Thank you all ever so much! I am continually overwhelmed by the incredible support you give by commenting, liking and sharing the videos! The outpouring of positive comments and the sharing of your own experience and insight are truly amazing! Have a marvellous time mixing and recording, many thanks Warren!
+Produce Like A Pro Well Warren, you are generous with everything you know, so enjoy all the support and good vibes here :) You deserve it. Cheers from Chile! PS: Hey! And thanks for the subtitles in spanish. Don't know if that is automatic, but still, nice touch :)
I'm 75 and I've been engineering, producing, mixing, playing multiple instruments what have you since I was a teenager. Got my first studio job at 20. Owned my own studio since the 80's. I've produced and mixed hundreds of singles and albums during that time. I said all of that to say this, young people, listen to this guy. He knows what he's talking about!
Another mistake that many people make (me included) is to get lost in details, especially at an early stage of the mix. It's so easy to spend a LOT of time on a tiny detail that may not make much of a difference in the end result at all. I do believe that attention to detail is important, but get your mix in the ballpark first, and then spend whatever time you may have left on the details. Otherwise you might end up with a perfect sounding shaker after three hours, when you realize that you don't have anything that could even remotely be called a mix yet, haha. Many thanks, David
Hi +David Mood Exactly! That's the ability to take time and listen to the song as a whole! Thanks for the input, always well though out! I appreciate it! Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
David Mood this is a big one .. this comment about not getting caught up on too much detail at the beginning before getting a good balance of the whole mix first is so important... thanx 🙏🏻
I refer to this as getting lost in the sauce. I see many new and inexperienced Sound tech and I'm guilty of it myself as well of being so wrapped up in watching the graphics real time Analyzer levels on the mixer or trying to find the correct directory to adjust parameter levels for something you don't even realize what the changes are doing to the overall sound. or that the song is over and you are now getting noise through your PA system. But it can happen in the studio as well getting fixated on a certain track and then when you put it off SOLO it no longer even fits into the mix.
Hey Warren, huge fan of your work, and of your content! Do you have any videos on this? And preparing tracks for Mastering? As many engineers now Mix through a fake master, and often will leave it on for those who mix, and master their own work to do both together. I'm curious as to what I can do to make sure my tracks is in optimal shape to be sent to a professional Mastering engineer, and making buses sit. Thanks in advance!
If I master myself, I have master chain ready, And I turn it on when 80% of a mix completed. And results are nice. Especially when you work on a project in 2-3-4 touches.
I've noticed that, when driving and listening to a mix, certain aspects of the mix disappear into the road noise; aspects that are important. So I will go back and tweak the mix and road test it again. But there is a quicker way: Once you have your mix basically done, turn on a fan in the control room to simulate environmental noise, and listen to the song. If something important disappears, fix it with the fan running. Then turn the fan off and check again. Also: Another way I check my mix is to play it back and then wander away, such that I can still hear it, but I'm not in the sweet spot of the speakers. I sit somewhere and read. When you take the focus off what you're hearing, your brain stops correcting little mistakes, and they'll start to jump out at you. Similar to taking a break, but more of a sanity test.
I always have my fan on when mixing because it's hot in my room. Glad to know it helps. In my case, i switch the fan off to check if i've brought out too much of something LOL
Be careful doing this though, some car speakers just give you a false representation of your mix. It might sounds loud and full when driving on the freeway but once you listen on headphones it will sound distorted and muddy.
@@phillipisayev1273 That's actually the point of listening on different speakers... and different headphones. Once you think you you're getting close, you should rip it, and listen to it in your car on the way home, listen to it over your home stereo/hi-fi, your television, put it into your MP3 player or as an MP3 on your phone, and in your partner's car, friend's car and home stereo, as many different systems and EQ's as you can to make sure you're not running into that exact issue. BTW, if you're an engineer and your car system isn't set to flat EQ or EQ'd to a flat or good mix, you're just incredibly lazy or don't use your car radio.
Great, great GREAT advise Warren. I spent 22 minutes nodding my head yes. I think your first point of taking breaks is the most valuable. When I went independent (after being a staff mixer for over 30 years) my mixes immediately got better - A LOT better. The difference was as an independent, 70% of my work was being done from my home studio unsuped. I wasn't tied to the clock or a day rate. When I'd get tired or the mix wasn't gelling I'd get up and unload the dishwasher or walk the dog and then go back. It's not just resting your ears it's getting a fresh perspective for your creative mind. I'd add one thing to your different listening environments comment. Spend a certain amount of your time mixing with headphones you know and trust. Probably 90% of listeners will hear it with headphones and it can greatly effect your delay and reverb returns which are a much wider perspective in headphones. Also changing the playback engine in Pro Tools and listening on a MacBook Pro can reveal some loose ends hanging out. Thanks and keep up the great work!
Hi Sound Design & Mix, wow! Thanks for the great comment!! Thank you for the insight! It's fantastic to hear your prices, it really helps us all relate to each other better! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Another tip I learnt from a video featuring a bunch of top film composers is to be in the room when someone else is there listening to your mostly finished track. It's a really weird phenomenon that occurs where any dud areas suddenly become really obvious and stick out, it's like you can sense the other persons reaction to it without them telling you and you can then figure out what needs changing. It might be a case of concentrating the focus onto the main two elements or adding a tambourine etc to keep attention and momentum flowing, hope this makes sense(!) cheers for the great vids Warren!
Hi +Sam Lee I completely understand!! I've sat in a room with a lot of very talented people and cringed at my exes many times!! Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
This can be terrifying. I remember my first time vividly. I was having a meeting in a publisher's office and he played the song (bare in mind it was recorded on analog 8 track tape with minimal gear). I almost had a panic attack in the room! I heard every flaw in the recording, eq-ing, mixing. It sounded like the biggest piece of crap I'd ever heard and I wanted to immediately sell all my gear and give up. Decades later, the mix will sound completely different when someone comes in to listen. Some element will suddenly sound crazily loud or way too quiet. Or i'll hear the tail end of a guitar solo cut off accidentally that somehow I didn't hear during hours of solo mixing! It's amazing how this works.....and very unsettling!
I have experienced this as well. It freaked me out. But my roommate is a Neurooscientist and he believes it is caused because our brains have special subsystems that turn on that model what other people think/feel/hear and try to predict their behavior. Those subsystems essentially bring a new personality model online, and because that model hasn't been listening to the music, it is not used to it, so it hears all of the mistakes. Now as to why you don't hear them in the first place, it's also because of the brain. It does this with vision and sound and smell and all senses. Your brain has a lot of error correction built in, so when a sound does something that is off putting, your brain will eventually start filtering it out, like a bad smell in the room that you don't notice much anymore. So the goal is to hack your brain into resetting that error correction. So basically you have to change as many things as possible. Environment, people listening, smells, anything that gets your brain to pay attention to the details its filtered out again. I think this is also why lots of people use drugs in making music. lol Drugs change your default filters.
First impressions are the most creative. Pull up a rough mix and have a pen/pad ready to write down your initial thoughts about the song. Write what you like and what you don't. Make notes about the instruments that will support the vocal the best and which ones should pop out at different moments for feel. I will write down what should be removed from a verse and brought back into a chorus for example. I will make initial decisions about some panning choices also. Everyone will hear it differently and write what strikes them as important. Just a thought.
Hi +MT Champion Agreed 100%!! That makes perfect sense! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Young people, listen to this guy. He is dead on the money. He just summarized what it took me a life time to learn, and as he said, I, we, are still learning! (I'm 73.) I go back (my first job as an engineer/producer) to when a "punch in" was taking two or three, maybe four takes on a two track Ampex while working the mix in real time (those machines sounded great!) and then picking out the best sections and splicing them together. Then go from that, through the board (8 channels, tube), mix in the vocals, fills, rides etc. and catch that on another two track and so on. As time went on we had better and better equipment including multi track machines with punch in capability. Heaven! Opened my first studio in 88. Today's tech is beyond amazing though. You don't really realize what is available to you unless you were there at the beginning. But his mixing tips are dead on the money. Pay attention and you will learn! Just found you bro. New sub! Oh, and the best tool of all? Ears! And remember, it's not about the tech, it's about the music. Pay attention to what the music is doing and make the mix compliment it.
Great tips! I totally agree. Additionally I'd say (along with taking breaks, and listening at reasonable volumes) REFERENCE TRACKS (that you know well) are a great way of resetting your ears, and staying objective. Also listen to a lot of varied music in your mix room, and car. Really get to know those systems, and spaces. Try not to ever change them... I kept driving an '82 Diesel Chevette for years because it was the automotive equivalent of NS-10s; "if it sounds good in the 'vette it'll sound good anywhere!" Cheers!
+Produce Like A Pro Wow, looking forward to that! Warren, if you don't know it already, check out the "Magic AB" plug-in, it's a fantastic tool for referencing tracks! You can load up to 9 songs in it, match their volume levels, and save that as a preset - so that you can have a preset for rock, pop, indie, etc. Just insert it as the last plug-in on your mix bus, then the reference tracks will not be affected by any plug-ins you might use on the mix bus. It also has good metering built in, which lets you compare the dynamic range of the different tracks very easily. www.samplemagic.com/details/184/magic-ab
Hi +David Mood I've got to see that 'Magic AB' that sounds great! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
+Produce Like A Pro Yes, I don't think you'll regret it if you try it! It's also nice to get a plug-in which does something completely different than all your other plug-ins, for a change... instead of getting your 99th compressor plug-in, hahaha. Let me know how you like the plug-in, if you try it... Many thanks, David
As a broadcaster in Los Angeles, and freelance musician, I can definitely concur with your points - and the subjectivity of mixing as well. I like you mix of theory, taste, and professional approach. These are a valuable resource. Thanks!
i've watched nearly 1000 tutorial videos on mixing, mastering, and production. this one stands out as very helpful and insightful among them. thank you!
Seems like Warren speaks about the obvious, but how often so many of us just forget about it when we sit at the mixing desk or DAW. Thank you Warren for taking your time to do what you do for us.
