5 Reasons You Aren't Getting a Tight Mix

[@artifica0]

1) 1:41 - low end not tamed 2) 6:02 - not compressing enough 3) 9:43 - too much build up on a frequency 4) 11:32 - sound selection 5) 13:13 - leveling

[@JayantChakradhari]

I know, no one care about my comment but I just want that you read this You are genius zen 😀

[@TehWaver]

I swear reducing the 250 hz range with master eq is the easiest/best mastering tip I've heard. Such a small addition makes a HUUUUUUUGE difference. You don't even hear the muddyness but as soon as you reduce it you hear how muddy it was before.

[@miscellaneous1276]

Well yeah, BUT sometimes those frequencies are missing, i think you should do what makes it good.

[@tanishkshrivastava6822]

imagine if you're fixing muddiness in your MASTER LMAO

[@anomalypsytrance6573]

Bruh if you didn't hear the muddyness before then maybe the muddyness you hear when bypassing the 250hz cut is because your ears have adjusted 😂don't be cutting shit because some dude on KZbin said you must lmao

[@Skrenja]

@@tanishkshrivastava6822 It's quite common practice, actually -- especially doing MS eq on the master to get rid of some mud. Making narrow cuts and/or using a dynamic eq can work wonders. I often automate a linear phase eq on the master. There's no rules. If it sounds good, it sounds good.

[@seamus1357]

Needed this, brother. Thank you for what you do for the producer community

[@RafaelGrilli]

Always so helpful mate! 👊

[@csselement]

The analogies you use are funny but also very helpful in communicating the concepts behind mixing choices. Great content, I've learned a lot.

[@carlosmolina4486]

I needed this! I’ve been mixing by ear but this helps visualize and understand the way sounds interact using span

[@jacksonlaframboise6257]

I like to just slap stuff into some kinda framework based on a genre, but the fundamentals are the same. Hi’s wide. Lows mono. Reverb ads depth. Sub 30-100 (sometimes 140 for phone speakers.) side chain this so it doesn’t clash with the bass drum....Otherwise the low end will be a homogenous static mess with no movement and a ton of rumbly bois. Fundamental 140-3 or 500 ish. This is useful with biiig chords. It helps you avoid the (idk what tf chord that is) moment if you have too many voices/ layers on something. In rock this is sometimes just the basses job. Other times they go for the wall of sound vibe and that’s ok. But normally works with power chords or 2 note chords so keep all that in mind. A super saw stack will usually gain around 80 siiiick points with a soft clipped fundamental layer on top and it might just remind the people in the pit to drink some water cuz that shit will be rooooling harder than they are. Mids and hi’s can somewhat clash due to stereo separation variability and the extra wiggle room that provides. However, this can cause phase discrepancies in mono. Just make sure to cut out the mud and any harsh frequencies. Also, do not over do stuff. Remember, that a song needs movement. You will use a side chain from the kick for like most things, but the rhythm should still be obvious without it. (In terms of the mud thing: Usually like 200-400 in mid instruments and like 3.4-4khz in hi instruments like noise and hats and stuff....as for the sub....please, just mono it and low pass it. Do not mess the sub up. You can saturate it sllliiightly if you want it to pop on phone speakers....But just do not mess it up.) Vocals. (2 stage compression.) first stage cuts out overly dynamic peaks. Second stage is gentle with attack turned clockwise and release turned counter clockwise. mix according to song. May need saturation. May not be saturation. Use ear. Go for confidence and mud free. I still suck at this, but I’ve watched like 40+ hours of content on it so like, I have some theory. Just, not enough application yet, so take what I said here with a grain of salt. (Not too much salt cuz the performance is super important and it’s hard to sing dehydrated.) also, pitch correction. Drums. Side chain hats, cymbals and noise to the kick. The kick should be fairly brief. The kick is a kick. The bass is a bass. Don’t make the kick a bass. It gets weird. Use good samples. Kick and snare should be the loudest thing in the mix. In rock, it sometimes helps to glue the whole set together with compression, but uses sparingly. This only works sometimes. But when it does, it’s super cool. Hard clipping is cool. Don’t over do it. Loudness is not the determining factor of a good song. Dynamics are also not the determining factor of a good song. Please don’t blow my headphones up for the sake of an energetic drop after a super quiet intro. Lastly, less is more...but only if you know what more is. You also can’t magically stop overthinking stuff without learning theory. If you don’t know what you are doing, you wiiilll over complicate shit. That’s ok. Learn. But don’t waste like 10 years doing it like me. Trial and error is fun. But you can bypass a whole ass year of doing it in like 30 mins with a KZbin video on the subject. So if you value time and efficiency, put ur pride aside and assume that even if you could figure it out in a day, with technology, you can figure it out during your morning dump and use it for an entire extra day. Why did I post this? Cuz I hate preaching technical knowledge in comment sections so by doing this, I’ll remember that time I decided to ramble in a comment section and all the stuff I needed to remember will just come back to me. Have a good one bois and gerlz. Ez.

