When mixing there are many points to consider. Knowledge of the hardware and software used, as well as their functions, are one side of the coin. Basic working techniques the other. For me, these working techniques, which I describe here, were a considerable relief to get along better with the mixing and to develop myself further.
Mixing Tip 1: Compare
Pick a song that resembles the style of your music and matches your desired sound result. Compare the two songs again and again during mixing, this will clearly show you where and what is still missing in your mixing.
I think it makes sense to listen to the reference track in its entirety before you start mixing. After that, your ear will be somewhat "tuned" to the pro level in terms of frequency. After that you can create your rough mix and then compare it again. So you can focus the comparison on fine tuning. In my opinion the rough mix should be determined by your own ear. This is where your personal taste and style comes in.
If no reference is available, it is often difficult for beginners and also partly for advanced users to estimate how the mix will sound on other systems, a reference song is a helpful red thread for this purpose. Reference tracks help me especially for the evaluation of the upper frequency spectrum and the approximate loudness. However, I do not let myself be influenced by the sometimes extreme volumes. Because I'm against the loudness war.
Mixing Tip 2: Pauses
When mixing for a long time at a stretch, we tend to overhear mistakes in the mix. We simply get used to them. The ear very quickly to overemphasized highs, so that after a short time they no longer seem overemphasized at all.
That's why it's important to take breaks to help you regain your hearing. It is often the case that after a short break, errors are immediately noticed and can therefore be eliminated. After a break it is also easier to look at the mix from a different perspective. After that you can compare again, so that evtl. even more sources of interference or. Deviations can be noticed and eliminated.
Breaks also help to restore concentration. There is a rule of thumb for aural pauses.
- If you mix for 60 minutes at a time = 10 minutes break.
- If you mix for 90 minutes at a time = 20 minutes break.
Mixing tip 3: Cross listening
In addition to the aforementioned steps, comparing the mix on other systems, like e. B. a hi-fi system, or in the car a very helpful tool. The majority of listeners will play the mix on exactly such a system.
In home recording, the room acoustics are not always optimal, even if they have already been worked on. Therefore, during mixing, cross listening on suitable headphones is very useful, because the mistakes can be improved immediately. There are many studio headphones that can be used for this, such as. B. the SHURE SRH-840 or the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (which I personally use). Here is a detailed test of different headphones.
Additionally, the so-called center magnifiers (Avantone& Co.) useful for cross-listening during mixing. I was able to secure the Behringer replica (C50A) of the Avantones. The function of these speakers is that the pure mids are "tested" can be. The design of the loudspeaker does not allow for exceptionally good bass and treble reproduction. In addition to the check, these midrange magnifiers can "recalibrate" the ear, since the omission of bass and treble demands new concentration from the brain.
Finally, on another system (hi-fi, car, etc.) the mix should be compared.) to find out if the mix works the way it should. This is the last step in mixing, because at this point everything else should already be done, because the cross listening on other systems should be a confirmation for the mix.