Hi +Konrad Unold I completely agree! I very often forget all of these things myself!! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Great tips, I love how clear you lay stuff out in these videos. Volume automation is definitely something I have not been taking advantage of, the only time I have used it is when I run into a problem of something being too loud but using it in a creative way is something I will start doing from this day forward, thank man! Oh also something I have noticed about mixing, when I mix my own tracks I have noticed I am more attached to certain parts, for instance I collaborated on a song with a guy and in my mix I had the piano part I wrote kinda stand out because I really liked it, but when he did the final mix he had the piano low and sit in the background, well dang it it sounded better in the background! But I was too attached to realize it he he, now I try to tinker with volumes to see what sits better whether I'm attached or not.
Here is something to think about to appreciate the importance of volume automation: years ago, before the technology made the automation of these fader moves, there sometimes would be two or three people at the board during the mixdown doing these fader moves, because the main mixing engineering simply couldn't physically do what was needed alone. In the "old days" many people who won Grammys did it "by hand", and some people who won Grammys did it with the automation available now, so we may want it done, too!
Warren; you continue to hold my attention more than anyone else I've found on YT teaching Pro Tools, mixing and general engineering. Your voice is clear and you are honest. When you use words like " blessed " in reference to having had experience with some of the best music, I see humility in a teacher. This is rare. I'm a fan-student of yours forever.
Hi +Bruce Maier Thanks very much for your kind words I really appreciate it! Wow you really made my day, thank you ever so much!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I can give you this broad stroke tip on volume automation: Think of your mix as a story, with twists and turns as the plot evolves, remembering that people bore easily if a story is redundant and the plot isn't evolving to a climax and ultimately, an ending. A story establishes its characters, genre and settling quite early, but those elements must have interactions that constantly evolve change and move the story along in familiar, but also novel ways. This is the point of automation: Evolve your story, even if its the same 5 characters in the same room for the whole movie, their relationships will change via new interactions so the audience never gets bored, when you do automation, think of yourself as a screen writer and tell your story.
A simple way to get a feel for it is to listen to a song you love a few times over and each time really focus on a different instrument and see if there are points where you can pick out dramatic volume changes....like beyond what a players attach might achieve. You will likely begin seeing an old favorite in a new light and get a sense of how others are using automation. I found it pretty easy to get the hang of for songs I've written as I know what parts I want to stand out and where.
I really enjoyed this video and others you have done. I am a 61 year old semi retired musician and just venturing into recording in the digital domain. I've only just started my first work in Pro Tools and, after getting over the initial setup headache and beginners learning curve, am very excited at the possibilities. Still very much a novice however. After all the last real recording I done was sixteen tracks on tape at a local studio for a local TV sign off/on spot and a 45 of a couple of original tunes in 1981. Back then, to save money the gang and I would have everything well rehearsed.. We practiced bouncing stuff on a 4 track Teac and would lay the rhythm track vocals, fills, and leads in one take. Man what an exciting time to be a musician and/or audio enthusiast. I envy the young artists tremendously.. Listening to you however, for as much as things have changed technically, much remains the same. Still, at this point in my life I feel time is the biggest hurdle too overcome. Thanks again for helping with that.
Hi David, thanks ever so much for sharing your experience! I hear you! I've been making music on many different platforms for several decades! Things are moving rapidly! I would suggest checking out the Academy if you like, there are quite a few people in there with similar experiences and the community is pretty amazing! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I love it when someone of your reputation establishes what those of us who haven't made it yet are telling others. It makes me feel good to know that I am giving good advice that is backed up by those with more wisdom. I would like to put an order in for a video on the signal chain, and routing.
Here is the thing that you do for me and a would guess most of your viewers. You make us feel like we can achieve something great. And because of that, someday, I just might. Thanks again.
Hi +todd purnick Aw shucks!! You Rock!! Thanks very much for your kind words I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
This is hands-down one of the best Audio Production videos (and channels) on RUclips. Period. It should be required viewing for anyone eager to hone their craft. There are a million videos on how to do things and so few on mistakes, yet mistakes are what we most learn from. Thank you for making these videos. Your efforts and wisdom are definitely not wasted, and are much appreciated. Looking forward to more.
Speaking of piano and vocals in a mix, Justin Colletti (SonicScoop) did a great video on mixing and he suggested starting your mix in the more dense parts of the song, and that a common mistake can be spending too much time on (hypothetically) intros, ie: piano vocals, but the song blossoms and expands into heavier instrumentation and it is easy to focus on a great sound at the beginning, but then the song kicks in and there is no where for the mix to go and you end up having to backpedal to create a zone for the dynamic expansion. Anyway, these are great tips, as usual. In regards to your (Warren's) comment about the outpouring of positivity and our little community here, I have to agree. This isn't typical youtube comment section. Produce Like a Pro attracts people who care about the craft and bettering ourselves. It is very apparent that you care too, and we love you for it. Thanks again for all you do, Warren, Cheers!
Hi +Frederick Thorne Aw shucks!! Thanks for that last part! I agree you are fantastic and really try to help each other!! It's fantastic!! I'm not sure about that first point, not because I don;t agree in principal but just because it goes against the listen as a whole principal that most mixers use. I would listen to the tracks, work through them and find what feels right to do first, some songs that may be true for, but most of the time I were mixing a rock song I would want to choruses to hit huge and if that last chorus was dense my honest approach would be to fit that last screaming guitar or ad lib in there and add even more energy, but I wouldn't start there at the most dense part. Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I am so glad you shared your perspective on that point. I was actually very curious about your thoughts on that, it seemed a little counter to what you brought up as far as the song as a whole. It was easy for me to acknowledge a potential trap which would be focusing too much on any single part (at least at the beginning of the mixing process), and that does align with your tips but at the end of the day, we are mixing songs, and I agree with you whole heartedly. To me a song is like a living personality and they each have their own special nuances amounting to one whole entity that in a way takes on a life of their own. Thanks again for your participation, it really does make recording more fun applying your sound advice and inspiration. :)
+Produce Like A Pro - Oh, and also, Bob Clearmountain was talking about laying on the couch and listening until he has direction. The basic idea was getting to know the song and letting it guide you, and by listening to the song as a whole, you find yourself picking out the bits as they reveal themselves. He also suggests taking breaks often. His protege, Chris Lorde-Alge also listens at very low levels. Thanks again!
Hi +Frederick Thorne Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! I do wonder sometimes with the various theories out there! Haha All I can say is if it seems logical then it's probably the best thing do! This isn;t rocket science, but it is 100% about LISTENING! That's all that matters, more than anything else is how does it sound? Go with your instincts! They are probably right! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I tend to turn my monitor/screen off every now and then through out the mix, sit back and listen, without the visual aspect of what I have done, it surprisingly gives me a more magnified aspect of were I am at purely sound wise, especially with automation adjustment, without seeing it I feel it gives me a more honest guide, there is something about visual to me that can sometimes be misleading to certain changes I make. Thanks again Warren for sharing your knowledge with us!
Hi +Sound Wyze That's fantastic advice!!! Great insight indeed! Makes perfect sense! Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I didn't need a verification of the producers you have worked with. I could tell from the very start that your a smart guy. who gives great advise. Most your mixing tips are common sense mistakes but even seasoned producers like myself that have been doing it for years need to revisit those tips. Automation is key and im glad you hit on it. I would rather automate clip gain then slam a compressor on a constant basis. when years ago I used to hand limit on an analog console. I like hand limiting / automating vs. over compressing to maintain the dynamics in a song. like you I DO compress but I like to take a more gentle approach. Though I specialize in mixing / mastering Hard rock, Alternative (yes its a dying bread) but dynamics are so important. I would have loved to see that included #11 - Dont over compress :-) thank you for the advise. it was free, yet it was priceless. good day Warren.
Hi Chuck, Thank you ever so much for your kind words!! So glad to be able to help!! I agree with number 11, but I would badly compress is how I would put it. I find multiple instances of compression set right can sound amazing! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I've been studying audio and mixing for about 10 years and this is as good as these videos get. Give this man an award. Of course he mentions working with Dave. Love.
It's crystal clear that you truly enjoy teaching. There are tons of people on RUclips who will show you how to do something, but very, very few who can teach you why you do something. You are an excellent teacher.
I wish I had you as a teacher in school, I might have (clawed) my way to survival in pure audio/music (my real love) rather than doing audio for video, babysitting levels on six wirelesses...ugh. But I recently picked up a Mackie 32-8 bus, and a few outboard effects, looking at USB A-to-D's. I'll never have a brick & mortar place, just what I can do at home, but your videos are getting me excited about recording music again. Thank you.
Im soooooo happy that i accidentally bumped into your channel! Cant stop watching these videos - really the best and most precise advices on music production i've ever heard. Thank you sooo much
Just found this channel and I have to say this is hands down the best video I've seen that truly describes the mistakes and errors I've made. Thank you you are awesome
Great video Warren! Just came across your channel so I'm definitely going to subscribe. What you discussed regarding using a sub was on point. For quite a while I mixed without a sub and spent a lot of time going from the studio to the car and back trying to get the subs right. Then I finally invested in a monitor switcher and a subwoofer. OMG, life is grand now, lol.
Hi +Larry Borum II Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! That's awesome! So glad to be able to help!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Hi +Emmanuel “Nolo” Bortolin Great question! Yes I EQ and Compress etc first and do the volume automation last! Have a marvellous time recoding and mixing, many thanks Warren
I like this already! 1:52 into video -"Take breaks and don't listen at loud volumes.." shows me why I'm learning but still not getting consistently good quality end results with my mixes. Alright, I should say that I get lucky every now and then but I try too many different approaches that I don't have a clue what works and where I'm screwing up. I'll be back. Thank you!
im curious, what would you consider a good sound to mix and or, generally what do the mixes sound like before you get your hands on them. Also what contributes more to your sound, software or hardware?