[@DNBENTHUSIAST]

noisia - sinkhole uses the stereo space so well, listening to that track with some proper headphones is weirdly awesome

[@richcoleman9909]

absolute legend, been having a problem with this recently and ive found it hard to understand or vibe with other tutorials but you always seem to nail it

[@rahulsengupta6785]

Noisecontrollers - The night, the track has some top notch mixdown.

[@nickhandcock7515]

Inzo-overthinker is the definition of a tight mix. Pretty much a perfect production

[@squidcatbass]

Zen! This was a great tutorial. Always blowin minds 🤯. Just got back from Dirtybird Campout and all I want to do now is master the tightness of my tracks. It felt like most Dirtybird songs were bangers because their kick and sub was hitting just right. Your song had the same frequencies. I really appreciate your insight my ninja. Thanks again 🦑😻

[@nolank2166]

Wow that demo track sounds incredible... good work @zen

[@JeremyShaver]

Im still learning that’s why I’m here

[@JeremyShaver]

Thanks for whom ever that was that liked my comment because my statement is true, @Zenwork helps a lot and I can use it towards the music I make on my iPad Pro with Auria Pro and other DAW’s

[@maxstone4823]

Nice Video Zen! Thank you for your tips!

[@epelly3]

Thanks a lot for this vid man. Been watching you for a while you always have clear concise directions and techniques

[@Skrenja]

Songs with tight mixes and great low end: Rome in Silver - "Fool." _Insane_ low end, punch, space, width and clarity. Fat Nick - "Georgous Gorillaz." Not a perfect mix -- but it has some of the hardest 808's I've ever heard. Astrix - "Deep Jungle Walk." This song has so much space and dimension that it sounds like you're listening to the damn thing in surround sound.

[@iluzi2351]

Really well explained video man 👍

[@dede-sm7sl]

Excellent video man! Doing a great job for the community !

[@DoctorDupe]

Thank you for all these super helpful videos keep em up!!!

[@KYAMIofficial]

Yea Nobody else is really well mixed. I really like how shapov mix his tracks too

[@ReflexEight]

Thanks Sam World!

[@anonymoususer2764]

Tracks with best mixes (according to my knowledge) Hardstyle - phuture noise : circles and squares Melodic dubstep - Hans Zimmer time Ben Walter remix Dubstep - virtual riot x panda eyes x barely alive : Tri force (Dodge and fuski remix) Trap - eptic : power

[@DNBENTHUSIAST]

dnb: anything by noisia & mefjus

[@justhazza3068]

there are better mixes out there than circles and squares (in hardstyle)

[@baiatu_teh_boss5613]

With dubstep and melodic dubstep pretty much any Virtual Riot song within the past few years except for the VIP EPs with Barely Alive are really well mixed. However imo one of the top artists ever in terms of mixing is Mr Bill. Check out his recent EP he made with kLL Smith title "kLL Bill"

[@caracciologuanipa1786]

Great video ninja, help a lot..

[@halabishki]

i've learnt so much from you man. thank you so so much.

