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10 QUICK TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PRODUCTIONS/MIXES. (thread).
1. "Louder" does not equal "better". Start with and maintain proper gain staging throughout your session. You can add "loudness" when all is said and done with a limiter or mastering suite. https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/gain-staging-what-it-is-and-how-to-do-it.html
2. You "sell" the song by constantly reinforcing the arrangement. Push up choruses 1dB. Pay particular attention to transitions in between choruses, verses and bridges. Consider specific processing for specific sections.
3. A Sense of Space: using panning, reverb or modulation to create dimension(s). This can be subtle or more pronounced. It is easy to overdo reverb, but a high pass filter on your return buss will help keep any distracting rumble at bay.
4. A Sense of Time: use delay or modulation to reinforce movement throughout. Delays and modulation (chorus, flanger, phaser, etc.) can be time-locked to the session BPM or manual, depending on what the song or section calls for.
5. You ever hear the phrase... "that [...] is siting well in the mix?" That would be a combination of a] compression, b] EQ and c] leaving enough room in the arrangement for the important elements to shine.
5a] Compress to impress. Compression can be applied to individual elements, and/or to the mix as a whole for a "fuller" sound (so called "buss compression"). Compression can be used as a utility, to help control levels, or artistically. Always stay mindful of your dynamics.
5b] EQ. This is just as much about removing as it is about adding. You have heard of "mud"... that-hard-to-define phenomenon of frequency overlapping and masking... Getting rid of the wrong freqs will highlight the right ones, *especially* in the low end. https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/what-is-frequency-masking.html
5c] Leaving room. It is as obvious as it is easy to get wrong. Boil down the song to its very essence, and amplify that essence with a passion. A great example? When Doves Cry: 1) drums, 2) keys, 3) vocals... DASSIT. Maximum expression, minimal distractions.
6a. Out of the Loop. Yes, there is joy in repetition, and yes, there will always be a time and place for a well-chosen loop. Consider filtering, chopping and processing to make the loop come to life. Layer on your own top elements like tambourines and shakers for seasoning.
6b. The next step would be to program your own individual drum parts and patterns. This will allow you more freedom when it comes to mixing choices and arrangement. A hybrid of 6a and 6b is also possible: filter out the low freqs from a loop and program your own kick, etc.
7. Listen to what your listener listens to. After many hours, your mix sounds good in your room, but does it "translate"? Check your mix in the car, on your phone, on your laptop, on your home audio system, etc.
And while I personally don't work using headphones as a default, I *definitely* check my mix on headphones from time to time during the process. Just another way to reference.
8. Always strive to learn and improve, but focus on the big picture. I'd *much* rather listen to a bad mix of an amazing song, than an amazing mix of a bad song. That being said, an amazing mix of an amazing song? Whooooooo buddy.
9. Before the release. If you can afford to work with a mastering engineer, this is where you pass the baton. If not, there are great products on the market that can get help on your way. Stay away from online AI mastering services and learn to use Ozone or something similar.
10. (If at all possible) DO THIS SH%^ ALL DAY EVERY DAY.
