Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day in the US and it’s a day we gather together to focus on the many blessings in our lives and the things/people we are thankful for. As it relates to the world of audio mixing, there are many things I’m thankful for: affordable gear, great resources online to learn from, and of course wonderful people to collaborate with. But today I thought I’d share three specific mixing techniques that I couldn’t live without and am thankful for.
Via Katie Flickr
1. Mixing At Low Volumes
Until someone taught me that everything sounds good loud, I had no idea that I should be mixing at lower volumes. I would mix at a level that made my tracks feel good and so I thought I was churning out a great mix. Turns out, that’s the worst thing I could be doing for my mix.
By turning your monitor speakers down to a more comfortable listening volume (I like them low enough so that I can carry on a conversation with someone in the room without raising my voice) you are forced to make things pop and get the right volume and compression settings. If you can get things rocking at a low volume, they will only sound more rocking at a loud volume. Not the other way around. Simple, but effective.
2. Mixing In Mono
I talk about mixing mono a lot, and it’s a core part of my mixing workflow. For years I thought this was a waste of time. “Who listens to music in mono anymore?” I would say. Boy was I missing the point.
By putting your mix in mono for at least the EQ phase, you are forced to make your tracks have clarity and detail while hearing them overlapped. Which is super hard. But it forces you to make better EQ moves and not be fooled by the separation of panning. This one technique alone has given my mixes more clarity and translatability outside of my studio.
3. Referencing Other Mixes
The part of mixing I hate the most is bringing in a professional mix of some other song into my session and comparing it to my mix. But I would credit this one move to giving my mixes an edge that I was missing for years.
By simply comparing the tonal balance of my mix verses that of a pro mix (one that I know sounds good everywhere) I am able to eliminate many of the issues that could affect my mix, like my monitors, room acoustics, and converters. Instead I’m hearing both mixes in the exact same environment. Now I can make some slight adjustments to my mix if necessary to bring it a little bit more in balance with the reference.
Sometimes this final step is subtle but it takes my mix from pretty good to great.
What Techniques Are You Thankful For?
By now I’m sure you’ve come a long way in your mixing journey. What techniques have helped you the most? Which ones have taken your mixes farther than before? What is one “lightbulb” moment that changed the way you approach mixing?
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My name is Graham Cochrane and I'm the founder of The Recording Revolution, one of the world's most loved audio recording and mixing blogs with over 200,000 readers each month. 
Very cool Graham, really useful. I have a question though, If you don’t mind: How do I listen to my mix in mono? . I’m already mixing at low volumes and referencing commercial mixes but this one I really don’t know how to do it. Thank You.
Put a stereo / mono plugin in the mixbus and set it to mono. This one is free http://www.dontcrack.com/freeware/downloads.php/id/4814/software/Stereo-Tool/
Thank You !.
np
Starting a mix with subtractive EQ has helped me a ton. I used to start on the kick and work my way up, both cutting and boosting. Now I force myself not to boost until I’ve taken out any ugly frequencies across the board. It frees up lots of room and sometimes eliminates the need for boosting on some instruments.
Grateful for the 5 min to a better mix tips.
I’m grateful for having a studio and the opportunity to do what I love.
I’m glad you mention these techniques again though. I mix at low levels and reference other tracks but I need to mix in mono.
I’m grateful for your site and all the great resources it has provided me. I am also grateful to have a chance to do something I love doing.
I’m grateful for this fine website and all the excellent tutorials! Thanks Graham for all you do.
Thanks for the article Graham!
One big thing that helped me was looking track by track for individual frequencies which peak much louder than the other and compressing those ranges a bit (rather than the whole track) so you can keep most of the dynamics while avoiding causing clipping.
I’m grateful for Graham. Thanks for all the help. Best wishes!!
thx my wife for made me mixing at low volume 🙂
Great post Graham !
I’ve one interrogation, I think that mixing in low level make sense but if it’s too low the perception of the bass can be troubled and the risk is that we’ll be tempted to push up this area more that it need.
May i ad the mixing technic i think could be in that post : mixing with the screen shut down, it helped me a lot to listening and not seeing what i’m doing. I’m lucky to have control surface so i don’t “need” to use the mouse and if i have a channel strip on all tracks of a well prepared session i’m just concentrating on faders and knobs like an analog config. It’s a great tool that helped me a lot every day with mixing for clients, i mean making EQ’s and filters with ears and looking for the areas that mess/lack with your tracks. Same with compressors, the benefit is amazing, when we use a compressor we always looking at the gain reduction and gain compensation like maths, if you’re “blind”, tweaking treshold and ratio and att/rel can be just a great training for ears of what compression is doing in a mix.
