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How To Finish A Mix Checklist - With David Glenn

The document provides 7 tips for finishing a mix: 1) Identify the intended emotion of the song; 2) Ensure the mix conveys the intended emotion; 3) Prioritize the client's needs over your ego; 4) Use multiple trusted playback systems for referencing; 5) Reference other well-mixed songs; 6) Consider automation and effects to enhance the song; 7) Sleep on the mix before delivering to avoid fatigue. It also recommends sharing mixes with trusted listeners for feedback.

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mgiullitti
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405 views1 page

How To Finish A Mix Checklist - With David Glenn

The document provides 7 tips for finishing a mix: 1) Identify the intended emotion of the song; 2) Ensure the mix conveys the intended emotion; 3) Prioritize the client's needs over your ego; 4) Use multiple trusted playback systems for referencing; 5) Reference other well-mixed songs; 6) Consider automation and effects to enhance the song; 7) Sleep on the mix before delivering to avoid fatigue. It also recommends sharing mixes with trusted listeners for feedback.

Uploaded by

mgiullitti
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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THE MIX ACADEMY

WATCH | LEARN | MIX

#howtofinishamix
Identify the intended feeling and
1 emotion of the song
Stop where you're at and listen. What is the song about?
What's the song's purpose?

Is it upbeat and intended to make you dance?


A sad song?
An expression of pain and/or anger?
A song of hope?

Does what you hear out of the


2 speakers convey the intended
feelings and emotions?
Do you find yourself bobbing your head, singing along,
or experiencing the intended emotion naturally by
listening to the song? If so, you may be close or even
finished.

3 Serve the client... Not your ego!


Remember, you're in a service based business. At the
end of the day, it's all about your client. Even if you think
their ideas are dumb, go the extra mile remembering
that this one project could be one of many over your
career with this client. Also, don't forget to reference the
rough mix. ;)

Monitoring (multiple playback


4 systems)
Before you look at sonics, it's important to consider your
playback systems. Are you referencing and mixing on
one trusted source or multiple? Whatever you prefer,
make sure you learn your speakers and/or headphones
by listening to a TON of music through them. Tools like
Sonarworks and the Sub Pac are invaluable in my
opinion.

5 Reference
I'm a huge fan of referencing. If you haven't already,
import a song or two into your mix session that features
a killer mix (or relevant mix that your client has
suggested) and lower the volume to match your current
loudness. Play some of your mix... Next, some of the
reference... Use this technique to compare the following
aspects of your mix against the references:

Balances
Harshness (upper mids and top end)
Sibilance (are the singer's s sounds harsh?)
Mid range (check on smaller speakers (phone, tablet,
laptop, etc.)
Low end (See tutorial for low end mixing trick (isolate
the lows and reference back and forth... It helps to
have a reference in the same key and with a
kick/bass relationship similar to yours)

Your creative touch! (automation


6 and effects)
If you haven't already, take a minute to evaluate
whether there's room for any quick volume automation
touches, delay or reverb throws, or miscellaneous
tweaks that could enhance the song.

Some quick ideas:

Lead vocal: delay and/or reverb throws


Drum fill volume automation (1-3 or more db boosts
to enhance the drum fills at transition points)
Any vocal phrases that could use doubling or even
some automated saturation throws?
Stereobuss volume automation (drop overall mix
level down 1 db. At the chorus, put it back up to 0)
Stereobuss or music buss imaging automation (add
width at the chorus and off again at the verse)

Delivering a mix to your client...


7 SLEEP ON IT!
Whatever you do... Do NOT send a mix to your client
after a long-winded mixing session where your ears are
most likely fatigued.

Instead, bounce your mix, listen on Apple earbuds or


whatever you use, take some notes on what you hear,
and then go to sleep. Don't touch the mix again until the
morning.

Once you wake up and hit the studio, give one final
listen, make the tweaks you hear now that you're fresh,
and THEN deliver your mix to the client. This has been
huge for me over the years and I have Paul "Salvo"
Salveson to thank for it. Thanks, Salvo!

BONUS TIP
Share your mix with a trusted set of ears
Do you have a friend or a group of people you trust to provide
constructive mix feedback? This is huge and one of the solid
arguments for hiring out the mastering process.

It also happens to be one of the main reasons I created, The Mix


Academy.

We've built a community of music lovers from all walks including


producers, musicians, recording engineers, and of course aspiring
mixers who all want to grow and succeed in delivering great music into
the world.

CLICK BELOW TO LEARN MORE


ABOUT THE MIX ACADEMY

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