[@tuxievous420]

A balance gain stage leveling vid would be awesome 👏 thanks 🙏

[@jeancarlocarmona6489]

Techno wise: Umek - Amnesiac Dubstep/trap: sicko mode and humble skrillex remix Hardstyle: Phuture Noize - circles and squares

[@vkmusicz8160]

Drift away too tight mix

[@jeancarlocarmona6489]

@@vkmusicz8160 agree 👍

[@fridayishighday8016]

Jam Master - T78 Remix... Oh dude that kick breaks your skull on the dancefloor

[@sirwilhelm7250]

D-Sturb songs too

[@jeancarlocarmona6489]

@@sirwilhelm7250 double agree.. I like drop em down so much

[@rernofficial6660]

To me, Karmon’s mixes are always really tight and clean. My favourite is Alex Kennon - Last Call (Karmon Remix)

[@chimpalahee]

Yo you should do a series where you fix other people's mixdowns or address certain issues in their mix and rectify them

[@giovannydaniel707]

Joe Vanditi, Max Chapman. Both are nice with the mix!

[@1Brockhenrie]

Great video. Would love to see more serum sound design videos

[@anastasmusic]

Gorgon City - Elizabeth Street, tighest mix everr!

[@plagiarhythm]

Dude your so good your are really helping do ty

[@troubleshoot002]

holy shit those bangers really slap my ears

[@JayantChakradhari]

Zen please tell me what's the name of this music's genre 13:29

[@auxthenticjoshhendrikz]

Thanks so much dude. I think a good example of a tight mix on a house track would be SQWAD - Like That... also, making a video on leveling especially mixing in your claps with your kicks and stuff would be awesome

[@davet8618]

Zen Thanks!! Awesome teacher !!! Can you make a video on reverb how many reverbs you ise. What you send to a reverb ,? to which revern? and the decay times and how you much you blend. The parameter that you use. Like how many plates do you use how many reverbs do you use. and delays as well you use. But showing the reverbs decay times ?

[@miss.antidote]

google reverb calculator

[@aldistoteles2919]

Miss Antidote Useful tool!

[@LibriumMusic]

One of my favourite mixdowns is on Light by San Holo. For house music, losing it is always great.

[@yohanruiz8332]

Miguel Bastida- Soul Reactions. One of the tightest mixes I’ve heard still to this day.

[@mitchdobbs6296]

1. Super helpful video 2. Could you drop the link or point us in the direction of the Axwell tutorial??

[@adriancarrasco4865]

I've been studying artists lately by really listening to their EQ & compression. Skrillex, Deadmau5 & Galantis are in my top 3 for clean, tight and precise. P.s. I LOVE your song!

[@tanishkshrivastava6822]

Listen to g pol once

[@baiatu_teh_boss5613]

Check out Mr Bill too, absolute mix legend

[@JayantChakradhari]

13:39 Some one please tell me the name of this music's genre

[@JanooProductions]

Thank you for this, you are amazing bro!!

[@vanoddworld]

Deorro - Keep It Going. Super tight mix there

[@excorific2205]

For a tight mix, I really look at the drums. It's hard to explain, but it's the drums for me that give away a "TIGHT" mix.

[@quazrmusic]

yessir. thanks brotha

[@SixPalms]

Super useful, thank you!

[@iamdeejaymelody]

great tutorial

[@JDVVV378]

Thnx Bro!

[@theturokchoi]

this was amazing!

[@jiggybeats3703]

Anything Space Laces releases is the epitome of a tight mixdown to me.

[@shaurya.mp3]

The track is FIRE, please release this!

[@rishikhanna3073]

Hi man! I really dig your channel. I checked Evo sounds but I noticed you only have serum presets. Since I currently do not own serum, it's a bummer. Could you also do massive presets?

[@JonTorreto]

GOAT

[@APUS_PRIME]

Allright. What about Sub Focus - Solar System?

[@TheLostYouth]

Released in (!!!) 2008 : Chymera - Parelo (Kaveh Soroush & Charles Gudagafva Mix).

[@isaacsherwood8373]

Why do you recommend Span? I get that its free but what makes it better than Ableton's built in Spectrum?

[@simenga4414]

thanks man, very usefull !

[@felixsela2898]

Feel Something by Illenium and Exicion is really clean

[@cjfromgtasanadreas]

I love the sound at 19:07, the midi melodic open pattern I think, is this from one of your packs? If not can you tell me how to design it in Serum?

