DON'T Listen to What You're Mixing!

[@sK3LeTvM1]

Despite all good intentions on KZbin, I'm afraid great mixing is more a question of having golden ears and talent than learning tricks... In my country only 5 people can be considered as top-notch engineers. What about all others...? See what I mean?

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

I see what you mean, and I think it's both false and irrelevant. But let's agree for discussion that what you're saying is "true"... can't the same be said for every other pursuit on earth? Only a tiny percentage of all runners are olympic athletes, only a tiny percentage of songwriters churn out hits. Not everyone or everything needs to be "top notch" to be worthy of passionate pursuit, and those metrics are only meaningful if the runner or songwriter cares about the olympics or writing hits. Most don't, most people understand their limitations and do what they do out of passion, an internal drive that doesn't give a fuck what anyone thinks. *They* might give a fuck, but their drive doesn't, that's why they keep doing it even when nobody notices. But all that aside, I completely disagree with your assertion that 'talent' is terribly important to this or any pursuit. Skill is what matters, and skill is primarily a function of time invested. And while everyone has different potential, you can go very, very far with sheer determination and the right kind of study and practice. I would argue that _taste_, more than anything, is what allows people to do something in a way that resonates with other people. And everyone has taste, so everyone has the ability to do things that will connect with others. Maybe their audience is modest in size and maybe their work is judged less worthy by the elite, but life is both too short and too long to let anyone else's narrow view of 'good' to affect the way you live and the way you spend your time. ☮️

[@sK3LeTvM1]

@@TheHouseofKushTV Thank you for your words. I agree with the aspect of skill. However, I see 'a lot' of people struggling to achieve something that will never be achievable. They may be s'killed', but lack of talent keep them away from the target. I hope you agree that mixing is not a theory like mathematics. And unfortunately, you can never learn 'talent' You can indeed learn some basics, but still every song needs a different approach... Sometimes the best theory simply doesn't work. And than you need talent. Back in the 80's, I had some studio experience as composer, producer and signed my first contract with EMI at 22. I started as an 18 year guy in a studio with 2 synced 24-tracks. First job was to put the 'tales-out' tapes on those machines. Many years later, due to circumstances I made a step towards live. Started on stage as audio crew. But never succeeded in being a decent FOH. That is because I was to nervous in a live FOH environment. It wasn't funny and I was frustrated. Live is spot on, no time for coffee... My luck was that I had very experienced FOH people in my professional neighborhood who told me to give up...it would never have worked. Anyway, thank you for your videos, because you do it very well (with patience) and it's clear lots of people like your videos. Thumbs up for that. I've learned it the 'hard' way, by people who had no patience at all... ;-) Oh and btw, you're right in this video too !

[@G4Nazarener]

@@sK3LeTvM1 I think even talent wouldn’t help you for not being to nervous. You should have try longer and gain some confidence. Btw I watch videos and listen to people explaining how things work no matter they are talented or only skilled. Maybe you learn faster if you are talented but that’s all.

[@jackcreed3062]

@@sK3LeTvM1 Talent is a dangerous word to throw around. Some people definitely have a knack to pick certain things up quicker, but the years spent at something, and the training of your ears and your mindset are what make the player, not the birth certificate.

[@pedromaiz88]

@@jackcreed3062 agreed. What is talent? If you ask me, it seems like an explanatory fiction. In other words, it doesn't really explain anything (e.g. "talent leads to success. We know this because some people are successful, while others are not successful. So the ones who are successful must be talented"). On the other hand, skills are about learning. Learning is behavior change that is influenced by a history/ the stuff we have come into contact with in our environment. Some people acquire skills at a faster rate than others. This is a perfectly sound explanation that can be put to the test because it doesn't involve the use of made up human characteristics that are unobservable (e.g. talent).

[@RuhkcusTV]

(When you enter the House of Kush, YOU don't listen to the mix, the mix listens to YOU)

[@muddyhonky]

And then it impregnates your mind.