Hi +rickenbacker40011 Great question! Huge question! Sometimes a mix is a complete rebuild of the song and other times it's just a tweak of what the artist has recorded, there's no rules! It depends on the production/recording that I am given! Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Just watched this on the living room TV had to come give you a thumbs up on the computer and I am viewer # 2,222! OK Then I think I am in phase balance with that frequency. 248^ 0v Pretty darn cool. Maximum Respect
Hi, great vids! I would like to ask about mic input levels. My process so far is to record the vocals which come into the mix super quiet i raise them to the point where it does not hiss either on the pre amp or the DAW sometimes both but just a small amount to just before hissing starts, acoustic guitar is the same but not as bad and then i have to lower the rest of the instruments so that to vocals are not drowned, then raise the entire mix a little to the point of no hissing again but the song still comes out really quiet! How do i get the input level to an acceptable volume without getting the hissing?
Hi +MIKE PIERRE Agreed 100% I shot a separate video just talking about using them! Watch this space! Thanks for your great comment! Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
hell yeah, you are talking right out of my chest on the point, where you told that using automation on your mixbus changes like the whole functionality, ive started that maybe 3 weeks ago and the results are seemingly way better, so as always thank you a demn lot, greetings from munich; germany
thanks for the great videos , i have a question , do you recommend volume automation? especially on drums or vocals , or percs? then another one , if you add compressor on fx channel for the reverb or delay , how it works if the compressor is set before the reverb or after the reverb ? thanks
Hi +BLANCA Kurdish Great question! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Yes I highly recommend Volume Automation!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Great video again Warren, thank you for sharing. Here a metaphor that helped me improve my mixes and confirms your statement on “mixing the all song vs. soloing”. Compare your mix with a painting, frequencies with colors. The same yellow will look different when next to blue or red.. As your bass sound will be dramatically affected by you kick and all other instruments close to it in the frequency spectrum.. soloing is great to take a closer look at a possible problem or idea you have. But after making adjustments, as you said, take a break, get a drink and listen to the all song, never loose the full picture. Wish all the other soundnerds a wonderful weekend!
Love that you started with the idea that this is a discussion as opposed to a "I know more than you" video. I too spent 22 minutes nodding my head "yes". Great work sir
For the record, taking breaks has been the biggest boon to my mixing. It's HUGE! Your ears and your brain just get biased in such a short time (if not downright worn out!). This is all very good advice. Thank you so much for sharing!
I’ve discovered many of these on my own, and it makes me feel better about what I’m doing. Listening in different environments is big...cutting instead of boosting, volume automation...all helped me.
Love you work mate! Question, do you mix with a sub ever? What are your thoughts about it? I always take a mix to my car and notice a lot more stuff I didn't while mixing.
Hi +David Iliyn Great question! I do have a sub but I don't often use it, I would say I'm now used to what to do better on my bottom end, however the car test as you are posting out will always reveal any additional issues! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Merci Warren! Mixing: for me is, yes, sure.. take breaks. I also like when you talk about volume automation. I can also say, listen other music that you love, not to copy, but for keep the motivation, the inspiration, and finally make a beautiful unique sound mix that you love. From Québec, Canada. ;)
"Don't Be Afraid to Use Compression On Your Mix Bus" - A-FRIGGIN-Men. I can't tell you how many times I've sent mixes to bottom rung mix engineers who go immediately into "Mix Bus Gestapo" mode before they even listen to the mix. The just say LEAVE THE MIX BUS OPEN and I rebuff their ignorance (especially since many times these mixes are summed on SSL/Neve/API consoles with low level "glue" dynamics and/or EQ curve adjustments using either the great bus comps on the board or something even better perhaps in the rack. In my own studio, 8 out of 10 rock mixes I do will have been summed on our house console and have the SSL G series Comp on it. invariably, it's always the POS bargain basement/fly by night/budget hack "mastering" houses (which also invariably seem to offer "CD duplication and printing"...) Just as invariably, the good mastering engineers understand these facts of live and mind their own business in this regard. I mean look, if they ultimately reject material, I get that, thats fine (hasn't happened to me personally) but, telling the mix engineer how to mix is counter intuitive. Rant over. Thanks for the great video War
Warren, I hardly ever comment on videos, but this is absolutely incredible. Such a phenomenal resource. Thank you so much for making yourself and your knowledge available.
Aw shucks thanks ever so much Nick! You Rock! I really appreciate the kind words and I'm glad to be able tp help in any ay I can! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hi +ovo nisamja Haha waiting for the repair on it to be done! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Hi +chungaleta1234 Yes new chair would be great!! Haha Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Hi, Warren. I'm relatively new to the digital recording world. When I was young, I did quite a bit on analog, though mostly live stuff and with very limited gear. Automation was something you only dreamed of if you weren't in a professional studio. When I started mixing in the digital domain, I went: "Yes! Here's my chance to get those faders moving, haha." And I got into so much detail with it that I thought I was becoming a maniac. So your comment about automation sort of 'freed my soul', if you know what I mean. Thanks so much for these tips. They're priceless.
Hi +Simple Ton Yes I will periodically check the mix for any phasing issues, but I know not to do things that cause phasing issues, so I don't probably check it as often as I used to! I think as you progressing in your mixing it would be good to reference periodically in Mono! I hope that helps? Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I do more than that, I'll arrange the track in mono, makes mixing 1000 x easier. that and having a matched set of outboard analog EQ's compressors and saturators, EQ while tracking (with analog EQ) and have everything in mono. Talk about trim the fat! Nothing makes it onto tape that doesn't belong there, my EQ moves are precise and decisive. Since I've started to work like that, there is barely any heavy lifting at all to do at the mix stage, just the fun easy and creative stuff. The arrangement is where the mix really happens, DO NOT TRACK BS, if it doesn't "Just sound GOOD" then it's BS! get rid of it! Think of your session as a holy temple, to enter the temple you must be pure and righteous!
8:50 I would like to clarify for Cubase users one thing since we use diferen terminology [i've suggested this tutorial to one of my friends, whos new to Cubase and it triggered more questions, which by suggesting the tutorial i wanted to avoid ;)] : You can send "red signals" to the mixbus [MASTER channel] all the way. All busses [groups], vca, single tracks can be send even with +6 or [dare me] +12 dB! Thanks to floating point which in effect gives you so called "infinite headroom" all you have to do is to trim the mixbus by plugin or a fader. But the MASTER channel can not exceed the magic ZERO. The best way, as Warren explained in other tutorial, is to leave 0.3 or as Graham Cochrane suggests even 0.5 dB of headroom.
Hi +Konrad Unold Thanks for the tips on Cubase! I agree with your opinion on leaving headroom! Have a marvelous time recording and mixing! Many thanks Warren
I appreciate this. I've had to teach myself the basics of mixing at first with Audacity until I upgraded to FLStudio and now my mixes come out clean and with great clarity. I enjoy watching and learning each New thing
Words of wisdom. Overtime I watch one of your videos, not only do I learn something new, I have to try it out and then find I have stolen another skill from you. Thank you so much for sharing.
Good stuff as usual Warren. I mix on a combination of my KRK monitors and Audio Technica headphones. I always listen to my mixes extensively in my car and on a laptop with cheap ear buds.
I am a vocalist , beatmaker and semi profesional soun engineer. I noticed something. Whenever I get caught my self mixing at high volumes I turn to feel stressed. There is something about loud volumes and been obsessed with getting the mix right that turns my stomach. I need more self control and just take specific days just for mixing only at low volumes. Other days when producing or recording I'll crank it up to geta real feel of it.
Car-test is something which works absolutelly perfectly for me, thanks for mentioning this. Different enviroments, different listening equipment BEFORE final mix is done, not to mention master.
And my last best practice is connected to bullet 9: Different environments. my listening "path" is as follows: 1. on studio speakers (Yamaha HS5), normal studio volume. 2. Same speakers, same vol, in stereo. 3. On crappy speakers (Auratone cubes) in mono. for checking the mid-range elements. 4. Studio monitors, stereo, volume dimmed with 10-20dB for finding anything that might jump out on low volume. 5. And the last is "the other room listening". I leave the studio door open and listen the music literally from the other room, finding anything that jumps out when listening from the distance. This method works for me pretty well. That's all and sorry, if I wrote too much. Most probably you already knew all of these, but maybe they help other folks. Thanks and have a marvellous day! Rob
Hi +Robert Tari Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Great setup! I'm beginning to see a lot of 'other room' ways that people are working! Good stuff! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
With regard to bass @ 15:50 I ALWAYS use a spectrum analyser on EVERYTHING to monitor what my 4 sets of monitors or my ears can't pick up in the low end. Yes, I use it monitoring full spectrum however I'm talking bass here. Being a speaker designer and understanding small (6 & 8"woofer) tuned port enclosure LF limits, I also monitor speaker cone movement. Wont get into that here. But, most importantly, ALWAYS have reference music available for your A/B comparison. One can also move to the next room, or step back 20 feet or more to here the hidden LF wave hidden from close monitoring. Thank you for the video!
Finally someone who is talking about the importance of breaks especially with tasks like automation or difficult eq decisions. I often turned something into bizarre structures because my head was foggy. And because it sometimes feels right nevertheless in that moment you often forget to save previous project states. To me leaving the house works best to reboot head and ears.
Some of the stuff you talk about goes right over my head but I like that you never come off as condescending. I find it hilarious when someone sounds that way while they are sharing knowledge...especially when the audience isn't in front of them at the time....so its not like they are responding to a reaction. When someone teaches by talking down very little is learned because there isn't much desire to respond to that in a positive and open way.
Thank you ever so much! I do not believe in experts! Haha This is music, creativity! Some of the best music ever was made by teenagers! Thanks for your marvellous comment!
I feel like "experts" know may know how to achieve what they want to achieve but not necessarily WHY. Some of the worst music ever was made by "experts". HAHA!
