5 Minutes To A Better Mix III: The Final Listen

Mar 31, 2013 | 5 Minutes To A Better Mix, Mixing, Tips, Video | 33 comments

Part 31 of 31 – So here’s the question you might be asking: How do I know when my mix is finished? Well today’s video was made just for you. There’s one last thing you have to do.

Your Lasting Impressions

In order to finish your mix well you have to do something most of us are horrible at: sit on your hands. Literally. You need to give your mix one final listen through without actually changing anything in the mix. All the while take note of your lasting impressions, as these are most telling.

33 Comments

slapback on March 31, 2013 at 7:45 am

Thanks a lot for the videos !!! Waiting for 5 Minutes To A Better Mix IV 🙂
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Albrecht on March 31, 2013 at 9:40 am

Thanks for this tip, Graham. Additionally, I’d like to recommend everyone not to look at your arrangement in the DAW. I caught myself several times in “hearing things” that I actually only saw e.g. automated ping-pong-delay, some overdubs of the voice, etc.
So for me it is very helpful to only look at the time (for noticing the possible errors) and sometimes I even switch off my monitor. The problem is that sometimes – in case of mixing – we “record” too much with our eyes than with our ears.
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Dom on March 31, 2013 at 10:33 am

Thanks a lot Graham, for all those tips and for the time you spend to give us a little bit of you. It’s been a great month!
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Larry Green on March 31, 2013 at 6:39 pm

Thanks Graham for another great set of tips.
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Skeet Sirmons on March 31, 2013 at 10:54 pm

Graham –

Thanks so much for taking the time to do these videos. I have so looked forward to listening to them every day this month. I’ve also enjoyed listening to snippets of the song you were mixing along the way. Your band sounds awesome.

I thank the Lord for your talent and I thank you for sharing it with us.

Blessings,
Skeet
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Chelo on April 1, 2013 at 12:19 pm

Graham! man I just wanted to stop by and say kudos for all your good work, your selfless personality helps lots of us. Haven’t had the time to check any video of this last series, I’ve been crazy busy at the studio which is awesome, but I’m finally taking a small vacation and have a few spare days after returning from Chile from checking out awesome bands in Lollapalooza Chile this coming weekend, hope to check out the whole month of videos as soon as I come back, keep up all the good work, I’m totally sure you’re seeing the fruits of your effort.
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Vincent on April 1, 2013 at 4:37 pm

Great advice in this series.
I appreciated this series especially, because it was less technical, and more “philosophical”. I mean, more about mindset than technique.
Technical stuff can be found all over the web, but inspiring concepts I only found in your ebook and on your site.
Thanks again for your work: you’re a real inspiration for me.
And happy birthday!
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Yaniv on April 2, 2013 at 5:39 am

Just saying THANK YOU!
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Graham on April 2, 2013 at 1:28 pm

Thanks everyone. Glad you’ve enjoyed the videos!
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Tiago Gameiro on April 3, 2013 at 12:10 pm

Graham… Thank you so much!! Another 31 days of beautiful and concise tips 🙂
Cheers,
Tiago Gameiro

PS: Got “Lower” a couple of minutes ago 😉
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- Graham on April 4, 2013 at 4:39 pm
  
  Thanks Tiago!
  Reply
Dan Updegraff on April 11, 2013 at 1:46 pm

Loved hearing your perspective on not beating ourselves up. After two years of “improving”, there’s still a long ways for me to go and it gets me down a lot. Glad to hear there is still hope for me! Peace.
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Jesús on April 11, 2013 at 10:52 pm

Beautiful! =’)

You did it again! (claps) I already waiting for the Round 4 =D

Thanks Graham.
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Alberto on April 14, 2013 at 1:46 am

Great course!
I have a question:
what can i do with commercial stero speakers, i mean “not specialized” monitors. like a 30w sony cd player with 8 inch speakers
Thanks!
(i hope explain myself)
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- Dan Updegraff on April 14, 2013 at 1:20 pm
  
  Hi Alberto,
  
  I’m sure Graham will respond, but I wanted to offer what I have heard about this in the past. While it is best to have studio monitors that don’t have any built-in EQ curve to enhance their sound, you can still use your own speakers. Listen to a lot of songs you like on those speakers, and compare your mix to them. The goal is to make your mix sound similar to the other songs.
  Reply
  - Alberto on April 14, 2013 at 2:23 pm
    
    Thanks Dan, so; you say if i make a mix like another mix, i will have a similar response. sounds reasonable
    thanks
    Reply
  - Graham on April 15, 2013 at 2:03 pm
    
    I agree. There is total benefit to using consumer speakers. But ideally put your budget towards a pair of studio monitors as soon as you can, before say more plugins or a new preamp.
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    - Alberto on April 15, 2013 at 6:40 pm
      
      thanks Graham, i was thinkin” one of your reviews about behringer truth b1030. good start isnt?
      Reply
      - Graham on April 16, 2013 at 3:28 pm
        
        Yes sir!
Ingolf on May 11, 2013 at 7:47 am

Hi Graham,
I’ve just worked myself through ‘5 minutes’ I-III within a few days and I sincerely wanna thank you for that!
Best tutorial series EVER!
I’ve learned so much, now I’m able to be much more focused and much more conscious with my mixing!
I’m looking forward to constantly learning more.
Thanks again!!
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- Graham on May 13, 2013 at 3:21 pm
  
  So glad you enjoyed it!
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lollapalooza on January 17, 2014 at 8:58 pm

ʟet
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TinSoldier on February 10, 2014 at 9:28 pm

Hey Grahame, just wanted to say a massive thanks for all these great vids. I literally just “binged” on all 93 videos in a row, and am now going to get started mixing my first EP. I’ll have to pass it on once it’s done so you can hear how I’ve put your tips into practise. Thanks again!
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- Graham on February 13, 2014 at 4:08 pm
  
  Nice!
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Andy on February 12, 2014 at 10:06 pm

Wow, what a truly gracious man you are to share so much experience.
I found this after looking for basic tips on the forum associated
with my DAW. It was a simple link but it truly answered my prayers.

I too have just binged on I II and III and it just all makes perfect sense to me.

Thanks again.
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- Graham on February 13, 2014 at 4:08 pm
  
  You are welcome Andy!
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Louie Romero on March 13, 2014 at 6:31 pm

I hate you for cutting off that song… I love the chorus.
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Michel Sauvé on May 2, 2014 at 6:18 pm

First off, I love the whole concept you got here. Been going through the 3 rounds of videos, so many new things to go try on my many mixes. It has been an uplifting experience. I have never been so active writting and recording. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to viewing more tutorials.
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Brett on August 12, 2014 at 10:49 pm

Thanks for the videos! As a new reader, viewer, I have watched all 3 series in the last two weeks. Learned a few things. And, saw that you are doing a lot of the same things I am. Which was cool to see. Since I’m one of those guys who didn’t go to school. Just started working around studios 25+ years ago as a teenager. Thanks again! Look forward to the next ‘season’!
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- Graham Cochrane on August 13, 2014 at 5:08 pm
  
  Thanks a lot Brett! Glad to have you around the place.
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James on December 3, 2014 at 5:36 am

Thanks for all your hard work. Much appreciated!!!
All 93 days in 4, took notes on all and learned a ton.
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- Graham on December 4, 2014 at 4:10 pm
  
  Way to crush it!
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Nick Cast on May 17, 2016 at 8:36 am

Man you are an inspiration..
One Love.
Thanks.
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