[@JackDevaney]

I just added the 69th like... nice

[@ToneSherpa]

WHOA!

[@owonobrandon8747]

yeah !

[@djgstefan]

That is so funny and probably true.

[@onemanband3579]

The way I mix, you'd think I didn't listen to it.

[@MadeOnTape]

💛

[@Bro.ŽO]

🤣

[@nicholasriley4729]

😂😂

[@christopherecatalano]

Excellent!

[@Tekkerue]

👏👏

[@iamzackknight]

One of the best engineers on KZbin 🔥

[@johnm6190]

Hands down.

[@elliottabaza]

Ive tried to find a list of records he’s worked on. Haven’t been successful. What’s his best work?

[@Foundingfatherfuzzy]

@@elliottabaza Look at the playlists section on the channels YT page.

[@Right_in2]

@@elliottabaza His band is called Sneaky Little Devil

[@cassetteo]

he prob mayk fiur betz 2 homie nawwaimean? he prob prod. soooo menee bangurs he like a beetz jeanus

[@themusicindustrialcomplex]

Excellent advice. I used to listen to everything except my ex-wife when she was talking. - the best thing I ever did.

[@gabenght9316]

:D

[@jaykretek]

You're like the Bob Ross of mixing!

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

I grew up with that man making magic out of nothing every weekend all while keeping us focused on how he was mostly just letting it happen, dude was an alchemist.

[@godsofentropy]

I really love the fact that I can hear about the philosophy of mixing instead of looking at plugin interfaces. These videos make me more aware of what I am doing in the mix! It's amazing that a lot of success lays in developing specific mindset, not just tweaking knobs. You don't learn how to mix, you are waking your internal engineer inside :) Thanks, Gregory!

[@reziahamed6654]

Hands down!! You nailed it so damn right !!! 👍👍

[@jellewierda3828]

That really what it is about. Well said man! I learned more the last 3 days watching Gregory's video's than all these years staring at plugins!

[@djfishnz]

Top comment

[@JoseLuisGarcia1234]

I never thought about mixing that way, and right now my mind is blown.

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Mission accomplished!

[@thebkstank2095]

I feel like this dude's side gig is talking down people who are having a bad trip. "You think the walls bending is bad. No man. LEAN INTO IT!"

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Ha! I've actually been the 'guide' on many a trip, people have a lot of frickin' trouble letting go! 🤯😛

[@bobbyashrimp]

Slowly waves hand, "These aren't the frequencies you're looking for . . . "

[@valleywoodstudio7345]

Interesting parallel with drawing here. There is a book called "Drawing from The Right Side of the Brain" which explores drawing the space around the object rather than the object itself. The aim is to not be distracted by the thing you are looking at - but focus the surrounding space and learn to look at things differently. The book shows how many people find suddenly their drawing skills and accuracy vastly improve.

[@Dejan_RC]

This method rules with working on any fine adjustments: I am doing a lot of video editing and I found that Gregory's approach to mixing audio, and even more, his philosophy, fits perfectly in my workflow.

[@crosscgn]

this man saved my life. solved a mixing issue that has been around for 5 years. these f***. last 15-20% have just arrived by watching a "Geek freaks out" video on KZbin. can't believe it... definitely getting NOVATION now. much love!

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Right on, glad I could help!!

[@elonthebass6870]

Dropping knowledge left and right. Crazy, I was just adjusting the snare on a mix. No lie.

[@stephenbeard4747]

Were you listening to the snare? 🤣

[@markvernon9938]

@@stephenbeard4747 Answer carefully citizen

[@TemperatureFalls]

All these episodes should be added to the Vatican criterion collection for all future reference - it’s just so well explained and makes so much sense👍

[@TrumanProductions]

If you're intermediate engineer or producer you couldn't be watching a better channel than this one 🔥💯 I've learned so much from this guy. The lessons I've learned from you have saved me countless hours of sitting down trying to fix something that didn't need to be fixed because I wasn't focused on the right thing. You're a goat period ❤️

[@TruenorthmtGod]

Your parents must be proud they made such a lovely human being. Much Love brother

[@artofpretention]

This is so true. You need to listen to how it's sitting in the mix and affecting the other instruments. The bigger picture is a good thing to always focus on.

