
mixer mastering engineer it's okay to
have good equipment that lets you
accurately hear your music when I was
starting out I had awful speakers no
acoustic treatment no amount of skill
could have made that much better there
are things that I could I could not even
hear in my mix that were issues and
having a good monitoring environment
certainly would have helped the message
here is not to go out and buy a load of
equipment it's just to understand the
limitations of your own equipment and
don't let people Gaslight you while
sitting in front of loads of expensive
equipment telling you that it's all
about their ears and that none of the
fancy equipment makes a difference cuz
I've seen people in with millions of
dollars of equipment and room
surrounding them say that it's all about
their ears and it's just like well why
would you have all that incredible
equipment if you didn't need any of it
it's a little bit
disingenuous so this one's a bit awkward
cuz I know that I am a person online
who's trying to share advice from time
to time but at least with me and other
people in videos we've got a name a face
there's a level of accountability if I
make mistakes I'm either going to own up
to them and fix them or people in the
comments are going to tell me that and
we can all learn from it but the amount
of things that I picked up on forums and
blogs as a beginner that I've had to
unlearn because they're complete
nonsense and at the time I didn't have
the experience to know whether it was
truth really legit or just a complete
load of nonsense and Bs to be honest it
takes several years to be able to
develop that ability to know so when
you're uh more experienced or more
advanced these these forums and blogs
can be great because you can pick the
bits you need and pretty much throw away
the rest people sharing advice about
levels for a particular tracks or saying
that you can only EQ or compress by a
certain number of DB like three or six
DB when I was starting out in music
production this concept of never
compressing more than 3 to 6 DB was just
spoken like gospel all over the Internet
and then you get into the more
professional world and you realize that
is absolute nonsense you just do what
the tracks need and by far the biggest
lesson here is that if there's anyone
online trying to sell you any sort of
formula or method to mix or produce a
song or Master by a particular method or
formula or by numbers that's absolute
nonsense anyone that's professional
knows that there's no such formula it's
a very creative process and anyone
trying to sell you especially a course
uh that gives you some exact
step-by-step guide to like to a hit song
or some perfect mix that is nonsense and
I wish I'd known that soon as well so
that's all I have time for here I've got
loads more points that I want to get to
but I'm aware this video is just going
to get super super long which I said it
wouldn't uh I'm trying to do some
different things on YouTube and my other
social medias especially with short form
content at the end of the day I'm trying
to do this to connect with the community
and try to offer stuff of value the sort
of stuff that I wish I was I had seen
when I was starting out so just let me
know what are the sort of stuff you'd
want to see and also let me know if
there's any you know mistakes or lessons
you've learned along the way I know some
of you have been doing this longer than
I I have and I'm sure you've made just
as many mistakes as I have although I
hope not but you tend to learn from your
mistakes I've learned from them
hopefully you can learn from them all
too so thank you very much for watching
I hope to see you in the next video and
have a great week bye for now
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