My old bands sound guy mixed a ton of great artists live ranging from the GooGooDolls to BBKing. He always communicate with us and ask questions like "What are the most important elements in this song?" or "What are you trying to get across to the audience?" One time he shared a story about when he worked with BBKing and he said something the extent of "When people go to a BB concert they're not going to hear the trumpet or the keyboard, they're going to hear BB and Lucile." So he made sure that those two elements took priority. To me that was a game changer for the way I thought about mixing and arranging music. I still think about that day when I'm mixing now.
Hi +Kevin Reddoch Wow! Fantastic insight and amazing tips!! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Just subscribed. I've seen many you tube videos on home recording. But I must say that Warren is arguably the most inspiring and informative home recording visionary I've come across.
Hi Rona, thanks very much for your extremely kind words! I am so glad to be able to help! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I absolutely love this channel. It's quickly becoming my favorite on RUclips. I've learned so much thank you for such great informative and entertaining content.
I went to take a break and this video was on. I never liked the sterro in my Charger but now that I mix a lot more and use it for one of my references I love it when I make that sterro sound great. It means I'm getting close and heading in the right direction. Thank you Warren.
First of all i would like to thank warren very much for giving these most important tips,i suggest all upcoming mix engineers should watch this. Really had a great time watching these tutorials and it helped me find out where i was lacking while mixing. Thanks once again cheers!!
Wow you speak so clearly for a person who is interested in utilizing digital sounds while coming from a very analogue understanding. There are a some very important pieces of advice in this video for me and I'm sure other people have had that same reaction.
Hi +Sonny Brasco Thanks very much! I appreciate you subscribing!! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Wow, what you said about Volume Automations was a big light bulb to me. Years ago I used to do a lot of volume automation, but my mix work was terrible. As I learned more about mixing, I started staying away from volume automation. Now im going to try to get back into it again. Thank you!
Hi +Andrew Torchine Yes volume automation has until recently been largely ignored in tutorials I'm so glad people are now taking note and incorporating into their conversation! All professional have used it for years! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
And, please, forgive me for interjecting after 5 whole years of this particular video's existence on RUclips. I maybe late but I'm always right on time with my perspective and input. 😁 I just coincidentally discovered that such valid informative videos like this and other's are here on RUclips!!! Greatly appreciated, too!!! Keep up the good selfless helpful work!!! We all LOVE music, being creative and artistic!!! 💯
Thanks for the tips Warren. It's good to be reminded that taking breaks is important! I do a lot of automation. I probably spend most of my time doing it so it's good to know that's what you're supposed to do. Andy Wallace is a hero of mine and allegedly he puts a lot of importance on riding the faders. I also use the rule of 3 when mixing to establish what's supporting and what's up front. ie, My brain can only really focus on 3 main things at a time, eg , vocals, drums and something else. If the vocal stops, then there is room for something else to pop through. I guess this is where a great arrangement makes a mix go much smoother. Something that can be an issue for me for example is that if I'm mixing a song with a guitar that's mixed and balanced. When I need that guitar part to poke thru, sometimes it might sound too weighty to poke through when I increase the volume and sounds wrong. Then if you added a touch of high mids to make it cut through, it then distracts from the vocals when it goes back to supporting. BTW, I check all my mixes in my car too. I also love using a single Avantone speaker.
Hi +Anthony Gibney Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Yes Andy rides the faders a lot and doesn't mix loud at all! He mixes at very low levels! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Sometimes it is great to hear the words come out of someone else's mouth to solidify or validate my own processes. I get flack from friends and sometimes even from artists for taking a bit of extra time to"step away from a project, and work on something different to break things up. I did learn from this video as well, automation, not over doing plugins before mastering. Thank you for putting it out there for others to learn from. Great stuff!
Thank you Warren for your videos, they have given me so much to help produce the songs for my band. From my experiences i have found that the stage where instruments are played and hit my desk is where i concentrate a lot of my time with. I'm pretty new to sound engineering and still finding my way however i like to make sure the sound i get coming into the desk and some pre eq (compression, gate....etc) before i hit the DAW helps massively IMO.....how do you feel about this?...(sorry if i missed a video on this if already covered)
Great as always - One thing I would add is learn yes but also believe in yourself, tomorrow's new standard and will never come if we all look to the past and copy eachother. Have the confidence to break some 'rules' and if it sounds good and enhances the song / artist / style, go with it
Hi +CakeBabyMan Yes great point! Self belief!! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Holy cow, rule number one is what I've been really focusing on. I get kind of obsessive sometimes and don't realize 2 hours have peeled away on me and my hearing has definitely gone into that temporary threshold shift, getting desensitized to high frequencies, etc. So what I have started doing is to set the timer on my smart phone to 30 minutes when I sit down to mix. When that goes off, I save what I'm doing, get up and go pet my dog or something for at least five minutes. It does make a difference!
Hi +ccjamz Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Haha it's ok! We all do that! I have to remind myself of this advice all the time! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I have been watching your videos for a few days , and i must say I have learned a Lot , I have played music all my life , and been writing and recording for 40 years i guess , and the more i learn , the more i see I Don't know , thank you so much .
AS ALWAYS...GREAT VIDEO!! Maybe not so much a mistake...but I'd add not to only listen in the sweet spot. Get up and go to the back of the room and listen. It's a nice way of giving your ears a break without fully stopping mixing for a break. It also collapses the mix to mono in a way and gives great perspective of balance. I know that's not a new trick BUT...super super useful is this: For those of you who have a big bass buildup in the back of the room, learn how big the low end sounds back there on a commercial mix that you want to have the same low end as. Then when you check your mix back there, if your bass is way blown up or way light in comparison, it will be way more obvious than if you are sitting right in the sweet spot. Make your adjustments and then head to the back again and A/B once again. No more surprises in the car!
Hi +Diesel Dungeon Studio Thanks very much for your kind words I really appreciate it! Wonderful insight!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I think the key to great mixing is understanding the intention of the arrangement. More specifically, you have to understand what each element represents and how it works (or doesn't work) to achieve the ensemble effect of the whole mix. When you know what any given track or group is supposed to be doing, you can help nudge it closer to where it sits and does its job properly. Everything else flows from that starting point and you can use your tools (level balances, panning, EQ, volume rides, compression, reverb type/amount, delay type/amount, transient handling, saturation, mod effects, stereo tricks etc.) based on a guided understanding specific to that song/arrangement. Edit: I just realized you touched on this at the end of the video. I agree 100%.
Hi +Dave Perry Haha it's ok! It's great to see you agree! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Thank you again for all of the videos you post. I keep a notebook of mixing ideas when I am listening to music. If I hear a particular piano part or guitar tone or production idea, I write the artist and song down so if I get a song to mix and the song triggers that same feeling, I can reference back to the original song. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Even if you don’t like the song, critical listening to mixes is something I enjoy spending time on. I also wanted to share some advice I learned from a great engineer that was recording a record for one of the bands I used to play in. He told me that when tracking, in particular, make sure it sounds great. Think of making soup, if there is a little piece of s**t in it, no matter how many extra things you add in , the s**t will always be there.
Hi +Mike B Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! That's an awesome idea to keep a note book of mixing ideas!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Thank you all ever so much! I am continually overwhelmed by the incredible support you give by commenting, liking and sharing the videos! The outpouring of positive comments and the sharing of your own experience and insight are truly amazing! Have a marvellous time mixing and recording, many thanks Warren!
+Produce Like A Pro Warren You are The Man! I recently discovered your channel and you give us so much! Thank you Master!Best for you,Erid
Wow +EridmusicTV Thanks very much for your kind words I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
+Produce Like A Pro hey there, just wondering if you gave a talk at AES this year? you look familiar.
HI +Marshall McGee Yes I did! I spoke in NY at AES this year! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
+Produce Like A Pro Well Warren, you are generous with everything you know, so enjoy all the support and good vibes here :) You deserve it. Cheers from Chile!
PS: Hey! And thanks for the subtitles in spanish. Don't know if that is automatic, but still, nice touch :)
I'm 75 and I've been engineering, producing, mixing, playing multiple instruments what have you since I was a teenager. Got my first studio job at 20. Owned my own studio since the 80's. I've produced and mixed hundreds of singles and albums during that time. I said all of that to say this, young people, listen to this guy. He knows what he's talking about!
Love that 🎯 ✌️💚☯️
Wow! Thanks ever so much! That means so much!
@@Skimatik_DnB Thanks ever so much!
Another mistake that many people make (me included) is to get lost in details, especially at an early stage of the mix. It's so easy to spend a LOT of time on a tiny detail that may not make much of a difference in the end result at all. I do believe that attention to detail is important, but get your mix in the ballpark first, and then spend whatever time you may have left on the details. Otherwise you might end up with a perfect sounding shaker after three hours, when you realize that you don't have anything that could even remotely be called a mix yet, haha. Many thanks, David
Hi +David Mood Exactly! That's the ability to take time and listen to the song as a whole! Thanks for the input, always well though out! I appreciate it! Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
David Mood this is a big one .. this comment about not getting caught up on too much detail at the beginning before getting a good balance of the whole mix first is so important... thanx 🙏🏻
I refer to this as getting lost in the sauce. I see many new and inexperienced Sound tech and I'm guilty of it myself as well of being so wrapped up in watching the graphics real time Analyzer levels on the mixer or trying to find the correct directory to adjust parameter levels for something you don't even realize what the changes are doing to the overall sound. or that the song is over and you are now getting noise through your PA system. But it can happen in the studio as well getting fixated on a certain track and then when you put it off SOLO it no longer even fits into the mix.
As soon as you said, "Don't master while you mix." I knew I was in the right place. Thank you sir. Finally someone said it.
John Morris thank you very much! Yes I agree 100%! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing many thanks Warren
Hey Warren, huge fan of your work, and of your content! Do you have any videos on this? And preparing tracks for Mastering?
As many engineers now Mix through a fake master, and often will leave it on for those who mix, and master their own work to do both together. I'm curious as to what I can do to make sure my tracks is in optimal shape to be sent to a professional Mastering engineer, and making buses sit. Thanks in advance!