[@beatbone96]

realtalk, the best thing ever happened to me was mixing quiet so I could be less emotional with the stuff I am doing -> more rational choices, better hearing of how my mixing effects the mix

[@TheJimbo3d]

I am on vfx business as professional and i am quite amateur as mixing engenieer, but the most fascinating thing on those video is that conceputally they could be applied 100% on visual effect job... That is what it shock me the most. Great channel i wish i whould have found earlier.

[@jamesblack993]

Best ASMR channel on KZbin and informative at the same time!

[@jeffboyd7719]

Right on! I use the same exorcise when playing live with a band. If you have trouble hearing yourself on stage, listen to the rest of the band. When you listen to the rest of the band you hear the entire mix and become part of the song. If you listen to only yourself you tend to turn up louder and louder struggling to find the sweet spot.

[@BigHugeYES]

A vid on complementary frequencies would be super helpful.

[@loosy_odt]

this guy literally just improved my mixed a bunch just with few videos, way more effective than most other tutorials on yt , big thumbs up

[@FreddysFrets]

I just found this channel a week ago. This guy is so right on with his approach and advice. This man speaks like a guru. Concepts and philosophies. I've been mixing for a long time and I see all of these other "how to" mix videos and they are almost always technical...ie "do this to make your snare sound good" ...they don't really help people because they are out of context to your particular situation. It's like telling someone what to think instead of teaching them how to think. I love the studio, but my favorite thing to do is live mixes. Because you have no time to think. Everything is pure instinct and almost meditative....and it always boils down to how the whole thing feels in that moment. No second chances, just do it.

[@patrickkrou]

Dare I say...this may just be the best mixing/production tutorial video I've ever seen - and I've seen hundreds. No audio examples, no plugin GUIs or DAW windows displayed, nothing. A concise and existential approach to the what, the why and the how we do what we do - all under 7 minutes. Brilliant.

[@fex2626]

I got it I think. Now i do compression and listen to what happens to tone, or do Eq and listen to what happens to dynamics. This is wonderful because if you listen to what you are modifying, You miss what You are actually screwing up somewhere else! This totally saved my drums mixing!

[@DixieWreck69]

the only KZbin channel that I have notifications on for, and these tips are exactly why... this dude is an absolute treat

[@ETwOneE21]

You are incredible. Not only did you give me a great eye opener. But this 6/7 mins of video felt like 20 mins of non stop wisdom. Never felt that before from anyone in that short amount of time

[@Terrordyne]

I've always done all this & listening to the entire mix without realizing that was what I was doing until today. Amazing perspective! Subscribed because of that!

[@SherazKhwaja]

I cannot believe I’ve only just found this channel! Feeling inspired right now. Thank you.

[@drewh.7666]

Love that meditation tie in...never thought about it like that

[@DavidDiMuzio]

Great lesson. You've definitely helped my mixes. Especially your vocal EQ video.

[@Birdieblogger]

Yeah! I just tried his tips on my vocal EQ. Used three band. MAN. Gamechanger.

[@jamesconraadtucker]

I do everything already that Gregory Scott mentions. What's refreshing is that hearing Greg discuss it is so reinforcing. That's what a great instructor does who knows how to get to the heart of production and mixing technique.

[@gaptooth2164]

Next Kush video: *DON'T Mix Your Songs!*

[@christianmartinez1]

😂

[@christianmartinez1]

“BREATHING? That isn’t sexy”

[@leob9675]

The House of SUSH

[@berlinfischer9871]

just listen its enough hahahhaa

[@Espresso101]

This needs to be an April fools upload

[@DS-wn4dx]

Man you bend my brain in the best possible way. Thanx

[@joshbenzin]

That is not the snare that bends, it is only yourself.