I think that if you referencing, EQ in mono, shut your screen computer and never touch the solo button you can just improving your ears and make better mix.
Happy thanksgiving to all you ^^
Long live “High pass filter”!!
Graham! Thanks for another great post man! I’ve never mixed in mono let alone checked any of my mixes in mono… The though of it freaks me out! Lol. The problem I have is that I trust you and now I might just have to try!
On another note, I just started my own blog and kicked things off with a top 10 countdown for the best websites/online resources for musicians. That link is here: http://mixinthebox.net/music-business-online-resources/
You made #2 just behind Pensado! 😉
I’m aiming at somewhat of a different niche by trying to help bands and artists with the business side or after the record is mastered. I definitely give the credit to you and the guys at Pro Tools Expert for providing awesome content these last several years. I’m better at it from the get go because of you guys!
Thanks for all you do!
Fellow Dueling Mixer- David Glenn
Thanks David! Just tweeted that post a few thousand peeps!
You’re the man Graham! Thanks for sharing the love! 😉
Btw… Can’t wait for next months song over at Dueling Mixes!
Personally, I’d have to say the thing I’m most thankful for in terms of my recording is simply finding this incredible resource.. Thank you to Graham and every person posting on this site. You have all given me some outstanding advice and things to think about when tackling my own mixes. Thanks
Hi Graham,
1. Using k-metering. 2. Switching between speakersets (and mono-izing…) 3. Stumbling onto your website.
I am thankful for learning your “Over the shoulder Mic technique” for recording my acoustic. One of my songs is plagued by acoustic guitar finger squeeeeeek on the neck, lots of finger picking. I tried everything… even doubling (copying)the track and cutting each major squeak out of one of the tracks then blending the two together…. still was not satisfied. The “Over the shoulder Mic technique” made a huge improvement. Thank you for sharing that one! D
Nice.
I am grateful for being able to record music on near-pro studio level at home. I remember my beginnings (mid 90s): I recorded an ultra-crappy rhythm box that could only play presets and played along to it on bass – on a cheap cassette recorder. Than I had that played back on my brother’s crappy cassette player and played guitar and sang to that.
Later I bought myself a 4-track Cassette recorder. I started recording on a PC around 1999/2000, using Samplitude and an early version of Fruity Loops, but the “drums” still sounded like shit, because the samples sucked.
Things started to improve when I got into Reason, allowing me to compose halfway decent drum tracks and even string arrangements.
Now I have Logic, I have Addictive Drums that sound so close to the real thing. I am constantly learning to use those powerful tools, but when I think back to making music in the 90s and earlier, the results you can have at such a relatively low cost sometimes still seems like a miracle to me.
I just found you on Youtube and I just wanted to say home impressed I am with you. You have such a natural way with conveying information… a real gift. I look forward to learning more from you… thanks again man… you rock!
My pleasure bro!
Awesome post – haven’t tried EQ’ing in mono but excited to try it out now!
It’s one of the most helpful things ever!
It would be fantastic if you do a longer list of your mixing techniques and approaches.
Maybe a long video. It would be really helpful
Hi Leandro. I have done that. It’s called REthink Mixing and you can check it out here: http://rethinkmixing.com/
Im gratefull for the referencing track tip!!
I now know what to look out for when mixing and i’m more confident when i tweek things.
Happy Xmas Graham!
When I learned that pretty much everything can be automated and I was taught to see the endless possibilities it gives plus I heard Mr. Thomas Dolby… The world became much better place after that chain of events. 🙂
Anyway, my first post here so let me OT by saying huge THANK YOU, Graham. You were one if the masters that ignited my passion for mixing. Your advice is invaluable and really helps. Have a great Christmas and New Year, friend!
Glad to help!
thank you very much Graham .. i had big problems with my mix last months .. and i have tried many thing .. after i found you i read many post about mixing on your blog .. they helped me lots and i could realize what mistake i have done while i mixing .. i would try to mix at low volume and try the mono EQing too .. great place here !!!
thank you very much again and Mary Christmases to all !! Greetings from Sri Lanka
here is one of my experiment for you all
Glad it’s helping!