If I master myself, I have master chain ready, And I turn it on when 80% of a mix completed. And results are nice. Especially when you work on a project in 2-3-4 touches.
I've noticed that, when driving and listening to a mix, certain aspects of the mix disappear into the road noise; aspects that are important. So I will go back and tweak the mix and road test it again. But there is a quicker way: Once you have your mix basically done, turn on a fan in the control room to simulate environmental noise, and listen to the song. If something important disappears, fix it with the fan running. Then turn the fan off and check again.
Also: Another way I check my mix is to play it back and then wander away, such that I can still hear it, but I'm not in the sweet spot of the speakers. I sit somewhere and read. When you take the focus off what you're hearing, your brain stops correcting little mistakes, and they'll start to jump out at you. Similar to taking a break, but more of a sanity test.
North Sound Audio I built a studio in my car and now do all my mixing in there...it helps with this problem :)
I always have my fan on when mixing because it's hot in my room. Glad to know it helps. In my case, i switch the fan off to check if i've brought out too much of something LOL
Be careful doing this though, some car speakers just give you a false representation of your mix. It might sounds loud and full when driving on the freeway but once you listen on headphones it will sound distorted and muddy.
@@phillipisayev1273 That's actually the point of listening on different speakers... and different headphones. Once you think you you're getting close, you should rip it, and listen to it in your car on the way home, listen to it over your home stereo/hi-fi, your television, put it into your MP3 player or as an MP3 on your phone, and in your partner's car, friend's car and home stereo, as many different systems and EQ's as you can to make sure you're not running into that exact issue.
BTW, if you're an engineer and your car system isn't set to flat EQ or EQ'd to a flat or good mix, you're just incredibly lazy or don't use your car radio.
Great, great GREAT advise Warren. I spent 22 minutes nodding my head yes. I think your first point of taking breaks is the most valuable. When I went independent (after being a staff mixer for over 30 years) my mixes immediately got better - A LOT better. The difference was as an independent, 70% of my work was being done from my home studio unsuped. I wasn't tied to the clock or a day rate. When I'd get tired or the mix wasn't gelling I'd get up and unload the dishwasher or walk the dog and then go back. It's not just resting your ears it's getting a fresh perspective for your creative mind. I'd add one thing to your different listening environments comment. Spend a certain amount of your time mixing with headphones you know and trust. Probably 90% of listeners will hear it with headphones and it can greatly effect your delay and reverb returns which are a much wider perspective in headphones. Also changing the playback engine in Pro Tools and listening on a MacBook Pro can reveal some loose ends hanging out. Thanks and keep up the great work!
nice comment! good info thx
Hi Sound Design & Mix, wow! Thanks for the great comment!! Thank you for the insight! It's fantastic to hear your prices, it really helps us all relate to each other better! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Great Matt! I agree! Wonderful comment! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Another tip I learnt from a video featuring a bunch of top film composers is to be in the room when someone else is there listening to your mostly finished track. It's a really weird phenomenon that occurs where any dud areas suddenly become really obvious and stick out, it's like you can sense the other persons reaction to it without them telling you and you can then figure out what needs changing. It might be a case of concentrating the focus onto the main two elements or adding a tambourine etc to keep attention and momentum flowing, hope this makes sense(!) cheers for the great vids Warren!
Hi +Sam Lee I completely understand!! I've sat in a room with a lot of very talented people and cringed at my exes many times!! Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Produce Like A Pro cringed at your exes :) funny. But I know what you meant
This can be terrifying. I remember my first time vividly. I was having a meeting in a publisher's office and he played the song (bare in mind it was recorded on analog 8 track tape with minimal gear). I almost had a panic attack in the room! I heard every flaw in the recording, eq-ing, mixing. It sounded like the biggest piece of crap I'd ever heard and I wanted to immediately sell all my gear and give up. Decades later, the mix will sound completely different when someone comes in to listen. Some element will suddenly sound crazily loud or way too quiet. Or i'll hear the tail end of a guitar solo cut off accidentally that somehow I didn't hear during hours of solo mixing! It's amazing how this works.....and very unsettling!
I have experienced this as well. It freaked me out. But my roommate is a Neurooscientist and he believes it is caused because our brains have special subsystems that turn on that model what other people think/feel/hear and try to predict their behavior. Those subsystems essentially bring a new personality model online, and because that model hasn't been listening to the music, it is not used to it, so it hears all of the mistakes. Now as to why you don't hear them in the first place, it's also because of the brain. It does this with vision and sound and smell and all senses. Your brain has a lot of error correction built in, so when a sound does something that is off putting, your brain will eventually start filtering it out, like a bad smell in the room that you don't notice much anymore. So the goal is to hack your brain into resetting that error correction. So basically you have to change as many things as possible. Environment, people listening, smells, anything that gets your brain to pay attention to the details its filtered out again. I think this is also why lots of people use drugs in making music. lol Drugs change your default filters.
I f***ing HATE that feeling
First impressions are the most creative. Pull up a rough mix and have a pen/pad ready to write down your initial thoughts about the song. Write what you like and what you don't. Make notes about the instruments that will support the vocal the best and which ones should pop out at different moments for feel. I will write down what should be removed from a verse and brought back into a chorus for example. I will make initial decisions about some panning choices also. Everyone will hear it differently and write what strikes them as important. Just a thought.
Hi +MT Champion Agreed 100%!! That makes perfect sense! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I've watched a lot of these types of videos ...this was the best. Will watch again!
Wow! Thanks ever so much David!
Young people, listen to this guy. He is dead on the money. He just summarized what it took me a life time to learn, and as he said, I, we, are still learning! (I'm 73.) I go back (my first job as an engineer/producer) to when a "punch in" was taking two or three, maybe four takes on a two track Ampex while working the mix in real time (those machines sounded great!) and then picking out the best sections and splicing them together. Then go from that, through the board (8 channels, tube), mix in the vocals, fills, rides etc. and catch that on another two track and so on. As time went on we had better and better equipment including multi track machines with punch in capability. Heaven! Opened my first studio in 88. Today's tech is beyond amazing though. You don't really realize what is available to you unless you were there at the beginning. But his mixing tips are dead on the money. Pay attention and you will learn! Just found you bro. New sub! Oh, and the best tool of all? Ears! And remember, it's not about the tech, it's about the music. Pay attention to what the music is doing and make the mix compliment it.
Great tips! I totally agree.
Additionally I'd say (along with taking breaks, and listening at reasonable volumes) REFERENCE TRACKS (that you know well) are a great way of resetting your ears, and staying objective.
Also listen to a lot of varied music in your mix room, and car. Really get to know those systems, and spaces. Try not to ever change them... I kept driving an '82 Diesel Chevette for years because it was the automotive equivalent of NS-10s; "if it sounds good in the 'vette it'll sound good anywhere!"
Cheers!
Hi +Stephen Tack haha the next video coming is just on that one topic only!! haha Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
+Produce Like A Pro Wow, looking forward to that! Warren, if you don't know it already, check out the "Magic AB" plug-in, it's a fantastic tool for referencing tracks! You can load up to 9 songs in it, match their volume levels, and save that as a preset - so that you can have a preset for rock, pop, indie, etc. Just insert it as the last plug-in on your mix bus, then the reference tracks will not be affected by any plug-ins you might use on the mix bus. It also has good metering built in, which lets you compare the dynamic range of the different tracks very easily. www.samplemagic.com/details/184/magic-ab
Hi +David Mood I've got to see that 'Magic AB' that sounds great! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
+Produce Like A Pro Yes, I don't think you'll regret it if you try it! It's also nice to get a plug-in which does something completely different than all your other plug-ins, for a change... instead of getting your 99th compressor plug-in, hahaha. Let me know how you like the plug-in, if you try it... Many thanks, David
Hi +David Mood Fantastic! I will do! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
As a broadcaster in Los Angeles, and freelance musician, I can definitely concur with your points - and the subjectivity of mixing as well. I like you mix of theory, taste, and professional approach. These are a valuable resource. Thanks!
i've watched nearly 1000 tutorial videos on mixing, mastering, and production. this one stands out as very helpful and insightful among them. thank you!
Wow thanks ever so much Angel!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Seems like Warren speaks about the obvious, but how often so many of us just forget about it when we sit at the mixing desk or DAW.
Thank you Warren for taking your time to do what you do for us.
Hi +Konrad Unold I completely agree! I very often forget all of these things myself!! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Great tips, I love how clear you lay stuff out in these videos. Volume automation is definitely something I have not been taking advantage of, the only time I have used it is when I run into a problem of something being too loud but using it in a creative way is something I will start doing from this day forward, thank man! Oh also something I have noticed about mixing, when I mix my own tracks I have noticed I am more attached to certain parts, for instance I collaborated on a song with a guy and in my mix I had the piano part I wrote kinda stand out because I really liked it, but when he did the final mix he had the piano low and sit in the background, well dang it it sounded better in the background! But I was too attached to realize it he he, now I try to tinker with volumes to see what sits better whether I'm attached or not.
Here is something to think about to appreciate the importance of volume automation: years ago, before the technology made the automation of these fader moves, there sometimes would be two or three people at the board during the mixdown doing these fader moves, because the main mixing engineering simply couldn't physically do what was needed alone.
In the "old days" many people who won Grammys did it "by hand", and some people who won Grammys did it with the automation available now, so we may want it done, too!
Warren; you continue to hold my attention more than anyone else I've found on YT teaching Pro Tools, mixing and general engineering. Your voice is clear and you are honest. When you use words like " blessed " in reference to having had experience with some of the best music, I see humility in a teacher. This is rare. I'm a fan-student of yours forever.
Hi +Bruce Maier Thanks very much for your kind words I really appreciate it! Wow you really made my day, thank you ever so much!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
i would love to watch a video with tips on volume automation...