[@UKNamaste]

Haha!

[@wouterdesmedt1736]

There is no snare!

[@patsquanch]

thanks for putting up content that challenges us in a unique way, man. Got a little tired of trying to learn things from youtube and only ever getting a checklist of cookie cutter steps to take when I really need to learn how to listen and use my ears intuitively. This channel has made mixing my music a lot more fun and rewarding!

[@Soul-oj4wn]

Bro every single tip I use from your videos makes my production and mixing on a whole new level

[@Mikestro407]

Therapy and knowledge in one video Thank you.

[@hugorangel1538]

I watched the whole video with a big smile on my face! Awesome tips :D

[@fotipitrakkos1193]

Love this concept. Thanks for articulating it in a clear way. I hold that the same philosophy also applies to improvisation - and composition for that matter. Being aware of all the other sounds allows you to see the silhouette, as it were, of the space where you can add your own parts to a song. More an idea of revealing what you might play, rather than forcing a square into a circle shape. Patience and a still mind. Great Job as always, Greg. Much appreciated.

[@clamo5004]

cool, damn its cool words i cant even imagine how much experience you've got it so simple things but its so genius i can sit in mixing an hours during the day and at the end say to myself "dude, enough, u cant finish today, go play something, u need rest, u'll continue tomorrow" and its never change, i'm finishing without any result but your vids are changing my producing and mixing sessions i'm so glad i found your channel

[@AlbertoDati]

Ome of the best tips around! I tried today to focus on the rest of the track while tweaking the snare. It really changes the way you listen to the thing. Thank you man, unbelievable experience!

[@johnghadimi]

Watching your videos has become my daily mantra. I am sad to reach the end sooner than later. Please make more. :)

[@randomguy6127]

This man is soooo wise! I apreciate this channel

[@thebasementfilmgroup]

This is spot on correct advice (believe me - he's bang on the money) - these are the tips you will never get in your Music Tech degree - I crafted my art of mixing over 30 years and I'm still learning new things - but the best tools you have are not the DAW or the plugins.... but those two things on the side of your head - learn to use them correctly and you can master most of the mixing techinques - and this develops over hours and hours and hours of practice.... most of that practice comes from just listening to music.... and (just like this video) you learn to 'Really' listen - this exercise can be used when your listening to any piece of music for pleasure. Listen to your favourite song and focus on one sound - pick one you don't always focus on.... guaranteed you will notice (in a song you have listened to thousands of times) something you have never noticed before. I am gonna leave you with an example that might highlight this point. Go listen to the song "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire.... its a famous song you will have heard many times...... listen to just the bass on the intro... around 11 or 12 bars in... the bass player makes a mistake..... seriously..... go listen - and I bet you will 'Always' hear it everytime you listen in future.... check it out :)

[@Bricex17]

When I first found your channel, I thought you were another guy with some good tips. But now, I've been watching more and more of your videos. Your lessons are so well delivered, I enjoy the exercises, and you teach me something new with each video (even the ones where I already know the concept behind them)! You are not another guy, you are a guru. Thank you guruji. Namaste!

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Namaste!

[@samuelojiyi7011]

Parables of the mix messiah. The gift that keeps giving. Thanks for these nuggets.

[@nc4ril]

Just found your channel last week, Gregory. I’ve seen like 10 of your videos so far. You got me mixing in mono and mixing each instrument against each other. My mixes sound a lot better since I found your videos. Definitely way easier to accomplish any kind of sound I’m looking for now. Simply amazing, you’re the best teacher for this mixing thing.

[@muziqthecat3783]

This is zen knowledge that applies to so much more than just a mix. That meter bouncing on the Tweaker(s) back there is so good. Yummy

[@boybianchi]

This is the best thing i learned from reading Mixing with your Mind. Great tip.