[@NANI_Official]

Always cool videos. I'm coming back to your stream this Thursday! Lol it's been a little over a year since you destroyed me haha hoping to get a play. And hopefully I got better.

[@jeremiassteffen6453]

Boris Brejcha is doing really nice Mixdowns

[@jbods1998]

Boris said he hardly ever uses compression he just soothes frequencies on every channel with a dynamic resonance suppressor like Soothe

[@jdstarek]

Great mix example: Pig & Dan - any track on Modular Baptism.

[@AirArtStudiosOfficial]

Thanks

[@MattGwoz]

I really like the mixes of San Frandisco by Dom Dolla and White Lies by M-22

[@zacharyhill8405]

IMO "Open Misere" by Spoonbill is an astoundingly tight mix

[@marceldhaini3363]

13:36 that track is dope!

[@dylanloera7783]

Kick one I am learning about this week, especially listening to other tracks kicks compared to mine; been shaping it in kick2 to sound more like theirs and it has made a huge difference. The right kick for the side chain track is also important

[@thistadj]

Yoo Zen would you mind doing a sound design tutorial on SWACQ’s leads in his track Ox and Yababa

[@MusicProducer808]

Which Axwell tutorial did you refer to?

[@pentacle9783]

Hi How do you apply the white noise?

[@zugrath16]

Don't know what genre to put it in but the best mix I've ever heard is: Tennyson - Uh oh!

[@payfoe8591]

Your socials links are not working

[@maybecrazy6934]

so the levels in the spectrum always have to be similar level? Lows with mids and highs?

[@antoineadragna1783]

Did you released the track you're using in the video?

[@KrentaSniegas]

I wanna full tune man!

[@joewebb8446]

Dennis Cruz - Wicked has a really tight mix to me

[@elyastayar7057]

Dude you should release this track 🤯🤯

[@mememan2428]

Hey man, can u please make abreakdown video on Saberz - Epidemic ? its sounds supernatural. AMAZING mix down

[@freshavacado_]

Why do my voice sound like in a glass like not clear? What should i do

[@OCASproductions]

please do something about rufus de sol have no idea how no one has asked this yet, I want to learn from them so bad

[@scotthstevenson]

Grant Spiegel google triple j Rufus du Sol remix competition

[@Skrenja]

I think he uses uhe Diva alot. I swear a couple of his leads I've heard are just slightly tweaked default presets.

[@iamthe4044]

Your voice is tighter than any of my tracks

[@TehWaver]

Such a good video

[@mehdi7413]

All song from vowed are well mixed in my opinion

[@SHIFTandCo]

What do you think about Sevenn's Music is my Suicide as a tight mix ?

[@Robangledorf]

Does anyone else feel like in almost every single example here, his example of what not to do sounded better than his example of what to do? The lowend sides sounded great, that ssl compressor was really smeary, that cardboardy kick didn't sound good but the clicky kicks did sound good. I'm really confused by what he's trying to accomplish here.

[@baiatu_teh_boss5613]

Hehe, i didnt watch the whole video and im watching on the phone, but i agree about the kick part. The "bad" examples i enjoyed more lmao

[@gecko100]

All the Magnificence tracks are insanely tight imo.

[@keveydaking]

Has this track been released?

[@NecsoiuAndrei]

Hey Zen. If you want to hear the king of all well mixed tracks, here it is: Matador - Kingswing

[@shilohjordan8023]

steve darko always has tight mixes

[@rwbmusicuk]

Can we please get a Taiki nulight bass tutorial !!!! Please!!!!

[@djdeto7382]

Social links are not marked blue which makes mobile users difficult to use them please fix

[@johnwitcher7039]

Jesus Zen

[@ThandoNewYork]

What axwell tutorial were you watching?

[@ThomS8]

everything from Enrico the past years

[@DSVN23]

For sure, extremely high level producer

[@musicvn8866]

Cho tôi xin pojcet dc không ?

[@Subholik3]

somebody tell me the genre>????? of this demo !

[@speakyourmind1989]

Bro you funny af man. Giving you the finger 😂😂

[@ShaneSamuel]

Bro can you release this song?