I can give you this broad stroke tip on volume automation: Think of your mix as a story, with twists and turns as the plot evolves, remembering that people bore easily if a story is redundant and the plot isn't evolving to a climax and ultimately, an ending. A story establishes its characters, genre and settling quite early, but those elements must have interactions that constantly evolve change and move the story along in familiar, but also novel ways. This is the point of automation: Evolve your story, even if its the same 5 characters in the same room for the whole movie, their relationships will change via new interactions so the audience never gets bored, when you do automation, think of yourself as a screen writer and tell your story.
Hans Zimmers ‘Supermarine’ is pretty repetitive but very interesting.
A simple way to get a feel for it is to listen to a song you love a few times over and each time really focus on a different instrument and see if there are points where you can pick out dramatic volume changes....like beyond what a players attach might achieve. You will likely begin seeing an old favorite in a new light and get a sense of how others are using automation. I found it pretty easy to get the hang of for songs I've written as I know what parts I want to stand out and where.
Terrible.dee wow love this perspective. Excited to mix like this now thanks for sharing!
Warren is so right on this, but he always is
Hi +SilverBeat is Terry Carroll Aw shucks! You are far too kind! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I really enjoyed this video and others you have done. I am a 61 year old semi retired musician and just venturing into recording in the digital domain. I've only just started my first work in Pro Tools and, after getting over the initial setup headache and beginners learning curve, am very excited at the possibilities. Still very much a novice however.
After all the last real recording I done was sixteen tracks on tape at a local studio for a local TV sign off/on spot and a 45 of a couple of original tunes in 1981. Back then, to save money the gang and I would have everything well rehearsed.. We practiced bouncing stuff on a 4 track Teac and would lay the rhythm track vocals, fills, and leads in one take.
Man what an exciting time to be a musician and/or audio enthusiast. I envy the young artists tremendously..
Listening to you however, for as much as things have changed technically, much remains the same.
Still, at this point in my life I feel time is the biggest hurdle too overcome.
Thanks again for helping with that.
Hi David, thanks ever so much for sharing your experience! I hear you! I've been making music on many different platforms for several decades! Things are moving rapidly! I would suggest checking out the Academy if you like, there are quite a few people in there with similar experiences and the community is pretty amazing! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I love it when someone of your reputation establishes what those of us who haven't made it yet are telling others. It makes me feel good to know that I am giving good advice that is backed up by those with more wisdom.
I would like to put an order in for a video on the signal chain, and routing.
Hi +Robert McClellan Thanks very much for your kind words I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Here is the thing that you do for me and a would guess most of your viewers. You make us feel like we can achieve something great. And because of that, someday, I just might. Thanks again.
Hi +todd purnick Aw shucks!! You Rock!! Thanks very much for your kind words I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
This is hands-down one of the best Audio Production videos (and channels) on RUclips. Period. It should be required viewing for anyone eager to hone their craft. There are a million videos on how to do things and so few on mistakes, yet mistakes are what we most learn from. Thank you for making these videos. Your efforts and wisdom are definitely not wasted, and are much appreciated. Looking forward to more.
Very helpful, particularly the bits about not mastering while mixing, and using volume automation.
Speaking of piano and vocals in a mix, Justin Colletti (SonicScoop) did a great video on mixing and he suggested starting your mix in the more dense parts of the song, and that a common mistake can be spending too much time on (hypothetically) intros, ie: piano vocals, but the song blossoms and expands into heavier instrumentation and it is easy to focus on a great sound at the beginning, but then the song kicks in and there is no where for the mix to go and you end up having to backpedal to create a zone for the dynamic expansion.
Anyway, these are great tips, as usual.
In regards to your (Warren's) comment about the outpouring of positivity and our little community here, I have to agree. This isn't typical youtube comment section. Produce Like a Pro attracts people who care about the craft and bettering ourselves. It is very apparent that you care too, and we love you for it. Thanks again for all you do, Warren, Cheers!
Hi +Frederick Thorne Aw shucks!! Thanks for that last part! I agree you are fantastic and really try to help each other!! It's fantastic!! I'm not sure about that first point, not because I don;t agree in principal but just because it goes against the listen as a whole principal that most mixers use. I would listen to the tracks, work through them and find what feels right to do first, some songs that may be true for, but most of the time I were mixing a rock song I would want to choruses to hit huge and if that last chorus was dense my honest approach would be to fit that last screaming guitar or ad lib in there and add even more energy, but I wouldn't start there at the most dense part. Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I am so glad you shared your perspective on that point. I was actually very curious about your thoughts on that, it seemed a little counter to what you brought up as far as the song as a whole. It was easy for me to acknowledge a potential trap which would be focusing too much on any single part (at least at the beginning of the mixing process), and that does align with your tips but at the end of the day, we are mixing songs, and I agree with you whole heartedly. To me a song is like a living personality and they each have their own special nuances amounting to one whole entity that in a way takes on a life of their own. Thanks again for your participation, it really does make recording more fun applying your sound advice and inspiration. :)
+Produce Like A Pro - Oh, and also, Bob Clearmountain was talking about laying on the couch and listening until he has direction. The basic idea was getting to know the song and letting it guide you, and by listening to the song as a whole, you find yourself picking out the bits as they reveal themselves. He also suggests taking breaks often. His protege, Chris Lorde-Alge also listens at very low levels. Thanks again!
Hi +Frederick Thorne Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! I do wonder sometimes with the various theories out there! Haha All I can say is if it seems logical then it's probably the best thing do! This isn;t rocket science, but it is 100% about LISTENING! That's all that matters, more than anything else is how does it sound? Go with your instincts! They are probably right! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Great top 10, Warren! Listen when knowledge and experience speaks, everyone!
Hi +Jake Sharp (ProfoundStudio) Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I tend to turn my monitor/screen off every now and then through out the mix, sit back and listen, without the visual aspect of what I have done, it surprisingly gives me a more magnified aspect of were I am at purely sound wise, especially with automation adjustment, without seeing it I feel it gives me a more honest guide, there is something about visual to me that can sometimes be misleading to certain changes I make. Thanks again Warren for sharing your knowledge with us!
Hi +Sound Wyze That's fantastic advice!!! Great insight indeed! Makes perfect sense! Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I didn't need a verification of the producers you have worked with. I could tell from the very start that your a smart guy. who gives great advise. Most your mixing tips are common sense mistakes but even seasoned producers like myself that have been doing it for years need to revisit those tips. Automation is key and im glad you hit on it. I would rather automate clip gain then slam a compressor on a constant basis. when years ago I used to hand limit on an analog console. I like hand limiting / automating vs. over compressing to maintain the dynamics in a song. like you I DO compress but I like to take a more gentle approach. Though I specialize in mixing / mastering Hard rock, Alternative (yes its a dying bread) but dynamics are so important. I would have loved to see that included #11 - Dont over compress :-) thank you for the advise. it was free, yet it was priceless. good day Warren.
Hi Chuck, Thank you ever so much for your kind words!! So glad to be able to help!! I agree with number 11, but I would badly compress is how I would put it. I find multiple instances of compression set right can sound amazing! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I've been studying audio and mixing for about 10 years and this is as good as these videos get. Give this man an award. Of course he mentions working with Dave. Love.
It's crystal clear that you truly enjoy teaching. There are tons of people on RUclips who will show you how to do something, but very, very few who can teach you why you do something.
You are an excellent teacher.
Wow! Thanks ever so much! That really means a lot
I wish I had you as a teacher in school, I might have (clawed) my way to survival in pure audio/music (my real love) rather than doing audio for video, babysitting levels on six wirelesses...ugh.
But I recently picked up a Mackie 32-8 bus, and a few outboard effects, looking at USB A-to-D's. I'll never have a brick & mortar place, just what I can do at home, but your videos are getting me excited about recording music again.
Thank you.
Im soooooo happy that i accidentally bumped into your channel! Cant stop watching these videos - really the best and most precise advices on music production i've ever heard. Thank you sooo much
Thanks ever so much englobe! Glad you found the channel too! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Hey Warren, I'm having a marvelous time.
;P
Hi John, I'm glad you are having a marvellous time!!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Just found this channel and I have to say this is hands down the best video I've seen that truly describes the mistakes and errors I've made. Thank you you are awesome
Hi +DAC BIZ wow! Thanks very much for your great comment!! So glad to be able to help! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Warren, we love You!!! :-)
Hi +Rafal Konikowski Thanks very much for your kind words I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
you are genius... everything you mentioned makes lot of sense.many thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Favorite tip was: Volume automation. Lots of detail.
Thanks J M! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Great video Warren! Just came across your channel so I'm definitely going to subscribe. What you discussed regarding using a sub was on point. For quite a while I mixed without a sub and spent a lot of time going from the studio to the car and back trying to get the subs right. Then I finally invested in a monitor switcher and a subwoofer. OMG, life is grand now, lol.
Hi +Larry Borum II Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! That's awesome! So glad to be able to help!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Passionately well said Warren.
Hi +Jak Leyton Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I never got tired of this video, in fact I come back from time to time to watch it again. Thanks again Warren for share your experience and wisdom.
What do you do first? Sit the sound properly with eq and comp first? Or volume automation? Thanks you very much!
Hi +Emmanuel “Nolo” Bortolin Great question! Yes I EQ and Compress etc first and do the volume automation last! Have a marvellous time recoding and mixing, many thanks Warren
I like this already! 1:52 into video -"Take breaks and don't listen at loud volumes.." shows me why I'm learning but still not getting consistently good quality end results with my mixes. Alright, I should say that I get lucky every now and then but I try too many different approaches that I don't have a clue what works and where I'm screwing up. I'll be back. Thank you!
im curious, what would you consider a good sound to mix and or, generally what do the mixes sound like before you get your hands on them. Also what contributes more to your sound, software or hardware?