[@QuabmasM]

Genius advice...i sort of already do this when mixing vocals but now i have more understanding of the technique & have a mind to apply it when mixing other things. Thanks my brotha! Time for me to start mixing my groovey mix tonight in these after hours lol.

[@wrudzworld]

Bro!!! You're the greatest teacher in the world!! I could definitely live in this house!!

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

All are welcome, thanks for the kind words!

[@dylanhosborn]

you dropped this 👑

[@jmluna86jl]

this is good to hear. i have been mixing without soloing instruments more often. It took me a while to notice that every change i make, affects everything else. Great Insight as always!!

[@Kampsy]

Your channel and Warren Huarts Produce Like A Pro channel are two of the best producer/engineer channels I’ve found on KZbin

[@jvrdiez]

oh yes

[@alexinfanti4252]

Oh Captain! My Captain!!!!! Thanks for this lesson!!!!

[@_ENOC]

I get these concepts and find immense value in them. Efficiently delivered with great articulation as usual.

[@biggradeentertainment9427]

My new favourite channel

[@official24or]

KEEP EM COMIN. Forever grateful

[@manos6426]

The meditation example was to the point! Thank you.

[@monkeyrobotsinc.9875]

i started doing this on my own the other day, and i can confirm, this method rules. dont listen to what youre mixing. listen to everything else. wont go into reasons why, but it just works.

[@bAvt_xyz]

You had me at "complimentary frequencies"...which is a bit later in the video...but you get my point ;) Great stuff (as always).

[@dangelobenjamin]

So glad i subscribed. I've actually been trying to do this more and more, and voila, here you are lecturing about it.

[@reziahamed6654]

Oh my gosh Greg... Never even imagined that these type of things ever exists in the world of mixing... Can't ask you more than what you're already giving the world.. But.... Only if you can... Just take us through a real life audio example of such an instant.... Just like revealing the secret of a magic... Thanks ever so much.. God bless you man !!! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@jellewierda3828]

Gregory, it is really great that you learn us to listen to what we are doing instead of showing all the best gear and plugins. I noticed i started listening again! Mixing at lower levels. Cool. Sometimes you have to step back and rediscover. I do way way less processing than i did before. Really like it. Thanks

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Awesome! The same is true for me recently, I've really been working for a less-processed, more open and organic sound. It's been a fun challenge!

[@FOHFILMS]

All I needed to see was the first 30 seconds of the video. This man knows exactly what's up.

[@TygraBeats]

There’s some mad help in these videos!

[@Birdieblogger]

I'm glad you grew out your bangs. Videos be like ASMR of Audio engineering. Love em.

[@leeknight6913]

Great tip, and one I've used for years... but forget about it sooooo often. Kinda like redirection in meditation. "Ooops. Back over here. There we go. OK, now stop thinking." I use something from the same place with mix comment/notes rules for a band. "Tell me whatever you feel with regards to the bass, drums, lead Vox, but you can not comment on your instrument. Only EVERYTHING else." I get GREAT input from bands since adopting this mind fuck of a helping hand for bands. Forces everyone to listen past themselves, since they have no sway over it. It pays to make sure you help the player get the sound he/she is going for at tracking though. Then... it's out of yourself and into everything else. This works not only because of the obvious ego recalibration but also for the reason your tip works. Because truly, everything affects everything.

[@bigkid757]

You’re right! Not listening to the snare improved my love life! 😂

[@LaughterCigar]

Thank you Mr. Scott! Thanks to you now my mixes are fire and my girlfriend is pregnant.

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Rock on!

[@babypowdah]

my mixes have improved greatly since finding your channel, thank you for all this free content its certainly SEXY

[@htb123times]

I swear I’ve been doing this naturally for awhile now, I’ll get so deep in the hole I’ll notice I’m not even paying attention to specific things while I’m mixing but the Sonics of everything as a whole. Yields great results

[@dariusdarius7035]

You are nothing short of a genius

[@Dave-te9tl]

Thanks! In this world of endless distraction this lesson works on so many levels.

[@majorfifth5911]

You are on a whole different level Gregory. I used to watch Dave Pensado, Scheps - all the masters. But you just keep blowing my mind. It's not only that you are extremely knowledgable, but the way you use analogies and help us visualise what we are doing is on expert level and so easy to understand. The fact that you only have 50k subs is a mystery to me. One thing that's for sure is that your channel will blow up in time. And my mixes with it! Just don't stop making these videos.

[@mattmorris8761]

this man blows my mind in every video

[@Spudcore]

Yes! This is a good tip. Use the floodlight, not the spotlight.

[@ThatOneGirlDrummer]

Yesterday I was complaining to my mom that I couldnt remember your channel name lol, I spent so much time trying to find it but got mad and finally gave up 😭 Then today I opened youtube and boom your video was on my home page yayyy 😭 You're fantastic and have some of the best information and insight on mixing thank you! 🤩

[@SteveStockmalMusic]

AND I like how you time your intro spiel so that the voice ends as the music kicks in. ✌️😊✌️ Nice sense of ‘pending’ and ‘arrival’ (aka tension and release). Another FINE video !!

[@danilobence83]

Golden advice !!!

[@mortheres]

For this excellent advice and it reminds me some of the advice from the Stav’s book (don’t listen to what you are adjusting and meditation). Glad the see another engineer talking about these gems of wisdom.

[@old-school-cool]

The opening was like Owen Wilson teaches mixing

[@twinpeacockstudios]

Thanks brother. Always thought provoking!

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

Any time!

[@mochorocho]

Big stuff Sir. Thank you very much.

[@bummbummsound]

This is how Mixing should be taught - I feel like you are one of the few out there who really focus on listening. Thanks for ur vids, you really changed the way I approach audio. If anyone has recommendations for similar content please hmu

[@christopherrusch]

this is probably the most important tool i’ve been taught by him. thanks king

[@tzara1]

Ahhhh yes my bedtime ASMR is back and it's teaching me things.

[@RonBaker456]

That''s baby making music right there. Excellent video. Thanks for giving your time.

[@Taylord444]

Constantly dropping gems!

[@AKMautla]

i’ve been doing this and didn’t even realise lol. i’ve come to realise that when i listen to the thing i’m adjusting, i get obsessive over 0.4db of gain, or between panning 30% or 32%. trivial things in the greater scheme, that only waste time. listening to the overall balance between elements instead, has been so healthy for my mixes. it’s a lot more enjoyable than looking for perfection in the wrong places as well:))

[@SarisChannel18]

Meditation is worth it. Mixing whilst watching videos is my way. I need to have a mind and ear refresher, and if the ideas I get don't seem divinely inspired.. just leave everything until it happens. It doesn't feel like work and you can go at it all day and night.

[@Katalysaattori]

Great video again! Thanks 👍🎶 This helps to open open my mind to the right direction.

[@irecki1]

I agree, his presentation is, I would say the best!

[@drum877]

Man your knowledge and concepts of mixing are amazing!

[@lennonsmiley]

I have become a huge fan of this channel!

[@crimson3510]

The King has spoken!🙌🔥

[@djrickysmith]

Don't know How I missed this one. I really like how you teach !!

[@imagemusic4241]

Thank you Gregory for all of your videos, they are really helpful to me. There isn't anyone on KZbin teaching the aspects of mixing to your degree of specificity. I myself am in a unique situation; being a beginner and the owner of a respectably furnished all outboard pro home project studio. I'm at that stressful stage where everything is very daunting and intimidating so,, again, really appreciate the videos and your teaching style. Thanks again, -David

[@TheHouseofKushTV]

You're welcome, and welcome to the game! If I could go back in time and give myself one piece of advice in the beginning, it'd be to mix as many songs as possible. My own, other people's, originals, covers, all of it. Quantity and variety will take you far!