Hi +rickenbacker40011 Great question! Huge question! Sometimes a mix is a complete rebuild of the song and other times it's just a tweak of what the artist has recorded, there's no rules! It depends on the production/recording that I am given! Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
YOU JUST GAVE ME A LOT MORE CONFIDENCE IN MY MIXES. THANK YOU SIR
Just watched this on the living room TV had to come give you a thumbs up on the computer and I am viewer # 2,222! OK Then I think I am in phase balance with that frequency. 248^ 0v Pretty darn cool. Maximum Respect
Hi +Loo Wood Aw shucks!! Thanks very much for your kind words I really appreciate it! You Rock!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
A very nice reflection of a real producer and artist👏👏👏
I had a break...straight after this video lol
Hi +Ben Tyreman Haha good!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
You explained this very well. I'm a beginner & currently learning... thank you for posting
Hi, great vids! I would like to ask about mic input levels.
My process so far is to record the vocals which come into the mix super quiet i raise them to the point where it does not hiss either on the pre amp or the DAW sometimes both but just a small amount to just before hissing starts, acoustic guitar is the same but not as bad and then i have to lower the rest of the instruments so that to vocals are not drowned, then raise the entire mix a little to the point of no hissing again but the song still comes out really quiet!
How do i get the input level to an acceptable volume without getting the hissing?
Thanks man very helpful, it's also about remember all this things even if you already know it
I think using a reference track while mixing is a viable option.
Hi +MIKE PIERRE Agreed 100% I shot a separate video just talking about using them! Watch this space! Thanks for your great comment! Thanks very much I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
hell yeah, you are talking right out of my chest on the point, where you told that using automation on your mixbus changes like the whole functionality, ive started that maybe 3 weeks ago and the results are seemingly way better, so as always thank you a demn lot, greetings from munich; germany
thanks for the great videos , i have a question , do you recommend volume automation? especially on drums or vocals , or percs? then another one , if you add compressor on fx channel for the reverb or delay , how it works if the compressor is set before the reverb or after the reverb ? thanks
Hi +BLANCA Kurdish Great question! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Yes I highly recommend Volume Automation!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Great video again Warren, thank you for sharing.
Here a metaphor that helped me improve my mixes and confirms your statement on “mixing the all song vs. soloing”.
Compare your mix with a painting, frequencies with colors.
The same yellow will look different when next to blue or red.. As your bass sound will be dramatically affected by you kick and all other instruments close to it in the frequency spectrum.. soloing is great to take a closer look at a possible problem or idea you have. But after making adjustments, as you said, take a break, get a drink and listen to the all song, never loose the full picture.
Wish all the other soundnerds a wonderful weekend!
Mixing mistake no.11 having things that will resonate stacked on your speakers.
cheers
yea having all that random crap around your speakers just seems like not a good idea in general
He mixes in front of the screen, not the console
Lol 😂
Love that you started with the idea that this is a discussion as opposed to a "I know more than you" video. I too spent 22 minutes nodding my head "yes". Great work sir
Volume automation is underestimated because it is not as sexy as fancy plug ins and compressors.
+fredontube Automation is probably one of the most significant things you can do in a mix! Better than using just compression 9 times out of 10
Hi +fredontube I agree 100%!! Have a marvelous time recording and mixing! Many thanks Warren
Hi +Derek J (xiamDerekJ) That's completely correct my friend!! Have a marvelous time recording and mixing! Many thanks Warren
For the record, taking breaks has been the biggest boon to my mixing. It's HUGE! Your ears and your brain just get biased in such a short time (if not downright worn out!). This is all very good advice. Thank you so much for sharing!
The mistake i do, over and over again, is I tend to skip reference listening to stuff i like.
You're not alone man.
took me one year to do it and holding on to it :D
I’ve discovered many of these on my own, and it makes me feel better about what I’m doing. Listening in different environments is big...cutting instead of boosting, volume automation...all helped me.
Love you work mate! Question, do you mix with a sub ever? What are your thoughts about it?
I always take a mix to my car and notice a lot more stuff I didn't while mixing.
Hi +David Iliyn Great question! I do have a sub but I don't often use it, I would say I'm now used to what to do better on my bottom end, however the car test as you are posting out will always reveal any additional issues! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Merci Warren!
Mixing: for me is, yes, sure.. take breaks. I also like when you talk about volume automation.
I can also say, listen other music that you love, not to copy, but for keep the motivation, the inspiration, and finally make a beautiful unique sound mix that you love.
From Québec, Canada. ;)
Hi +carl raymond Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Great passion!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
"Don't Be Afraid to Use Compression On Your Mix Bus" -
A-FRIGGIN-Men.
I can't tell you how many times I've sent mixes to bottom rung mix engineers who go immediately into "Mix Bus Gestapo" mode before they even listen to the mix. The just say LEAVE THE MIX BUS OPEN and I rebuff their ignorance (especially since many times these mixes are summed on SSL/Neve/API consoles with low level "glue" dynamics and/or EQ curve adjustments using either the great bus comps on the board or something even better perhaps in the rack. In my own studio, 8 out of 10 rock mixes I do will have been summed on our house console and have the SSL G series Comp on it.
invariably, it's always the POS bargain basement/fly by night/budget hack "mastering" houses (which also invariably seem to offer "CD duplication and printing"...) Just as invariably, the good mastering engineers understand these facts of live and mind their own business in this regard. I mean look, if they ultimately reject material, I get that, thats fine (hasn't happened to me personally) but, telling the mix engineer how to mix is counter intuitive.
Rant over.
Thanks for the great video War
Warren, I hardly ever comment on videos, but this is absolutely incredible. Such a phenomenal resource. Thank you so much for making yourself and your knowledge available.
Aw shucks thanks ever so much Nick! You Rock! I really appreciate the kind words and I'm glad to be able tp help in any ay I can! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I think Warren deserves a birthday present at least. How about a replacement for that busted VU meter on his board?
Hi +ovo nisamja Haha waiting for the repair on it to be done! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
+ovo nisamja A new chair would be great!!! LOL
+chungaleta1234 with massaging back pads \m/
Hi +chungaleta1234 Yes new chair would be great!! Haha Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Hi +Sean Lew Now you're talking!! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Hi, Warren. I'm relatively new to the digital recording world. When I was young, I did quite a bit on analog, though mostly live stuff and with very limited gear. Automation was something you only dreamed of if you weren't in a professional studio. When I started mixing in the digital domain, I went: "Yes! Here's my chance to get those faders moving, haha." And I got into so much detail with it that I thought I was becoming a maniac. So your comment about automation sort of 'freed my soul', if you know what I mean. Thanks so much for these tips. They're priceless.
Do you check the mix in mono?
Hi +Simple Ton Yes I will periodically check the mix for any phasing issues, but I know not to do things that cause phasing issues, so I don't probably check it as often as I used to! I think as you progressing in your mixing it would be good to reference periodically in Mono! I hope that helps? Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
thanks
Hi +Simple Ton You're well! Happy New Year! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I do more than that, I'll arrange the track in mono, makes mixing 1000 x easier. that and having a matched set of outboard analog EQ's compressors and saturators, EQ while tracking (with analog EQ) and have everything in mono. Talk about trim the fat! Nothing makes it onto tape that doesn't belong there, my EQ moves are precise and decisive. Since I've started to work like that, there is barely any heavy lifting at all to do at the mix stage, just the fun easy and creative stuff. The arrangement is where the mix really happens, DO NOT TRACK BS, if it doesn't "Just sound GOOD" then it's BS! get rid of it! Think of your session as a holy temple, to enter the temple you must be pure and righteous!
Revisited this video. Really well presented basic but very important info for mixing. Beginners listen to this..... Warren does a good job explaining.
8:50 I would like to clarify for Cubase users one thing since we use diferen terminology [i've suggested this tutorial to one of my friends, whos new to Cubase and it triggered more questions, which by suggesting the tutorial i wanted to avoid ;)] : You can send "red signals" to the mixbus [MASTER channel] all the way. All busses [groups], vca, single tracks can be send even with +6 or [dare me] +12 dB! Thanks to floating point which in effect gives you so called "infinite headroom" all you have to do is to trim the mixbus by plugin or a fader. But the MASTER channel can not exceed the magic ZERO. The best way, as Warren explained in other tutorial, is to leave 0.3 or as Graham Cochrane suggests even 0.5 dB of headroom.
Hi +Konrad Unold Thanks for the tips on Cubase! I agree with your opinion on leaving headroom! Have a marvelous time recording and mixing! Many thanks Warren
I appreciate this. I've had to teach myself the basics of mixing at first with Audacity until I upgraded to FLStudio and now my mixes come out clean and with great clarity. I enjoy watching and learning each New thing
Hi +Joshua Hayes Fantastic stuff!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Words of wisdom. Overtime I watch one of your videos, not only do I learn something new, I have to try it out and then find I have stolen another skill from you. Thank you so much for sharing.
+andy mae Oops I typed "Every time" but auto text kicked in. So here's my lesson- disable auto text.....and don't blindly used presets on plugins!!
Hi +andy mae Thanks very much for your kind words I really appreciate it! Steal away!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Good stuff as usual Warren. I mix on a combination of my KRK monitors and Audio Technica headphones. I always listen to my mixes extensively in my car and on a laptop with cheap ear buds.
Hi +Shape of the Sun Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I am a vocalist , beatmaker and semi profesional soun engineer.
I noticed something.
Whenever I get caught my self mixing at high volumes I turn to feel stressed. There is something about loud volumes and been obsessed with getting the mix right that turns my stomach.
I need more self control and just take specific days just for mixing only at low volumes.
Other days when producing or recording I'll crank it up to geta real feel of it.
Great comment! Thanks ever so much for sharing!
Car-test is something which works absolutelly perfectly for me, thanks for mentioning this. Different enviroments, different listening equipment BEFORE final mix is done, not to mention master.
And my last best practice is connected to bullet 9: Different environments. my listening "path" is as follows: 1. on studio speakers (Yamaha HS5), normal studio volume. 2. Same speakers, same vol, in stereo. 3. On crappy speakers (Auratone cubes) in mono. for checking the mid-range elements. 4. Studio monitors, stereo, volume dimmed with 10-20dB for finding anything that might jump out on low volume. 5. And the last is "the other room listening". I leave the studio door open and listen the music literally from the other room, finding anything that jumps out when listening from the distance. This method works for me pretty well. That's all and sorry, if I wrote too much. Most probably you already knew all of these, but maybe they help other folks. Thanks and have a marvellous day! Rob
Hi +Robert Tari Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Great setup! I'm beginning to see a lot of 'other room' ways that people are working! Good stuff! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
With regard to bass @ 15:50 I ALWAYS use a spectrum analyser on EVERYTHING to monitor what my 4 sets of monitors or my ears can't pick up in the low end. Yes, I use it monitoring full spectrum however I'm talking bass here. Being a speaker designer and understanding small (6 & 8"woofer) tuned port enclosure LF limits, I also monitor speaker cone movement. Wont get into that here. But, most importantly, ALWAYS have reference music available for your A/B comparison. One can also move to the next room, or step back 20 feet or more to here the hidden LF wave hidden from close monitoring. Thank you for the video!
Finally someone who is talking about the importance of breaks especially with tasks like automation or difficult eq decisions. I often turned something into bizarre structures because my head was foggy. And because it sometimes feels right nevertheless in that moment you often forget to save previous project states. To me leaving the house works best to reboot head and ears.
Hi +Zisch2 Aw shucks!!! You Rock! Thanks very much for your kind words I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Some of the stuff you talk about goes right over my head but I like that you never come off as condescending. I find it hilarious when someone sounds that way while they are sharing knowledge...especially when the audience isn't in front of them at the time....so its not like they are responding to a reaction. When someone teaches by talking down very little is learned because there isn't much desire to respond to that in a positive and open way.
Thank you ever so much! I do not believe in experts! Haha This is music, creativity! Some of the best music ever was made by teenagers! Thanks for your marvellous comment!
I feel like "experts" know may know how to achieve what they want to achieve but not necessarily WHY. Some of the worst music ever was made by "experts". HAHA!
My old bands sound guy mixed a ton of great artists live ranging from the GooGooDolls to BBKing. He always communicate with us and ask questions like "What are the most important elements in this song?" or "What are you trying to get across to the audience?" One time he shared a story about when he worked with BBKing and he said something the extent of "When people go to a BB concert they're not going to hear the trumpet or the keyboard, they're going to hear BB and Lucile." So he made sure that those two elements took priority. To me that was a game changer for the way I thought about mixing and arranging music. I still think about that day when I'm mixing now.
Hi +Kevin Reddoch Wow! Fantastic insight and amazing tips!! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Just subscribed. I've seen many you tube videos on home recording. But I must say that Warren is arguably the most inspiring and informative home recording visionary I've come across.
Thank you ever so much Swan! I am so glad to be able to help!!
Thank you for this chanel! I learn many new things and also learn to reflect on my mixing process and understand better what I do right or wrong.😊
Hi Rona, thanks very much for your extremely kind words! I am so glad to be able to help! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
You are amazing, the first production tutorial series that I ACTUALLY learned something I didn't know before.
Thank you so much man! I have learned so much from you over the years that I am now mixing and mastering now by myself!
You're the best!
I absolutely love this channel. It's quickly becoming my favorite on RUclips. I've learned so much thank you for such great informative and entertaining content.
Hi George, thank you ever so much!! I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I went to take a break and this video was on. I never liked the sterro in my Charger but now that I mix a lot more and use it for one of my references I love it when I make that sterro sound great. It means I'm getting close and heading in the right direction. Thank you Warren.
First of all i would like to thank warren very much for giving these most important tips,i suggest all upcoming mix engineers should watch this. Really had a great time watching these tutorials and it helped me find out where i was lacking while mixing. Thanks once again cheers!!
Wow you speak so clearly for a person who is interested in utilizing digital sounds while coming from a very analogue understanding. There are a some very important pieces of advice in this video for me and I'm sure other people have had that same reaction.
thanks for your input man. made me a scribe to your channel. good work
Hi +Sonny Brasco Thanks very much! I appreciate you subscribing!! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Truly appreciate you and others like yourself whom are willing to take such time to share and teach others how to elevate one's recording endeavors!!!
Thanks ever so much! Glad to be able to help
Wow! I'm here for a mistake but... I thanks God! your language is clear and simple! I think i'll follow for a long time! Thanks for your advices.
Wow, what you said about Volume Automations was a big light bulb to me. Years ago I used to do a lot of volume automation, but my mix work was terrible. As I learned more about mixing, I started staying away from volume automation. Now im going to try to get back into it again. Thank you!
Hi +Andrew Torchine Yes volume automation has until recently been largely ignored in tutorials I'm so glad people are now taking note and incorporating into their conversation! All professional have used it for years! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
And, please, forgive me for interjecting after 5 whole years of this particular video's existence on RUclips. I maybe late but I'm always right on time with my perspective and input. 😁 I just coincidentally discovered that such valid informative videos like this and other's are here on RUclips!!! Greatly appreciated, too!!! Keep up the good selfless helpful work!!! We all LOVE music, being creative and artistic!!! 💯
Thanks for the tips Warren. It's good to be reminded that taking breaks is important! I do a lot of automation. I probably spend most of my time doing it so it's good to know that's what you're supposed to do. Andy Wallace is a hero of mine and allegedly he puts a lot of importance on riding the faders.
I also use the rule of 3 when mixing to establish what's supporting and what's up front. ie, My brain can only really focus on 3 main things at a time, eg , vocals, drums and something else. If the vocal stops, then there is room for something else to pop through. I guess this is where a great arrangement makes a mix go much smoother.
Something that can be an issue for me for example is that if I'm mixing a song with a guitar that's mixed and balanced. When I need that guitar part to poke thru, sometimes it might sound too weighty to poke through when I increase the volume and sounds wrong. Then if you added a touch of high mids to make it cut through, it then distracts from the vocals when it goes back to supporting.
BTW, I check all my mixes in my car too. I also love using a single Avantone speaker.
Hi +Anthony Gibney Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Yes Andy rides the faders a lot and doesn't mix loud at all! He mixes at very low levels! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Sometimes it is great to hear the words come out of someone else's mouth to solidify or validate my own processes. I get flack from friends and sometimes even from artists for taking a bit of extra time to"step away from a project, and work on something different to break things up. I did learn from this video as well, automation, not over doing plugins before mastering. Thank you for putting it out there for others to learn from. Great stuff!
Awesome video. Confirming most of what I've learned from you and TRR.
Thank you Warren for your videos, they have given me so much to help produce the songs for my band. From my experiences i have found that the stage where instruments are played and hit my desk is where i concentrate a lot of my time with. I'm pretty new to sound engineering and still finding my way however i like to make sure the sound i get coming into the desk and some pre eq (compression, gate....etc) before i hit the DAW helps massively IMO.....how do you feel about this?...(sorry if i missed a video on this if already covered)
Great as always - One thing I would add is learn yes but also believe in yourself, tomorrow's new standard and will never come if we all look to the past and copy eachother. Have the confidence to break some 'rules' and if it sounds good and enhances the song / artist / style, go with it
Hi +CakeBabyMan Yes great point! Self belief!! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Holy cow, rule number one is what I've been really focusing on. I get kind of obsessive sometimes and don't realize 2 hours have peeled away on me and my hearing has definitely gone into that temporary threshold shift, getting desensitized to high frequencies, etc. So what I have started doing is to set the timer on my smart phone to 30 minutes when I sit down to mix. When that goes off, I save what I'm doing, get up and go pet my dog or something for at least five minutes. It does make a difference!
Hi +ccjamz Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Haha it's ok! We all do that! I have to remind myself of this advice all the time! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I have been watching your videos for a few days , and i must say I have learned a Lot , I have played music all my life , and been writing and recording for 40 years i guess , and the more i learn , the more i see I Don't know , thank you so much .
AS ALWAYS...GREAT VIDEO!!
Maybe not so much a mistake...but I'd add not to only listen in the sweet spot. Get up and go to the back of the room and listen. It's a nice way of giving your ears a break without fully stopping mixing for a break. It also collapses the mix to mono in a way and gives great perspective of balance. I know that's not a new trick BUT...super super useful is this: For those of you who have a big bass buildup in the back of the room, learn how big the low end sounds back there on a commercial mix that you want to have the same low end as. Then when you check your mix back there, if your bass is way blown up or way light in comparison, it will be way more obvious than if you are sitting right in the sweet spot. Make your adjustments and then head to the back again and A/B once again. No more surprises in the car!
Hi +Diesel Dungeon Studio Thanks very much for your kind words I really appreciate it! Wonderful insight!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
I think the key to great mixing is understanding the intention of the arrangement. More specifically, you have to understand what each element represents and how it works (or doesn't work) to achieve the ensemble effect of the whole mix.
When you know what any given track or group is supposed to be doing, you can help nudge it closer to where it sits and does its job properly. Everything else flows from that starting point and you can use your tools (level balances, panning, EQ, volume rides, compression, reverb type/amount, delay type/amount, transient handling, saturation, mod effects, stereo tricks etc.) based on a guided understanding specific to that song/arrangement.
Edit: I just realized you touched on this at the end of the video. I agree 100%.
Hi +Dave Perry Haha it's ok! It's great to see you agree! Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren
Thank you again for all of the videos you post. I keep a notebook of mixing ideas when I am listening to music. If I hear a particular piano part or guitar tone or production idea, I write the artist and song down so if I get a song to mix and the song triggers that same feeling, I can reference back to the original song. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. Even if you don’t like the song, critical listening to mixes is something I enjoy spending time on. I also wanted to share some advice I learned from a great engineer that was recording a record for one of the bands I used to play in. He told me that when tracking, in particular, make sure it sounds great. Think of making soup, if there is a little piece of s**t in it, no matter how many extra things you add in , the s**t will always be there.
Hi +Mike B Thanks very much for your great comment I really appreciate it! That's an awesome idea to keep a note book of mixing ideas!! Have a marvellous time recording, many thanks Warren